Guys I'm running mobile 1 synthetic and a mobile 1 filter and I checked my oil today just to make sure it was looking alright and it appeared to be kinda dark. I normally dont have any issues running to 5000+ miles with full synthetic. Any ideas as to whats going on? coincidence? I plan on changing it in two days.

 

I change mine every 1500 miles and its BLACK,Castrol Syntec and 160,000 Kms as of yesterday!!!

I would not go that long between changes,oil is cheap,engines aren't!!!!!

 

I change mine every 3000. 1500 is way too soon to see BLACK oil. You should probably flush your system out by changing the oil, ruinning it for a bit, then change it again, and keep doing it untill it comes out clear. As for the 4500 mile oil changes? You SHOULD be ok with that on synthetic, but if it's turning black before that, I would start to change it sooner. Better safe then sorry. Like I said, I change mine evey 3000, and I run Mobil 1.

 

I have been doing this for 11 years,160,000[daily driver] and 2800+ 1/4 mile runs,it is cheap insurance!!!!

I am also sponsored by Castrol now which helps.

 

Oil color has nothing to do with how the oil is performing. The oils have cleaning agents and if ur engine is dirty and then the oil will get the dark look because the cleaning agents are doing their job and cleaning it. Oil isn't going to stay clear for to long and it will change colors after awhile, doesn't take long.

 

Does it smell like gas?

 

If it smells like gas then it would be your injector O rings are leaking and this leaking would cause the gas to seep past the rings and it will make the oil very thin and could change the color.

 

tnt hit on what should be your only concern I would think, but not because it's black. That means the detergents had something to remove from your engine.

If it smells like gas, is unusually bubbly or thin, then you may have a slight case of blowby on a higher mileage engine.

I don't know what would cause a sudden relatively dirty engine...? Running rich? Faulty PCV system?... I dunno.

 

OHHH **** I bet thats it...thank you...I had switched PCM and the first one I got back caused my car to run extremely rich for several hundred miles. I mean like I was getting 13 to 15 mpg on the highway. That could very well be what caused it.