Mobil 1 changed color after a few miles?

[tiger8866]

OK, here my story. I have a 2005 Civic running on conventional oil since day 1. After doing some reading on this site (which is a fantastic source of info BTW) I have decided to switch to Mobil 1 on my scheduled oil change yesterday. I brought in 4 bottles of M1 to the dealership and they gave me back a half full bottle plus 3 empties. After driving about 11 miles home, I checked the dip stick and found the oil on the dip stick to be a light yellow or brown color (this is about the same color as the regular Honda bulk oil I am used to seeing). I checked the oil in the bottle and that oil is very clear compared with the oil on the dip stick.

So my question is, did the M1 really turn yellow in 11 miles or maybe the dealer used conventional oil instead of my M1?

 

[M1Accord]

It shouldn't change color after 11 mile. I use nothing but Mobil 1 in many of my vehicles and I have never had a oil looking yellow like Pennzoil color. It suppose to stay very light tan color with some very light mix of black stuff once it is dirty after several thousand miles. When it comes relatively dark, a fresh filter will clean the oil up in less than 300 miles.

BTW, I am not sure what your definition of yellow so I can't comment on whether or not your dealer did you in. Could you pull the dip stick out and see if the oil is dripping about 2 to 3 drops drop the tip? Mobil 1 tend to do that much easier than dino.

 

[JAG]

That's from residual oil left in the engine during the oil change.

 

[Merkava_4]

Unless your engine has been kept very clean, Mobil 1 will start changing colour quickly because it's scrubbing your engine. It's not uncommon for an engine that's been run on dino to cause Mobil 1 to turn black; that's because it's cleaning all the impurities from your engine.

On the other hand - there's always the possibility that the mechanic put your Mobil 1 in his toolbox for safe keeping and gave you dealer bulk oil.

 

[aquariuscsm]

My Mobil 1 is still crystal clear after 2000 miles

Good ole Mobil 1 has kept my engine internals absolutely spotless!

 

[tiger8866]

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BTW, I am not sure what your definition of yellow so I can't comment on whether or not your dealer did you in. Could you pull the dip stick out and see if the oil is dripping about 2 to 3 drops drop the tip? Mobil 1 tend to do that much easier than conventional.

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Yeah, describing a color is very subjective. However, I did noticed the oil seems thinner, it dripped a couple of drops from dip stick between the time I pulled it out of the engine block and moving the stick towards me. I can't recall that ever happened before with conventional oil.

 

[tiger8866]

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On the other hand - there's always the possibility that the mechanic put your Mobil 1 in his toolbox for safe keeping and gave you dealer bulk oil.

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That's what I thinking too but on second thought, I'm beginning to discount that scenario. I did get back the empty bottles after all. I supposed he could have poured the M1 into his own container, but I don't think it would be worth his time to go through that much trouble just to steal 3.5 liters of oil.

 

[tiger8866]

Thanks to all your replies.

I guess I'll have to wait until the next oil change and check the color again. Hopefully it be much clearer after this batch has taken out all the left over impurities.

 

[M1Accord]

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On the other hand - there's always the possibility that the mechanic put your Mobil 1 in his toolbox for safe keeping and gave you dealer bulk oil.

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That's what I thinking too but on second thought, I'm beginning to discount that scenario. I did get back the empty bottles after all. I supposed he could have poured the M1 into his own container, but I don't think it would be worth his time to go through that much trouble just to steal 3.5 liters of oil.

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You'd be amaze how trickery and crooked some "oilchanics" are. The fact that you brought your own lube probably ____ him off as he viewed hat as your attempt to cut into his profit. He could have sold you fake synthetic for syn price, but you tried to screw him. So he went for plan B.

 

[M1Accord]

Just joking though. But you should really consider changing your own oil. It is the the 5th easiest thing to do:

easiest: add windshield fluid
2nd: check and adjust tire pressure
3rd: change air filter
4th: change oil filter
5th: change oil

 

[tiger8866]

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You'd be amaze how trickery and crooked some "oilchanics" are. The fact that you brought your own lube probably ____ him off as he viewed hat as your attempt to cut into his profit. He could have sold you fake synthetic for syn price, but you tried to screw him. So he went for plan B.

