Oil turned dark quick [long]
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,154
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From: I blame my Dyslexia MD
Oil turned dark quick [kinda long]
OK so I did an oil change the other day on my 76 L48 and used two quarts of Lucas oil stablizer. Then 5 days and about 300 miles later I check the oil, the level was a tiny bit low butit has a small leak that im looking into now. What surprised me was that the oil was already very darkly colored, as in closing in on how dark the old oil was, which by the way was very old. Now I had checked the oil after about 30 min of runtime just to make sure everything was fine and it was a litte dark but i attribute that to the very bad oil that had been in it before, and since it doesnt all drain from the pan it looked aboput the right color, just a tad darker. So im wondering what would cause it to go dark so fast. It doesnt have a bad cisistancy, infact its perfect from what I can tell by touching it (its not grimy). Im thinking maybe compression leak. Does that sound right? And how should I look into the problem, wha tests should I perform to figure out what it is. It doesnt have me too worried but I would like to fix the problem soon.
MAtt
[Modified by pillowmeto, 8:16 PM 12/1/2003]
[Modified by pillowmeto, 8:26 PM 12/1/2003]
MAtt
[Modified by pillowmeto, 8:16 PM 12/1/2003]
[Modified by pillowmeto, 8:26 PM 12/1/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] (pillowmeto)
There's a chance that the Lucas oil treatment might have loosen up a bunch of gunk and carbon in the oil. If it has been a long time between changes then it might not be a bad idea to put in a bottle of engine flush and change the oil again.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
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From: eville in
Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] (Smokehouse69)
yes , good oil has a detergent additive to clean, you may think about running
a few hundred more mile's and change the filter again and really clean it up
inside
a few hundred more mile's and change the filter again and really clean it up
inside
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,154
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From: I blame my Dyslexia MD
Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] (comp)
thats good to know that it might just be my engine getting its clean on. I did an engine flush with gasoline, about a gallon, as per how may dads tought me how to do it way back then, works pretty well. I used Quakerstate, Maximum protection i think. Since im going to park the car for the winter very soon i think ill just leave it be, oil wise, for now. Then when i open it back up in the spring it put on some miles and change the oil, that will be when ever spring break is i guess.
Thanks for the help
MAtt
Thanks for the help
MAtt
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
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From: eville in
Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] (boredsoIstrokedit)
not a good joke (if you are) store on a fresh oil change.. combustion by-products setting in oil slowly attact the bearings...... a gal. of gas??
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] (comp)
I've heard of people using kerosene or fuel oil for an engine flush, but never gasoline. :eek:
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 145
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From: SouthWest MI
Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] (Big Fish)
Diesel maybe, but not gas. I have used engine flush additives only once, and as I recall, it did have a smell very similar to diesel, but I wouldn't EVER dump anything in my engine if it wasn't purpose built for a specific job.
Cheers,
Tony
Cheers,
Tony
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From: Gordonville MO
Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] (HunterRose)
It's best to use absolutely fresh oil for storage - combustion puts
acids into engine oil which, when sitting for an extended period,
can damage bearing surfaces.
Being it's dark - I'd agree that the additive probably knocked a
bunch of old crud loose - I'd say just before storage would be a
great time to change.
acids into engine oil which, when sitting for an extended period,
can damage bearing surfaces.
Being it's dark - I'd agree that the additive probably knocked a
bunch of old crud loose - I'd say just before storage would be a
great time to change.
Pro
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 608
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Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] (pillowmeto)
I remember Monty mentioned this company that will test your oil for like 35 or 40 bucks a pop. They will analyze the oil and can tell you exact stuff like your distibutor gear is wearing away, or your bearings are losing material.
I guess they test the particles for which alloy they are, and can figure out where the wear and tear is.
I remember when I pulled my oil pan, the engine was dripping for at least 9 days. Oil has a way of coating surfaces and sticking around.
