Howdy fellow oilers and lovers of all things oil.
Here's the story. Yesterday was my uncles funeral, (very nice and well done btw). I took my Dad in my car, (1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass 3.1) as it's easier for him to get in and out, (he's 94). On the way home, we decided to ride around a little since he hasn't been out of the house in quite some time. Went to some of his old stomping grounds and did a lot of low speed driving so he could see and do some "remembering." Visited another cemetary where more of the family is buried and saw the graves, etc. He has a hard time walking, so we would simply pull up and look from the roadway. Did this for a couple of hours before heading home.
The problem. The cooling fan for the radiator died some time back. I never replaced it because at highway speeds, the car runs cool without the fan, (temp mark is always at 1/4). Even on a Florida summer day, it rarely goes to 1/2 except at a stop light, then it will start to climb and will approach 1/2 but usually the light will then turn green and I can drive which will cool it back down again. I've driven it this way for two years with no problem. Yesterday, I was enjoying being with my Dad so much and he was having such a good time being out and about that I forgot to keep and eye on the temp guage. We're sitting there chatting with the car running and I happened to look down at the temp guage which was pegged red hot. YIKES!!!! We quickly got out on the road and got into some slow traffic. Car ran hot all the way home, (several miles) and finally, when we pulled in the yard, it had cooled down to the 3/4 mark. I shut the motor off and raised the hood to allow all that heat to escape, (motor was very hot).
The question. Last time I changed the oil in this car, I used "G-oil", (the enviormentally friendly stuff - synthetic 10W30). When the car finally cooled after a couple of hours of sitting in the shade with the hood up, I checked the oil. It's at the full level, but it is a dark brown color, (like strong iced tea). Oil has 1,000 miles on it. Now, if this were a dino oil, I wouldn't be worried, but being it's a veggie based oil, I am somewhat concerned that maybe I "cooked" the oil. Is this a possibility? I've got a free day today and would have time to change the oil but at the same time, hate to toss a perfectly good oil due to being paranoid.
What say you guys - am I over reacting and worrying, or should I get out there and change my super heated oil? Car runs fine so I didn't do any damage to the engine, just a little concerned as to what might have happened to the oil.
Here's the story. Yesterday was my uncles funeral, (very nice and well done btw). I took my Dad in my car, (1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass 3.1) as it's easier for him to get in and out, (he's 94). On the way home, we decided to ride around a little since he hasn't been out of the house in quite some time. Went to some of his old stomping grounds and did a lot of low speed driving so he could see and do some "remembering." Visited another cemetary where more of the family is buried and saw the graves, etc. He has a hard time walking, so we would simply pull up and look from the roadway. Did this for a couple of hours before heading home.
The problem. The cooling fan for the radiator died some time back. I never replaced it because at highway speeds, the car runs cool without the fan, (temp mark is always at 1/4). Even on a Florida summer day, it rarely goes to 1/2 except at a stop light, then it will start to climb and will approach 1/2 but usually the light will then turn green and I can drive which will cool it back down again. I've driven it this way for two years with no problem. Yesterday, I was enjoying being with my Dad so much and he was having such a good time being out and about that I forgot to keep and eye on the temp guage. We're sitting there chatting with the car running and I happened to look down at the temp guage which was pegged red hot. YIKES!!!! We quickly got out on the road and got into some slow traffic. Car ran hot all the way home, (several miles) and finally, when we pulled in the yard, it had cooled down to the 3/4 mark. I shut the motor off and raised the hood to allow all that heat to escape, (motor was very hot).
The question. Last time I changed the oil in this car, I used "G-oil", (the enviormentally friendly stuff - synthetic 10W30). When the car finally cooled after a couple of hours of sitting in the shade with the hood up, I checked the oil. It's at the full level, but it is a dark brown color, (like strong iced tea). Oil has 1,000 miles on it. Now, if this were a dino oil, I wouldn't be worried, but being it's a veggie based oil, I am somewhat concerned that maybe I "cooked" the oil. Is this a possibility? I've got a free day today and would have time to change the oil but at the same time, hate to toss a perfectly good oil due to being paranoid.
What say you guys - am I over reacting and worrying, or should I get out there and change my super heated oil? Car runs fine so I didn't do any damage to the engine, just a little concerned as to what might have happened to the oil.
