What's Your Oil Look Like At Your OCIs?

[Tyler James Inc]

This isn't an oil thread; don't make it one [emoji23]
I've ran across a few posts- in the last couple years- where people have stated their oil "looks like clover honey at 6k miles", or "my oil still looks new at 3k miles", etc.
Are those claims legitimate? I've been driving/maintaining cars/trucks for 20 years, and I have had 25+ vehicles- never have I had my oil still looking clean after 3k miles!
Are these people talking out their ass, or is this actually possible? I'm pretty religious about changing my oil on schedule, and this is what my oil- Chevron Supreme 5w-30- looks like after 3,188.3 miles-

 

[apohl17]

At 315k, the oil I change (between 5 and 6k miles) normally is gold to light brown. Definitely not as dark as the oil in your pic, but, I'm using different oil as you do, so it's hard to say.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Pretty darn clean. My internals at 100k were quite clean when I changed the VC gaskets.

I wouldn’t worry unless the oil starts coming out in clumps, which I have seen before.

 

[kolelt]

I don’t think it’s possi for oil to look brand new after it’s been used! It looks good to me. Did you drain it kinda when the truck was warm ?

I’m religious with my oil change to. We probably change it waaaaayyy to soon to be honest. If your really concerned you can get the Blackstone test.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

At 315k, the oil I change (between 5 and 6k miles) normally is gold to light brown. Definitely not as dark as the oil in your pic, but, I'm using different oil as you do, so it's hard to say.

I'd say the same here. I change the oil once every fall (so, every 3K miles, lol).
I just use the Mobil Super High Mileage 5W30.

I'll try and remember this thread in a few months when I do my annual oil change. I'll post a pic of the draining color.

 

[thegipper]

My oil usually comes out pretty dark on my 4runner even when I do 3k mile oil changes. I haven't change the oil on my new/used engine since it only has about 1600 miles on it since I swapped it in.

The oil on my 2011 Camry that I bought with 17k miles on it, (5k mile change interval) comes out like a dark honey color. I've been using full synthetics like Mobil 1 extended performance or Amsoil since the day I've bought it. It now has 55k miles.

I think it is possible to have your oil come out relatively clean even on higher mileage vehicles but you've had to been using a good synthetic from the get go. Or at least, changing every 3k miles with a decent dino oil.

I wouldn't worry about the color too much. As long as it doesn't come out chunky like what Caesar said and you change it every 5k miles or so, you'll be fine. I suggest using a good filter too.

 

[Ron Burgandy]

using amsoil signature series. yearly intervals or 25,000 miles. at 10,000 miles on it now, just starting to turn dark brownish color.


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[spartacus]

my oil is dark like yours maybe even darker and I do the change at 5k miles. I tried one time to go 10,000 miles as some do and the oil was black and seemed more dense so went back to 5k.

 

[mtbtim]

They're talking out of their asses. I've done 3k oil changes on my vehicles over the last 36 years. I've never seen it come out looking clean. Two of these vehicles I bought brand new so there was no previous owner that abused it and the engine had sludge build-up.

Since buying and modding my 98 4runner with heavy skid plates, I've switched to full synthetic and plan on renewing my engine oil every 5k.

What I've learned is what it looks on the dipstick is different than what it looks like coming out of the oil pan and draining into your catch container. It can look brown on the dipstick, but when you drain it out, it looks much darker.

 

[T4R2014]

I feel like pics can play with you depending on lighting. Dino oil gets darker much quicker than synthetic on a clean engine. I bought a 1998 with some sludge. The synthetic oil starting changing color in the first 500 miles.

I don't think oil color has anything to do with sludge as long as you change it at a consistent schedule.

 

[sakoluvr]

They're talking out of their asses. I've done 3k oil changes on my vehicles over the last 36 years. I've never seen it come out looking clean. Two of these vehicles I bought brand new so there was no previous owner that abused it and the engine had sludge build-up.

Since buying and modding my 98 4runner with heavy skid plates, I've switched to full synthetic and plan on renewing my engine oil every 5k.

What I've learned is what it looks on the dipstick is different than what it looks like coming out of the oil pan and draining into your catch container. It can look brown on the dipstick, but when you drain it out, it looks much darker.

This ^

The thin amount of oil on the dipstick and the silver colored dipstick makes oil look like honey. I never did understand how folks say their oil is not black in the drain pan.

 

[alumarine]

I'm guessing they are referring to the color of the oil on the dipstick.
I've always found it looks better on the dipstick than the drain pan.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

It's hoppin in here this morning!
Okay, yeah- I'm sure you guys are right about referring to the color on the dipstick. That would make much more sense. I don't really feel like that's a good way of referring to the color of the oil, but I understand that might be some people's way of judging when it needs changing. I was running Mobil-1 in my '97, and when changing it every ~4K miles, it was still pretty dark. I guess maybe not quite as dark as the dino I'm running in the '01.
Thanks for replies, guys. I would like to send a sample into Blackstone to see what the results tell me. I've never done it, and it seems like they're able to get a good consensus of engine condition with their tests.

 

[T4R2014]

Lol I never trust the dipstick. I wipe it on a paper towel. It’s actually very interesting to see how oil color changes when compared using the same engines with different ownership histories.

 

[kolelt]

Tyler, I wouldn’t sweat it man. If you change your oil like your supposed to. Your good. Nothing will look brand new when it’s used. As long as your not loosing oil and stuff. Your good. With that said, i always end up pouring very close to 6qt. It’s supposed to be 5.5qt. But when I drain it out, about 5qt come out. Because I usually pour it to a old 5qt container. Seems normal ? Although my dipstick never shows LOW oil and haven’t had any kinda of issues. No oil leaks nothing. All seals are OEM.

 

[Silver Supra]

Mine always looks like yours Tyler. The only way it comes out clean is if the engine was never started!

 

[Scramble]

There're talking out their asses, mine is always Black. 3k Dino intervals.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

The 97 Puppy hauler with 120,000 on it at purchase would turn jet black by 3000 on dipstick. And intake plenum was - is black with PCV gasses. It's got 150,000 on it now and intake and runners will have that crap cleaned as part of my head gasket job. I chalk it up to blow bye. Engine had coked oil on heads and valve covers and chunks literally came out of the PCV passage when I was flushing it in the parts washer. Ran low on oil sometime in its past and remaining oil got too hot I figure

My 97 project with the 96 engine in from the wreck with 230,000 on in has a clean intake and honey brown oil at 4K miles.

Edit. I use the same Pennzoil ultra or platinum in both


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[TheDurk]

Black is good. That's microscopic crud that has left your engine. I have never drained "honey" in 50 years of wrenching (except my lightly used tractor that gets changed every six months because of time and condensation). I have also never lost an engine due to anything lube related.

I go by Blackstone. Synthetic and OCI 6500-7000 miles, oversize premium synthetic Wix filter, and they always say I can go longer. Nice and black.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I also feel if oil isn't dark it's not doing its job


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