My current voodoo oil change ceremony is to drain all the old oil. Then, I fill her up with some cheapo NAPA brand oil, and run her like that for a week or so. THEN, I drain her again, replace the filter, and put in fresh quaker-state or some other "premium" oil. I was getting dirty sooty-looking oil, hours after the oil change.
Now, since I've been doing this wasteful, expensive, and time consuming oil change process, I find it hard to read the dipstick- the oil is sooo clear.
I guess they test the particles for which alloy they are, and can figure out where the wear and tear is.
I remember when I pulled my oil pan, the engine was dripping for at least 9 days. Oil has a way of coating surfaces and sticking around.
My current voodoo oil change ceremony is to drain all the old oil. Then, I fill her up with some cheapo NAPA brand oil, and run her like that for a week or so. THEN, I drain her again, replace the filter, and put in fresh quaker-state or some other "premium" oil. I was getting dirty sooty-looking oil, hours after the oil change.
Now, since I've been doing this wasteful, expensive, and time consuming oil change process, I find it hard to read the dipstick- the oil is sooo clear.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,154
Likes: 1
From: I blame my Dyslexia MD
Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] ('75 383 ElkGrove)
I really like elk groves oil ceremony. I think im oging to have to try that one from now on, at least for the cars i care about.
MAtt
MAtt
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 677
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From: Cary North Carolina
Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] (pillowmeto)
This link was posted a while back regarding oil
http://www.synlube.com/motoroil.htm
Down the page under "magic dirt appears" is the following:
"SAE 5W-30 Exxon Ultra Flow motor oil. (was placed in a flask)
The Flask was placed on a asbestos pad in steel wire mesh and gas burner underneath was ignited.
The flame was adjusted so that the oil temperature INSIDE the flask was at about 300 ºF.
The experiment was monitored for TWO hours.
The fumes in the flask that were too heavy to escape through the silicone gas line, swirled about violently as the oil inside the flask bubbled, they eventually turned dark, and stained the inner surface above the fluid level in the flask.
The oil itself turned from honey like color to dark brown coffee color."
According to this site oil heated to 300 degrees will turn brown coffee color in two hours. So 300 miles would most likely do the same thing.
Probably nothing wrong with your oil.
Hope this helped,
David
[Modified by GATOR454, 3:13 PM 12/16/2003]
http://www.synlube.com/motoroil.htm
Down the page under "magic dirt appears" is the following:
"SAE 5W-30 Exxon Ultra Flow motor oil. (was placed in a flask)
The Flask was placed on a asbestos pad in steel wire mesh and gas burner underneath was ignited.
The flame was adjusted so that the oil temperature INSIDE the flask was at about 300 ºF.
The experiment was monitored for TWO hours.
The fumes in the flask that were too heavy to escape through the silicone gas line, swirled about violently as the oil inside the flask bubbled, they eventually turned dark, and stained the inner surface above the fluid level in the flask.
The oil itself turned from honey like color to dark brown coffee color."
According to this site oil heated to 300 degrees will turn brown coffee color in two hours. So 300 miles would most likely do the same thing.
Probably nothing wrong with your oil.
Hope this helped,
David
[Modified by GATOR454, 3:13 PM 12/16/2003]
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,154
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From: I blame my Dyslexia MD
Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] (GATOR454)
That pretty interesting david
I didnt think anythign was really worng, i was jsut kind of confused. But with my engine never going above 150, given the oil is hotter than the water, and given the long period btwn changes im going to go with its getting all the bad crap out of my engine.
MAtt
I didnt think anythign was really worng, i was jsut kind of confused. But with my engine never going above 150, given the oil is hotter than the water, and given the long period btwn changes im going to go with its getting all the bad crap out of my engine.
MAtt
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 376
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From: NE PA PA
Re: Oil turned dark quick [kinda long] (pillowmeto)
When I first got my 75, I changed the oil, it was very dark. Installed fresh oil and filter. 200 miles latter it was very dark again. And again installed new oil and filter. Now after 1500 miles the oil looks fresh and clean. I have heard some people flushing thier engine with kero. I would not do that. Its looks like the double oil&filter change worked quite well. :cheers:
