Ow-20 oil

[Runn4est]

Milky oil would indicate water or coolant IMO. Maybe a blown head gasket? Hows your coolant level? Have you ever overheated? I've also seen a little milky consistency from condensation - usually near the cap, likely caused from a lot of short drives and the engine not running at temp for long.

Most oil when it comes out will have some metal "glitter" in it. A true analysis is the only way to determine if it's too much unless, of course, you have significant pieces of metal. I'm thinking you are probably OK on that front but without seeing and analyzing it, can't say for certain.

Again without seeing it myself, it's hard to say. Maybe this mechanic is just trying some scare tactics?

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

I would think you'd notice something prior to this, especially if you've been doing oil changes under the recommended 10,000 mile mark.

Have you noticed any weird noises from the engine?

Has your mileage decreased significantly in the last few fillups?

Have you noticed a decrease in power?

Have you noticed any white smoke from the tailpipe?

have you noticed a sweet-like smell from the exhaust?

have you noticed your temp gauge higher than normal?

If you haven't noticed ANY of these things lately, chances are, your mechanic is trying to pull a fast one on you!

Pull the oil cap as soon as you get there, look at the underside of the cap. If its as bad as he's saying it is, that cap should be dripping like a greyish/brownish substance that resembles sour cream! Also, look at your antifreeze tank, it should have all sorts of stuff inside the white tank other than the antifreeze color, which should be reddish or pinkish when looking through the white tank. This may be different if you've had someone do a radiator flush and refill.

Report back to let us know what the end result is. Up till now, I have not heard of anyone blowing a head gasket on the 1GR in the 4runner.

Toyota has been known for the "BHG" syndrome for decades, but I'm pretty sure the last few generations have been clear of this issue on stock engines.

 

[fffgb]

My mechanic is a personal friend of mine that I have known for the past 14 years, he is more of my friend than mechanic. He did save the oil and oil filter for me. He put the samples in rubbermaid containers so I can send the oil to get analyzed. My friend has over 35 years in the auto industry from rebuilding racing motors to total classic car restorations, so I know he is knowledgable. Also, I have quite a bit of auto mechanic knowledge myself from rebuilding gas and diesel motors and what not, so when I saw the samples, I already knew that it didn't look good. Basically, the oil came out brown instead of black, and when we got a screwdriver to swirl the oil, you can see shiny metal glitter swirling. Number one, the oil should have been closer to black instead of brown. And Number 2, there shouldn't be any containments like that in the oil coming out.
So basically, something inside the motor is starting destroying itself, plain and simple.

 

[renau001]

Good luck with all this. I'm sure I don't have to say this, but make sure you get this documented at the dealer and with Toyota ASAP. But I understand wanting to get the oil sample results back first too. 55k hopefully you're still within your 5 year warranty period also? Keep us updated. You also might consider at least a partial drain to look at the condition of the oil before you drive too long as well.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

At 5000 miles on the oil, it should not be black at all. That oil should be a golden brown color, as it hasn't been in long enough to be black. If its coming out black at 5000-7500 miles, that engine's got some serious problems! There's 6½ quarts of synthetic oil in that pan, and a 4 liter engine is using it, hence the reason why 10k is the recommended oil change interval.

Since you know your mechanic that well, then there's obviously something going on with the engine. How much oil actually came out of it? Was it close to 6 quarts, or was it low? Low oil (say 2 or 3 quarts low) can definitely hurt bearings and other parts, which would explain why you're seeing metallic deposits in the oil. If its that much though, I would still think you'd hear or notice issues with the engine by now. Only explanation to these problems would be low oil, incorrect viscosity (like 20w-50), major abuse, failure to actually change the oil (dealerships have been known to say they did it but failed to actually perform the oil change, which is why everyone should always pull the dipstick out before leaving the dealership!) or something has simply failed in the engine.

An oil sample report will tell you what metals are showing up, but if you are also saying that it was "milky", only way that happens is with water (ie., antifreeze) mixed in. As an engine builder, as well as your friend being a certified mechanic, a BHG is the only answer to having milky-looking oil. Metal does not make oil milky, only water-based products, so I ask again, any major condensation under the oil cap or nastiness in the antifreeze tank?

I'm not calling you or your buddy a liar or anything, but it seems crazy to think that a stock engine would have milky oil and metal shavings floatin' around. If this was a 3VZE/5M/6M/7M/22RE, then I wouldn't even be phased by it, but the 1GR is pretty damned stout and toyota's learned from their BHG mistakes over the last 20+ years. And I've kept an eye out for stuff like this on the 5th gen, so far you're the first who has claimed what seems will become a blown engine very, very soon.

 

[catrains]

new engine oil is a light brown color . as the oil gets damaged the oil will get a darker brown. if the oil is black that is not normal . black oil may mean carbon in the oil , filter not working [no filter] hole in filter.

coolant in the oil should be seen at the fill cap sludge usually collects there as well as white or coolant colored muck.

over the years black oil I have seen is from operating the engine with low oil levels. how often do you check your vehicles fluids ? before you drive off you check the fluids after the servicing ?

 

[fffgb]

Nothing under the cap and nothing in the antifreeze. The engine sounds normal. But even I have never seen motor oil like this. The used oil in the container is dark brown, and when you get a screwdriver and swirl it around, you can tell that something is mixing with it, meaning the other substances have settled on the bottom and are being churned. The foreign substance settle quickly to the bottom. I took pics but having a difficult time trying to post them.

