How quickly should oil get black?

[steel7]

All oil is not the same. Awhile ago i had a 77 chevy malibu that fouled out (plugs) every 200 miles. I had to remove & clean them a few times a month. I used house brand oil like walmart, kragen auto zone, etc. I switched to quaker state & it fouled out at 2k miles. It was quite a difference & worth the xtra money. I sold the car & told the new owner to only use QS. He didnt & the engine blew 6 months later. I did use valvoline a few times on my 90 Tbird & it would turn pitch black @ 2k miles. QS didnt do that & i use it on my 85 olds. I dont drive the Tbird anymore thanks to a careless driver & the dmv wanting a leg, arm, etc.

[Tennesseestorm]

Both of my Lexus LS400s (one was a 1990 and one was a 1991 - over 200K on each) still had a dark brown (not black) oil at the end of the 3000-4000 mile interval. Around 2000 miles, still looked like new oil. Last time the dealer said I could go 5000 on the Lexus oil change... I did and I checked it before I took it in... it was still full on the stick and it was dark brown and not black, even with 5000 miles on it. Something special about those 4.0L Toyota V8s. My 4.7L Tundra was the same way. Now I have had some cars that the oil turns dark (chocolate brown) before 1000 miles.

[Chrysler Sebring]

I have a cracked radiator noticed it just as it started to blow rust like color from crack on top I checked the oil it was about a quart low and clean looking I put 50/50 peak antifreeze in it and let it warm up for short time again to verify where crack was rust looking mudd came out of crack and oil is dark when I checked it again while car was running so what is going on this is a Chrysler Sebring 2005 with a 2.4l motor and 17000 miles also someone suggested liquid steel for the radios crack what do u think of all this

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by Chrysler Sebring

I have a cracked radiator noticed it just as it started to blow rust like color from crack on top I checked the oil it was about a quart low and clean looking I put 50/50 peak antifreeze in it and let it warm up for short time again to verify where crack was rust looking mudd came out of crack and oil is dark when I checked it again while car was running so what is going on this is a Chrysler Sebring 2005 with a 2.4l motor and 17000 miles also someone suggested liquid steel for the radios crack what do u think of all this

I think you need to replace your radiator.

Looking at the oil on a dipstick doesn't say much. It's a thin layer so it could look clean. Radiators are cheap. I can get them on bay for 60-100 bucks all day long. For really good ones 2-300 but most are China made

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

I think you need to replace your radiator.

Looking at the oil on a dipstick doesn't say much. It's a thin layer so it could look clean. Radiators are cheap. I can get them on bay for 60-100 bucks all day long. For really good ones 2-300 but most are China made

I agree. I recently replaced on and got it for $49 on Ebay, installed in a half hour. None of the radiator leak remedies really work.