some guys brag that after 3000 to 5000 miles their oil still looks
clean. is this good? have heard that clean oil after several thousand
miles only means that the oil is not cleaning the engine and removing
deposits and so fourth. whaat do you guys think?
"Dave Dave" <daveooo58@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:10321-4432BC57-1201@storefull-3352.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> some guys brag that after 3000 to 5000 miles their oil still looks
> clean. is this good? have heard that clean oil after several thousand
> miles only means that the oil is not cleaning the engine and removing
> deposits and so fourth. whaat do you guys think?[/color]
From the research lab guys at Mobil I had it confirmed that a good oil
cleans up deposits and holds such deposits and other contaminates in
suspension. This means that an oil that gets dirty and can hold the dirt in
suspension is doing what the lab guys intended. It must also hold water, and
deal with acids, as well as lubricate. If someone is using a so called
detergent oil and it is staying clear, something is wrong with the oil.
"Dave Dave" <daveooo58@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:10321-4432BC57-1201@storefull-3352.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> some guys brag that after 3000 to 5000 miles their oil still looks
> clean. is this good? have heard that clean oil after several thousand
> miles only means that the oil is not cleaning the engine and removing
> deposits and so fourth. whaat do you guys think?
>[/color]
I think those guys brag about their oil because they don't have the trophy
wife/girlfriend/mistress, overachiever children, mansion in the burbs,
country estate, yacht, bizjet, or season tickets to the White Sox to brag
about.
As far as the oil looking clean, it is possible that the oil is not removing
contaminants, that there are no contaminants to remove, or that those guys
are exaggerating.
--
"Dave Dave" <daveooo58@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:10321-4432BC57-1201@storefull-3352.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> some guys brag that after 3000 to 5000 miles their oil still looks
> clean. is this good? have heard that clean oil after several thousand
> miles only means that the oil is not cleaning the engine and removing
> deposits and so fourth. whaat do you guys think?
>[/color]
"Clean" is a matter of degree. No one has oil that looks brand new after
3000 - 5000 miles. However some oil is dirtier than others, and most of the
better cars that I have owned (Toyota and Honda) has much cleaner looking
oil than crappy cars. I take that as a good sign, not a bad one.
>> some guys brag that after 3000 to 5000 miles their oil still looks[color=blue][color=green]
>> clean. is this good? have heard that clean oil after several thousand
>> miles only means that the oil is not cleaning the engine and removing
>> deposits and so fourth. whaat do you guys think?[/color]
>
>
> From the research lab guys at Mobil I had it confirmed that a good oil
> cleans up deposits and holds such deposits and other contaminates in
> suspension. This means that an oil that gets dirty and can hold the dirt
> in suspension is doing what the lab guys intended. It must also hold
> water, and deal with acids, as well as lubricate. If someone is using a so
> called detergent oil and it is staying clear, something is wrong with the
> oil.[/color]
So it means the very dark Toyota Oil (at 3K-4K) I had been using was
actually good? I thought it was bad and switched to Mobil7500.
"ZR" <ZR@ABC.COM> wrote in message
news:icFYf.3085$i41.2660@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...[color=blue]
>
> So it means the very dark Toyota Oil (at 3K-4K) I had been using was
> actually good? I thought it was bad and switched to Mobil7500.
>[/color]
A synthetic blend oil like Mobil 7500 is better than a conventional oil. An
engine that turn oil black after 3000 miles is usually not in as good of
shape as an engine that turn an oil dark brown in that same amount of time.
The color of the engine oil says more about the engine than it does about
the quality of the oil, unless you have a really crappy oil.
However, changing to a better oil "may" not improve the condition of an
engine, but it "may" keep things from getting any worse. But these things
are hard to predict and results vary from case to case (no pun intended).
"Dave Dave" <daveooo58@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:10321-4432BC57-1201@storefull-3352.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> some guys brag that after 3000 to 5000 miles their oil still looks
> clean. is this good? have heard that clean oil after several thousand
> miles only means that the oil is not cleaning the engine and removing
> deposits and so fourth. whaat do you guys think?
>[/color]
If you use the expensive premium oil filters on a new engine that
is pretty tight, oil can stay fairly clean looking for quite a while.
Blowby is the biggest contaminant of oil, and that is directly related to
mileage, since the rings in the pistons eventually wear out.
I think that if the oil really IS clean, then the motor ought to also be
clean. Clean is always better.
PS
I see no reason on current models to change the oil any earlier than 5000
miles, and 7500 is a safe figure. Many automakers have designs that will let
oil be used up to about 15000 miles, but that number makes me nervous.
"Dave Dave" <daveooo58@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:10321-4432BC57-1201@storefull-3352.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> some guys brag that after 3000 to 5000 miles their oil still looks
> clean. is this good? have heard that clean oil after several thousand
> miles only means that the oil is not cleaning the engine and removing
> deposits and so fourth. whaat do you guys think?
>[/color]
A good air and oil filter changed regularly with good oil and it looks
pretty good in my Highlander for 3-4000 miles. I happen to use 5-30
Castrol & yota filters.
Dave Dave wrote:[color=blue]
> some guys brag that after 3000 to 5000 miles their oil still looks
> clean. is this good? have heard that clean oil after several thousand
> miles only means that the oil is not cleaning the engine and removing
> deposits and so fourth. whaat do you guys think?[/color]
In the olden days, before dispersants and detergents were added to oil,
it was normal for it to come out transparent looking.
That being said, if a proper, modern oil with all the additives comes
out clean, what does that mean? Is it a bad thing?
It suggests that the combustion contaminants are not making their way
into the crank-case; that is to say, the carbon soot and whatnot is not
sneaking by the piston rings, or valve guide seals, in large amounts.
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