Oil color different cool versus hot?

[FCD]

Might sounds like a dumb question but it's something i had not realised until yet

When i pull the dipstick cold on my 1988 Escort, the oil is a nice amber / brown colour.

However yesterday i pulled it about 15min. after shutting the engine off and the oil colour is nearly absolutely clear.

The oil has less than 2000km on it.
I take this is normal???

 

[Bailes1992]

Always noticed his myself. Just assumed its because when the engine has been running the oil is a bit thinner.

 

[Shannow]

Yes, I belive that the thinner oil pulls a thinner layer on the dipstick, and results in a lighter looking dipstick.

 

[weasley]

^^^ This ^^^

 

[FCD]

Kind of makes sense....

 

[addyguy]

Oil is always darker when colder.

 

[Tman220]

You would think an oil site like this, obsessed with viscosity etc etc would realize oil will appear darker on a dipstick when cold, compared to when it is warm because of a thicker layer of oil clinging to the dipstick when cold...

 

[OilUzer]

Does that mean that the "oil site" can not ask any questions since everything has been discussed ... and we should be able to solve any problem since all underlying facts may have been discussed in one form or another?

If that's the case, most websites will be out of biz