New here and need some input on oil being odd

[Scoott]

Hi everyone
I am looking at a car and when I pulled the dipstick I got this very odd colour. The colour to me is a reddish brown. I have been Googling to see why this colour.
The engine runs extremely smooth, there is no noises, no smoke, has all kinds of power, starts right up, idles smooth and so on.
I found that there are certain brands that actually turn red.
The car should be using full synthetic oil 0W40

Please any help would be greatly appreciated
Scott

 

[CharBaby]

Can you give some more information on the car, year, engine, mileage etc.

I'm wondering if it's just coincidental that the oil is red=ish. I've kind'a seen this(Toyota Corolla) but, also has me curious if someone put Marvel Mystery Oil(MMO) in the oil as a cleaner, or put in some automatic transmission fluid(ATF) by accident??????

 

[19jacobob93]

Hmm that is strange, I couldn't tell you really but what car/engine is it and what is the mileage?

 

[Bandito440]

I wonder if that's moisture/coolant in the oil. In any case, it's contaminated with something. Don't drive it in that state. Drain the oil, change the filter, and save a sample for oil analysis if you need it later on.

Information on the make, model, year, and the mileage of the vehicle would be helpful.

Who changed the oil last, and with what? How long ago was it?

 

[CrawfishTails]

I'm going to guess possible water/anti-freeze contamination. Seems like I've seen the red color reaction from that a long time ago, if 25 year memory serves me correctly. Send a sample into Blackstone or another lab and get back to us PLEASE.

 

[wemay]

Sounds like ATF to me. I dont know of any motor oil that turns reddish.

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: wemay
Sounds like ATF to me. I dont know of any motor oil that turns reddish.


x2

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Can you give some more information on the car, year, engine, mileage etc.

I'm wondering if it's just coincidental that the oil is red=ish. I've kind'a seen this(Toyota Corolla) but, also has me curious if someone put Marvel Mystery Oil(MMO) in the oil as a cleaner, or put in some automatic transmission fluid(ATF) by accident??????


2003 Mercedes S55 supercharged with 190,000km on it.
The car engine has no noises, no oil pressure warning lights, runs very strong, idles great, hauls on the highway and no smoke.

 

[Recalculating]

Maybe our new member is pulling on the ATF dip stick instead of the stick having a want for 0W40?

This reminds me of our gracious members providing numerous responses to a new member (Donna) who never replies again.

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: CrawfishTails
I'm going to guess possible water/anti-freeze contamination. Seems like I've seen the red color reaction from that a long time ago, if 25 year memory serves me correctly. Send a sample into Blackstone or another lab and get back to us PLEASE.

Sending it to a lab is kind of out of the question before I buy the car. They would like to wrap up the sale by Monday.
I googled red engine oil and there are a few brands that say they turn red Amsoil, Redline and Motul
My concern is the colour and how thin it is

The car should be using full synthetic like Moblie 1 0W40, but the above are also listed for Mercedes

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: Recalculating
Maybe our new member is pulling on the ATF dip stick instead of the stick having a want for 0W40?

This reminds me of our gracious members providing numerous responses to a new member (Donna) who never replies again.

Not pulling the transmission dipstick. This car has the sealed transmission. There is no transmission dipstick.

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Originally Posted By: wemay
Sounds like ATF to me. I dont know of any motor oil that turns reddish.


x2


I have heard of people putting ATF in the engine just before an oil change to clean things up. Or to solve noisy lifters.
I also know if it was pure ATF the car would smoke like crazy as the ATF will work pass the rings

 

[Bandito440]

I missed the part about this being a vehicle that you wanted to purchase. Don't.

The milky appearance of that fluid suggests contamination from coolant. I'd be concerned about a head gasket.

If you really like this vehicle, take it to a MB dealer and have them look it over.

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
I missed the part about this being a vehicle that you wanted to purchase. Don't.

The milky appearance of that fluid suggests contamination from coolant. I'd be concerned about a head gasket.

If you really like this vehicle, take it to a MB dealer and have them look it over.

Wouldn't the oil in the pan be milky as well. Every time I have seen a car with water/coolant in the oil it looks like a coffee with cream.

 

[19jacobob93]

Originally Posted By: Scoott
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
I missed the part about this being a vehicle that you wanted to purchase. Don't.

The milky appearance of that fluid suggests contamination from coolant. I'd be concerned about a head gasket.

If you really like this vehicle, take it to a MB dealer and have them look it over.

Wouldn't the oil in the pan be milky as well. Every time I have seen a car with water/coolant in the oil it looks like a coffee with cream.

Any sugar or marshmallows?
But seriously if I saw that on a car I was about to buy I would avoid. Did you ask the seller about the oil? Who changed it, what oil and any additives ect. I add Liqui Moly to mine which turns the fresh clear oil into the most horrible cloudy grey colour but obviously it isn't harming anything

 

[Scoott]

To follow up
With the engine cold or hot I have put a cloth over each exhaust pipe and there is no moisture. The exhaust smells like exhaust no smell of antifreeze.
The car has not been driven much in the last 6-8 months.
I have driven the car in city and highway the car does not over heat, coolant has to tint to it and there is no residue/staining in the overflow tank.
Again both hot or cold no engine noise knocking, rattling, slapping anything. Idles smooth starts up with ease, no shakes at highway speeds, no smoke blue/white or other, no oil pressure warning lights
The engine looks like it has never been detailed but no leaks at all.
The thing is just this red thin oil

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Seems normal these days - Many sump dumps in the past couple years have been reddish/mahogany colour. Though I was experiencing knocking and other odd noises in some apps. May be side affect of E10 fuels and new additive packages in ILSAC service categories.

This has been discussed a few times in the past.

 

[DuckRyder]

Every car I've seen with significant water contamination has looked like chocolate milkshake on the stick and under the oil cap provided it has been run post contamination.

Has this car sat unused for a while and was that picture prior to or after the test drive?

What does it look like under the fill cap?

What does the owner/records say about maintenance?

Considering what a repair on a S55 is bound to cost, I'd be inclined to have a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist.

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: 19jacobob93
Originally Posted By: Scoott
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
I missed the part about this being a vehicle that you wanted to purchase. Don't.

The milky appearance of that fluid suggests contamination from coolant. I'd be concerned about a head gasket.

If you really like this vehicle, take it to a MB dealer and have them look it over.

Wouldn't the oil in the pan be milky as well. Every time I have seen a car with water/coolant in the oil it looks like a coffee with cream.

Any sugar or marshmallows?
But seriously if I saw that on a car I was about to buy I would avoid. Did you ask the seller about the oil? Who changed it, what oil and any additives ect. I add Liqui Moly to mine which turns the fresh clear oil into the most horrible cloudy grey colour but obviously it isn't harming anything


The seller is selling because of a death and knows absolutely nothing about the car.
The car is at the low end of the scale these fetch here

 

[CrawfishTails]

Originally Posted By: Scoott

The seller is selling because of a death and knows absolutely nothing about the car.
The car is at the low end of the scale these fetch here


Mercedes dealers keep maintenance records by VIN number, so they have info, if it went there obviously. It could just be a little water contamination from short trips turning it red. Like you said to, Motul turns red, and thats a popular oil for Mercedes, maybe anyway.