Modern day oil

Some of you guys are in the automotive industry so I thought you might have some insight.

I've noticed in recent years that the oil coming out of my new engines looks really bad. The last oil change on my Tacoma had 5k miles on mobile 1 oil with 20k on that engine. It was so bad that the.guy at AutoZone told me I need to change my oil more often because it looked and smelled burnt.

I just did the first oil change on my wife's Subaru at 1k miles as a precaution. This is what 1k miles oil looks like out of a brand new engine.

Perhaps it’s the better additive package in modern oils? Makes sense in theory… if it’s keeping carbon from building up it’s gotta go somewhere.
I do believe changing oil more often is more advantageous than changing it less frequently with designer oils. I’d much rather change my oil every 3k or less with Walmart oil (or similar) than every 10-20k with Amsoil or the like. Even if the designer oil isn’t breaking down, there’s carbon and other deposits to worry about. Not to mention fuel… that’s a whole other can of worms adding nasty to the engine.

My theory is that it's either better detergents like you are saying, or 0W-20 oil breaking down quicker. I just didn't expect it to be this dark at 1K miles in a brand new engine with zero carbon deposits to absorb.

Fwiw I’m a Subaru Fanboy and the boxers are just hard on Mobil 1 oil.. from what I’ve seen. I tried Mobil 1 in one I had a few years ago but it burned it off between changes (and others on the interwebs were saying the same thing) so I switched to Rotella T6 and have had great luck with it.

Nowadays I run T6 in all my Subarus except the Wilderness it gets Pennzoil platinum and I’ve had good luck with that.

@Die Blaue Ziege thoughts? He’s my go to on oil—knows a thing or two

Rot Box said:

Fwiw I’m a Subaru Fanboy and the boxers are just hard on Mobil 1 oil.. from what I’ve seen. I tried Mobil 1 in one I had a few years ago but it burned it off between changes (and others on the interwebs were saying the same thing) so I switched to Rotella T6 and have had great luck with it.

Nowadays I run T6 in all my Subarus except the Wilderness it gets Pennzoil platinum and I’ve had good luck with that.

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I had a REALLY hard time doing it but I put the yellow stuff in my Mustang (10qrts ouch). The internet says it's good stuff but I had to look away while I poured it in. Pennzoil had never been on my radar as a quality oil. Oh the times are a changing.

You should take an oil analysis.

I listened to a conversation with the guy who created BLUD lubricants. He was adamant that you can’t judge oil health by its color and rarely even the smell. Of coarse that’s designed oil.

After watching a PF video, we switched to Penzoil.

Hmm i've been an Amsoil fanboy, should I be concerned?

Tonkaman said:

You should take an oil analysis.

I listened to a conversation with the guy who created BLUD lubricants. He was adamant that you can’t judge oil health by its color and rarely even the smell. Of coarse that’s designed oil.

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Oil analysis or licking the dipstick is about the only way to see how bad things are or aren't

I did oil analysis on the wife’s Toyoda 4.0 on her 100k oil change. Been running Amsoil on 5k interval. The company said oil was good for another few k at least. But that motor isn’t exactly the peak of current motor tech

TRD270 said:

I did oil analysis on the wife’s Toyoda 4.0 on her 100k oil change. Been running Amsoil on 5k interval. The company said oil was good for another few k at least. But that motor isn’t exactly the peak of current motor tech

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I've never been an amzoil fan but in the project farm video jeeper mentioned it won with Pennzoil ultra platinum coming in second.

I'm fairly comfortable with 5k miles intervals and any decent modern oil. I'm just curious why it's so black these days.

I don't have an answer but my '97 4Runner that I've owned for 20 years, exhaust smells different. It happened maybe 5 years ago. It doesn't matter if i use Chevron 91 or ethanol free or 85 from a questionable station. It has had its share of oil changes in its 215k miles. I switched to 5w30 Kirkland synthetic a few years ago but I've used nearly everything including 0.89 cents a quart Peak off the discount rack at 1k intervals.

The oil stays clean and full on the dipstick and the filter has minimal carbon when cut open. Our 3.5 Sienna has started to get dark quick but sounds and feels great. Clean OEM filters and no oil consumption, same with the Highlander but the oil darkens after 1.5-2k.

I've never done a UOA but suspect it is a change in fuel opposed to oil.

Never a code, hesitation or drop in economy just darker oil and different smelling exhaust.

Newer engines running hotter for efficiency? Dunno.

The oil analysis I've been most interested in are the ones that show film strengths and ppm suspension impurity qualities. That's where newer oils really shine.

Also as a two stroke addict: lower combustion temps and complete combustion percentages are awesome on new oils.

I engage in oil testing on a daily basis and have received formal training in oil analysis through Noria. While it can be unsettling to observe that your oil appears black, it is important to note that color alone is not a reliable indicator of oil condition. I have submitted samples of oil that appeared very clean, only to discover elevated levels of iron or silicon (indicative of dirt), while a sample of brown oil (specifically Mobil Delvac 1 5w-40) returned with a clean analysis, albeit with some viscosity shearing.
It is essential to remember that each engine operates differently, and the environment in which they function also plays a significant role. The quality of both air and oil filters, as well as injector health, engine wear and fuel quality can impact oil preformance. To determine appropriate oil change intervals and the most suitable oil type for your specific application, it is advisable to send a sample to a testing laboratory. I have utilized the services of Blackstone and Polaris, both of which are reputable labs.
Mobil 1 is an excellent oil for many applications; however, without a report on your particular engine, it is challenging to ascertain the underlying issues. The report of a burnt smell is indeed concerning. Please ensure that you are using the recommended viscosity for your application’s operating temperature range.