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I get my oil changes at the dealership, so there is less of a incentive to pull any stunts, but anything is possible, I guess. The funny thing is, I wanted to go synthetic from the 1st oil change, but they talked me out of spending the extra $40 because they said I wouldn't really need it for a Civic and that they already uses Semi Synthetic any ways.

I haven't changed my own oil since I left high school. Now that I live in a condo, I just don't have the space or the tools. The dealer charges $35 for the (regular) oil change, so I don't mind them doing it since it would cost at least that much for the parts and labor if I do it myself, plus not having the agro of disposing the used oil is a bonus.

 

[tiger8866]

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That's from residual oil left in the engine during the oil change.

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After talking to a few friends on this, I think the most likely case is the old oil wasn't fully drained out before the new M1 was added.

 

[daemonite]

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Just joking though. But you should really consider changing your own oil. It is the the 5th easiest thing to do:

easiest: add windshield fluid
2nd: check and adjust tire pressure
3rd: change air filter
4th: change oil filter
5th: change oil

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hahaha try a new 2007 VW...

the air filter is integrated into the engine cover and requires about 20 minutes to remove for the first time. Plus you break anything, its $150 to replace since it's all one unit.

Oil filter is easy but requires time and 16 stupid hex bolts to remove the lower plastic aerodynamic cover on the bottom of the engine. Yeah...VW didnt make it easy...

 

[Rico567]

Our '04 SAAB 9-5 has NEVER had anything but Mobil 1 0W-40 put in it since new. I know this to be true because I do all my own oil changes. It's had 5K OCIs and has around 52K on it. Within 500 miles, the M1 is ALWAYS turning black, I suspect because of the turbocharged engine. This appears to have NO ill effect at all. The (leased) car runs fine and gets spectacular mileage (33mpg on a recent 2400 mile trip). When I examine the drained oil at each oil change, it is black but also translucent- there are no visible particles in the oil, and I'm thinking the black color change is pretty normal, and is mostly from particles of carbon too small to be visible with the naked eye being carried in suspension. There are also no detectable particles that pour out of a used oil filter (SAAB filters).
As to the question of whether you've had an Oil Swap pulled on you, I can't see a good way to answer that question. If you have doubts, have the oil changed where you can watch it actually being done.

 

[Merkava_4]

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Oil filter is easy but requires time and 16 stupid hex bolts to remove the lower plastic aerodynamic cover on the bottom of the engine. Yeah...VW didnt make it easy...

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That's better than those special plastic rivets (which require a special tool) that GM uses for their splash guard.

 

[sxg6]

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Unless your engine has been kept very clean, Mobil 1 will start changing colour quickly because it's scrubbing your engine.

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What?!

Oil changes color for a number of reasons, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Merkava_4]

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Unless your engine has been kept very clean, Mobil 1 will start changing colour quickly because it's scrubbing your engine.

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What?!

Oil changes color for a number of reasons, I wouldn't worry about it.

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sxg6,

This is your engine - is it not? Where do you think I got the idea that Mobil 1 cleans so well?

 

[Cooper]

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OK, here my story. I brought in 4 bottles of M1 to the dealership.....

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[Bill in Utah]

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Unless your engine has been kept very clean, Mobil 1 will start changing colour quickly because it's scrubbing your engine. It's not uncommon for an engine that's been run on dino to cause Mobil 1 to turn black; that's because it's cleaning all the impurities from your engine.

On the other hand - there's always the possibility that the mechanic put your Mobil 1 in his toolbox for safe keeping and gave you dealer bulk oil.

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Key words...

Scrubbing

Black

impurities

I love where this board is going...

 

[sxg6]

Yes, that is my engine. I don't think Mobil 1 cleaned it at all, I think it did a good job of keeping my motor clean by doing its job. I haven't seen any proof that a pcmo will actually perform any cleaning, but with a reasonable oci i think all pcmo's will keep an engine clean. As long as the engine doesn't have any flaws that make it prone to sludge.