i30 Owners Club

GOT PROBLEMS OR ISSUES? => DIESEL => Topic started by: unfamilia on July 03, 2011, 00:25:13

Title: Oil color?
Post by: unfamilia on July 03, 2011, 00:25:13
Ok stupid question but dealer was to give my car it's 75000 k service. Looking at the oil is still dark color. Do diesels make oil dark straight away? Or should it he clear like petrol cars for a few thousand kms till becoming darker
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: Dazzler on July 03, 2011, 00:42:01
Doesn't sound right to me  :undecided: The oil goes dark quicker in a diesel due to the nature of the "combustion system" for want of a better name but should be clean after a service for atleast a 1000kms or two!

We had a CRDi for 28 months and did 68,000kms..

I would pop back in and ask to speak to the Service Manager :whistler: Show him the dipstick (or show the dipstick the oil...take your pick :lol:)
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: unfamilia on July 03, 2011, 02:06:50
That dealership is 70km away. Might just take to local for oil change.
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: rustynutz on July 03, 2011, 03:37:42
When they drop the old oil out, a small amount still remains, so the leftovers discolour the new oil....   :)
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: Dazzler on July 03, 2011, 03:57:59
When they drop the old oil out, a small amount still remains, so the leftovers discolour the new oil....   :)

Fair call Russ but should only discolour it a bit (not black)  :undecided:
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: Pip on July 03, 2011, 05:07:09
I'd be careful calling foul on the oil colour alone. It's hard to see the difference after the car has been driven a bit. Probably after a flush you might be able to tell. A flush is not required nor recommended.

Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: unfamilia on July 03, 2011, 08:15:28
Yeah Thad why I thought I'd ask, never had a diesel before. Petrol used to discolor after 2000km, my LPG datsun still looks clean every 6 months lol but I still change it.

I can see slight clear on paper but looks dark on the cloth when I sipe dip stick. Drove about 300 since serviced.
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: asathorny on July 03, 2011, 09:51:18
My previous car was a Toyota and on it's final service whilst in my possesion I had it serviced at a toyota dealership.  When I can home I dipped the oil (as ya do) and low and behold, same problem as you Unfamilia dark oil.  I didn't have to drive 70 miles back so I was back there quick stix. I marched in and said, can you explain why the oil in my car is black emmediatly after a service.  The head honcha went out to the car and had a look then came back in, a few seconds later a technician was taking my car round the back to the workshop, the head honcha came back in, got me a coffee and said "we're doing the oil change right now, Sir, and the total service charge will be refunded to your card, please accept our appologies"  RESULT... :happydance:
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: unfamilia on July 03, 2011, 11:59:45
asathorny was your toyota a diesel too?

reading up on it, its not uncommon for deisels to discolour the oil within kms of an oil change.
something to do with sulpher and soot deposits from the fuel.

that soothes me a bit but still not used to it. the oil feels ok on my fingers visocsity wise, like new oil. and reads ok on the dip stick.

will just monitor it and if in doubt in the next 1000kms, will do a change. if they didnt drain it when warm or all of it, then the old oil remaining would discolor it almost immediatelty.

Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: Dazzler on July 03, 2011, 12:15:30
I don't remember it being THAT dark within a few hundred kilometres of a service  :undecided:

If it is translucent that would be ok but if it is an opaque Black then I still have my doubts...
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: eye30 on July 03, 2011, 12:59:23
Check the oil filter and see if it has been replaced
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: asathorny on July 03, 2011, 13:51:01
Unfamilia...

No it was a petrol, however, I have had diesel vehicles and I have to agree with the others here whom say that getting very dark just on the drive home seems rather odd.  It's a pitty you didn't dip it before you left the dealership <sigh>

Good luck with it.

Asa
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: rustynutz on July 03, 2011, 14:28:16
When  my crdi had its 15,000k service they only used 5 litres of oil. (I supplied 6)

Seeing as the sump holds 5.3, that means there was approx .3 of a litre of black oil left to discolour the new oil, more than enough, especially after 300k (in familia's case) to dirty the new oil up, IMO.... :undecided:
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: unfamilia on July 03, 2011, 22:37:03
heres a dodge phone pic of the oil color. on the paper you can make out golden hues of the newer oil.
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: Dazzler on July 03, 2011, 22:43:27
Just a thought is the sticker changed? Don't think they would do that and not bother changing the oil... :undecided:
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: unfamilia on July 04, 2011, 01:55:03
Yeah but not from the dealership, from the place across rd from dealership, and dealer stamped.
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: Dazzler on July 04, 2011, 10:25:24
Yeah but not from the dealership, from the place across rd from dealership, and dealer stamped.

I reckon you are pretty safe then  :goodjob:
Title: Re: Oil color?
Post by: Ultralights on July 05, 2011, 13:00:58
Yeah, diesels will discolour the oil very quickly,   if its been there too long it will be the blackest black you will ever see! darker than ink! but also, some diesel oils will be very dark brown colour to start with, depends on the brand i guess.
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