 

[catrains]

Nothing under the cap and nothing in the antifreeze. The engine sounds normal. But even I have never seen motor oil like this. The used oil in the container is dark brown, and when you get a screwdriver and swirl it around, you can tell that something is mixing with it, meaning the other substances have settled on the bottom and are being churned. The foreign substance settle quickly to the bottom. I took pics but having a difficult time trying to post them.

one of the reasons I do my own oil servicing is I always do it when its hot.. also I allow 30 min for it to all drain out.

I also have other reasons I do this task .. if they did not allow time for all the oil to come out at the dealership this maybe why now that your friend found this material. dark brown oil is normal after 5-10K miles. black is not ...

new engines will have more debris than an engine with more miles on it ..

I would look at the filter media that is the story teller..

pressure test the coolant system just to be sure ..

 

[Lester Lugnut]

At 5000 miles on the oil, it should not be black at all. That oil should be a golden brown color, as it hasn't been in long enough to be black.

In the near 50 yrs. I've been changing oil, I've never seen "golden brown oil" with 5K on it on any engine.

You need to let me in on what you are using.

Thanks ahead of time.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Really? Then what color do you see when changed at 5,000 miles? Pink? Blue? Orange?

Maybe I didn't make myself clear in my posts, so let's try again...

Oil changes for 4runner: 10,000 miles

number of quarts in 4runner: ~6.5 quarts

type of oil recommended in the 4runner: 0W-20, which is either full or blended synthetic

Oil color at 5,000 miles, which is HALF its recommended oil change: Between bottles 2 and 3 below, ie., a golden brown color:

I figured some of you might need some visual identifiers, so I grabbed an image online that might help you to determine what your oil should look like at 5,000 miles. Of course, this would mean that you would have to drain your oil and put it in a clear bottle to make sure its correctly colored. Rather than doing that, I've gone one step further and found yet another visual aid for determining whether your oil is colored properly:

As you can see, black oil is an indication for you to change oil. DARK golden brown (as opposed to a dark chocolate brown) means that your oil still has life in it and you can continue on for a while longer.

Do any of you know exactly why engine oil will change colors? Well, let me explain then!

There are three main reasons for oil changing color.

1. Oxidation: Engine oils have specific products added to them to create the specified oil's viscocity and cleaning particles, most notably, sulphur. The compounds oxidize from chemical processes within the engine.

2. Thermal Degradation: Exactly as it implies, high heat burns the chromophoric bodies in an oil, giving it a blackened color.

3. Contamination: Yet another self-explanatory reason for discoloration. Chemicals added to oils, especially antifreeze due to blown head gaskets, will cause oil to look more like milkshakes than oil.

Everyone has their own opinions on when to change their oil, and what the color of oil should be when they do so. There is not one solid answer that says it should be X color and X color only, or X amount of miles and X amount of mile only. The OP said a gasoline engine oil should be black at 5,000 miles (remember, this is HALF of the oil life for the 4runner), which I disagree with, as well as a whole lot of discussions online, many from oil companies and even Blackstone, a company that tests oil for a living.

So again I ask, at 5,000 miles, what color should the oil be? And at 10,000 miles, what color do you think it will be if you believe that at 5,000 miles, it should be anything else but a "golden brown color"?

 

[Lester Lugnut]

Yes - on the stick, 5K oil still looks good.

In the drain pan it's black. Not a sludge black as in muddy, but black.

Color not always an indication of oil health.

 

[ThorInc]

Yes - on the stick, 5K oil still looks good.

In the drain pan it's black. Not a sludge black as in muddy, but black.

Color not always an indication of oil health.

^^^So true!^^^ Would thank you for this post but no more "Thanks" button :wink2:

 

[alico268]

All my 4Runner's oil comes out dark when I do their oil changes and I have over 200k on each of the 3rd gens.

I also just changed the oil on my 2016 TEP following its initial break-in at 1k miles (my money and made me feel warm and fuzzy) and I would describe it as dark chocolate in color. Doubt the engine is on its way out.

 

[1engineer]

All my 4Runner's oil comes out dark when I do their oil changes and I have over 200k on each of the 3rd gens.

I also just changed the oil on my 2016 TEP following its initial break-in at 1k miles (my money and made me feel warm and fuzzy) and I would describe it as dark chocolate in color. Doubt the engine is on its way out.

Glad it made you feel warm and fuzzy lol.

 

[catrains]

Yes - on the stick, 5K oil still looks good.

In the drain pan it's black. Not a sludge black as in muddy, but black.

Color not always an indication of oil health.

I don't agree with your opinion on the color of the oil , has no indication of oil health.

the color change is from oil being damaged and contaminated. if the oil does get BLACK during the normal mileage servicing period , then something is messed up.

contamination is what wears away the metal .
as an example if the ignition system is not operating properly you would get black oil before the normal oil servicing period .

having the oil analyzed does help find out whats the issue .

 

[Lester Lugnut]

I don't agree with your opinion on the color of the oil , has no indication of oil health.

the color change is from oil being damaged and contaminated. if the oil does get BLACK during the normal mileage servicing period , then something is messed up.

Take any vehicle. Change the oil & filter. Drive for 5K and drain it. The oil will be black in the pan.

I'm not talking about the color of the oil on the dipstick which is what really matters. I'm simply talking about the color of the oil in the pan.

My oil has always been black in the pan - european - asian - domestic - over a 50 yr. period. 5K intervals - 3K intervals. Make/Model/OCI - makes no difference.

Nothing has ever been "messed up".