Just a quick question for you oil guys.

As my Runner is still under warrenty I prefer to just service it at the dealer. They use penzoil. SO at 20K miles I bought Mobil1 and had them put that in. I checked my oil after the service and I checked my oil again yesterday (21k and a bit), and the color of the mobil1 seems darker than what the pennzoil was. I use a clean white cloth to check my oil. Is this normal? Now I wonder whether the stealer actually put the mobil1 in.

Should I have an oil analysis done?
If so how do I get a smple from the engine and will they be able to tell me whether it is mobil1 or not?
How and where do I send it?

Thanx in advance.

 

 

penzoil is crap, it makes sludge in the engine.....

as for the testing, not sure where to get it done, but i dont know if they can compare a sample of your oil to a sample of new oil....

another reason i do my own oil changes... dealerships and most auto type shops arent very trustworthy... if i let somewhere do it, i stand right at the edge of the bay until it rolls out of the shop..... i work at wheel works and we do everything... i am very meticulous about doing things right, but i have met some people that arent...

 

COuld it be that the Mobil1 is cleaning it up a bit and that why it is slightly darker?

Edit: I had them do oil changes every 2500miles before. So now I want to go to the standard 5k and use a proper oil.

 

i dont know..... its possible, but usually oil wont clean up sludge... a motor flush would though

 

I use Mobil1 and I noted that it starts out a darker shade of brown than most dino oils I have used. If you want to be sure, buy a quart of Mobil1 and check its color against what's in the engine.

 

Thx TechWrench, I can sleep a little easier now. Will chekc against a new qt just to be sure.

 

Mobil1 is known for darkening early, i have seen it do it many times. It has been proven that oil color is not something to worry about also. Some darken and some dont. Also, to the guy above, pennzoil is not crap, it puts up some great 3k mile numbers in used oil anaylsis and has been deemed a good bargain for 3k mile changes at a buck per quart.

 

Also, you can send virgin oil and used oil to Blackstone and for $20 a piece you will be able to compare your used and new oil.

 

Thanx for the info, but how do you take an oil sample form the engine? Tube through the dipstick pipe?? I have no clue how this is done apart from draining the oil, in which cse I have to replace it which serves no purpose.

 

yeah, it needs to be done when the engine is warmed up and when you drain the oil. I get my local place to do it on my car but on my truck I do it(car is too low to deal with). You want to let some of the first oil run out for a couple o f seconds then fill the jar up by sticking it in the stream. If you go to blackstones site they will mail you a kit for free.