Advice needed
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 520
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From: Hawaii
Advice needed
When i brought my car in for its first oil change at the dealer my car had around 3k miles and i brought in my own oil. I used Amsoil 30 weight. 3k miles later i check my oil and i noticed it to be slightly darker so i decided to just change it anyways.
Doing the oil change myself when i unscrewed the oil drain plug, the oil came out very very dark, almost black. I was quite shocked because from my previous car, being almost good about changing it @ around 3k miles, the oil never came out as dark as what i saw.
Now is/was this normal for some of you guys who had changed your own oil? Is there any test that i could use that i can id the old oil being a certain brand? Or knowing if it was syn or dino oil?
I mean this just got me thinking...
Either this is sort of normal and my dealer did change my oil or this is not normal and the mechanic from the dealer gave me the shaft.
Advice please.
Doing the oil change myself when i unscrewed the oil drain plug, the oil came out very very dark, almost black. I was quite shocked because from my previous car, being almost good about changing it @ around 3k miles, the oil never came out as dark as what i saw.
Now is/was this normal for some of you guys who had changed your own oil? Is there any test that i could use that i can id the old oil being a certain brand? Or knowing if it was syn or dino oil?
I mean this just got me thinking...
Either this is sort of normal and my dealer did change my oil or this is not normal and the mechanic from the dealer gave me the shaft.
Advice please.
Maybe the dealer didn't change the oil afterall? Shockingly this happens with dealers now and than.
Just change your own oil from now on to make sure the job is done right. And then compare.
Just change your own oil from now on to make sure the job is done right. And then compare.
CL Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,744
Likes: 350
From: NJ
Oil color has nothing to do with how dirty an oil is, nor how well it lubricates. http://motor-oil-engineers.com/oilcolor.htm and http://www.searchforparts.com/import...tamination.php
If you are concerned about the condition of the oil you drained from your engine, send a sample of it for an oil analysis. Many people here use Blackstone Labs: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
If you are concerned about the condition of the oil you drained from your engine, send a sample of it for an oil analysis. Many people here use Blackstone Labs: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
Last edited by Bichon; Feb 9, 2008 at 08:16 AM.
CL Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,744
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From: NJ
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Candyland
Ah, you beat me to the punch. Yes, the Gen 2 is a cannister filter like the beemers. You can put a little hidden tourque seal around the lip that is unoticeable to the dealer. hen chek and see if they disturbed this seal when removing the cannister filter plate.
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 45
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From: Florida
When you pick your car up check the dipstick it should be very light as compared to when you bring the car in for the oil change. If you are used to checking the dipstick you can tell fresh oil from used by sight the fresh oil will look almost like a transparent golden color.
CL Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: NJ
True, but unless you're an investigative journalist doing research for a dealer rip-off story, I don't see the point. For the amount of effort involved: putting the car on ramps, removing the three bolts to remove the plastic filter hatch, putting the goop on the lip, then replacing the hatch and three bolts, and finally doing the whole thing again after the oil change to see if your mark is still there... It would take significantly less effort to just change the oil yourself.
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Hawaii
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From: Windward, Oahu
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From: Windward, Oahu
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