gold rover · Dec 27, 2012

This really is a dumb question. :5bblush5: I checked my oil level today and the oil on the dipstick was black which is why I am having to say 'should it be black ?
I am sure every time I have checked engine oil previously the oil is varying shades of light brownish. I had a full service, including oil change, around 1200 miles ago. So I'm sure it shouldn't be black.
Am I just having a senior moment or is the fact it is so dark an indicator of something not right?

The Mad Hat Man · Dec 27, 2012

its black coz its workin' proppa.

robint · Dec 27, 2012

The Mad Hat Man said:
its black coz its workin' proppa.

careful your get banned for that remark

gold rover · Dec 27, 2012

The Mad Hat Man said:
its black coz its workin' proppa.

Seriously? I always was led to believe black means overdue for a change

gold rover · Dec 27, 2012

robint said:
careful your get banned for that remark

and there was me taking his comment in pure innocence

rodntod · Dec 27, 2012

if it is diesel, the oil goes black very quickly in diesels.

200tdi ayre · Dec 27, 2012

Unless the engine is flushed at service there will always be some black there, or if the oil filter hasn't been changed this would make it go black and tbh if you change the oil without changing you might aswell not bother

200tdi ayre · Dec 27, 2012

Changing the filter *

mrblonde · Dec 27, 2012

I thought the same mr OP, had oil and filter change done on my TD6 last year, and about 500 miles later it was black already, I panicked, spent few hrs online them slept easy after the replies I got

gold rover · Dec 27, 2012

rodntod said:
if it is diesel, the oil goes black very quickly in diesels.

Ah ok. This is my first 'own' diesel, only had work ones previously and been a long time since I had to check oil on one. I've had petrol engines privately, so that might be the reason I was expecting a lighter shade, this soon after the service. 1200 miles didn't seem much for it to be jet black.

200tdi ayre said:
Unless the engine is flushed at service there will always be some black there, or if the oil filter hasn't been changed this would make it go black and tbh if you change the oil without changing you might aswell not bother

Everything was changed including the filter.

gold rover · Dec 27, 2012

mrblonde said:
I thought the same mr OP, had oil and filter change done on my TD6 last year, and about 500 miles later it was black already, I panicked, spent few hrs online them slept easy after the replies I got

Thanks. Glad I'm not the only one who wondered about it.

Thats Bollocks · Dec 27, 2012

Come on ! Honestly!
It's Xmas. Not April fools.
Of course it's Black.

gold rover · Dec 28, 2012

Thats Bollocks said:
Come on ! Honestly!
It's Xmas. Not April fools.
Of course it's Black.

Yep seems like the others, who replied, thought that too. Thanks though.

200tdi ayre · Dec 28, 2012

gold rover said:
Ah ok. This is my first 'own' diesel, only had work ones previously and been a long time since I had to check oil on one. I've had petrol engines privately, so that might be the reason I was expecting a lighter shade, this soon after the service. 1200 miles didn't seem much for it to be jet black.

Everything was changed including the filter.

Gurd

yeah diesels do black up a lot quicker than petrols as more carbon is produced which finds its way into the oil

Grrrrrr · Dec 28, 2012

If you want an easy ball-park test of the quality of your oil try pinching a dribble from the dipstick between your fingers and thumb then try the old oil you took out. I think you'll find it quite different!

gold rover · Dec 29, 2012

200tdi ayre said:
Gurd yeah diesels do black up a lot quicker than petrols as more carbon is produced which finds its way into the oil

Is that some foreign English word 'gurd'? Thanks for the info ref carbon. I did feel a bit dumb asking but don't feel so bad now that I know that there is a definite difference between them.

Grrrrrr said:
If you want an easy ball-park test of the quality of your oil try pinching a dribble from the dipstick between your fingers and thumb then try the old oil you took out. I think you'll find it quite different!

Thanks for the tip. I don't have the old stuff but I take it you mean the dipstick stuff at the moment will be silky , whereas when due for a change it'll have a thicker/coarser texture?

Grrrrrr · Dec 29, 2012

Good oil is so slippy you cannot feel your fingertips. When it is knackered it is almost like water and you can feel your fingertips easily.

200tdi ayre · Dec 29, 2012

gold rover said:
Is that some foreign English word 'gurd'? Thanks for the info ref carbon. I did feel a bit dumb asking but don't feel so bad now that I know that there is a definite difference between them.

Thanks for the tip. I don't have the old stuff but I take it you mean the dipstick stuff at the moment will be silky , whereas when due for a change it'll have a thicker/coarser texture?

The carbon is why diesels smoke black and the exhausts are black on the inside where as petrols burn more cleanly and so less solid carbon

gold rover · Dec 29, 2012

Thanks guys. Every day is a school day

Saint.V8 · Dec 29, 2012

gold rover said:
Thanks guys. Every day is a school day

And LPG'd engines are clean as a whislte and the oil remains fairly straw coloured due to LPG burning very cleanly.

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