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Engine oil, is it too dark?

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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 05:23 PM
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Default Engine oil, is it too dark?

Recently, I note that my engine oil is a bit too dark. This picture from 2812 miles (2.5 months). Any advise?

05ES330@75K miles DIY oil change every 5000km/3Kmiles or every 3 months. I use toyota filter and Castrol GTX High Mileage SAE 5W30 after 50K miles.
Attached Thumbnails Engine oil, is it too dark?-es330-engineoil.jpg  
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 06:01 PM
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It's REALLY not easy to tell in a bag like that as it makes the oil too thick, so it may appear a lot darker then it really is. Put a little on a paper tower and post a pic of that too.

Also, if the last oil change you did, you left a little in there, it will instantly make the oil darker.
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 06:02 PM
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Color is never an indication of how much life there is in oil. What's more important is how much life is there left in the oil..which is something we can't do by looking at it. We can only tell if the oil is sent to an oil analysis lab (which may be worth it for some).
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 06:43 PM
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I would suggest adding some flush shortly before the next oil change, follow the directions on the can closely. Other than that I would not worry about it,
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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 07:17 AM
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No way to tell on color. Suggest you switch to a good synthetic and run 5K miles per change.
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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 08:57 AM
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Thanks for all responses. I just wonder and remember that it was not that dark. I do understand that it is hard to tell from color, and only oil analysis lab could tell the remaining life of the oil. Lately, my car start to get a bit hesitate/knock more often from stop and go on Beltway even I use 91 octane gas. And also, its coolant 3/4 lower from full in overfill reservoir. If my memory serves me well, I remembered when I checked in Spring that it was full.

I may change to synthetic next Spring when I finish my Castrol GTX. I usually stock them up for one year when it is on sale. Once again, thanks
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Old Aug 31, 2009 | 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by GSteg
Color is never an indication of how much life there is in oil. What's more important is how much life is there left in the oil..which is something we can't do by looking at it. We can only tell if the oil is sent to an oil analysis lab (which may be worth it for some).
Could not have said it any better...
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