Was riding home after work this week and suddenly a bolt of Lightning hit me (no, not Wyldman's).

As most of you know synthetic oil does not discolor much or turn black between oil changes. It remains almost clear.

I do my own oil changes, weather permitting, and last Fall I took advantage of my dealer's "Express Lube Service" during a long rainy spell. Since they don't handle Mobil 1 I supply my own and they don't have a problem with that at all.

When I checked my oil this week after my own oil change 6 weeks ago it was where it should be on the dipstick and still clear.

When I checked my oil just before I changed it myself in January, with the oil change that my dealer performed, it was black.

Has anyone seen synthetic oil turn black like petrol based oil after 6 weeks or three months? I haven't.

Do you suppose that the lube tech at the dealer used their regular 55 gallon drum of petroleum pumped oil and stole my Mobil 1 for himself?

I usually don't remain in the service area for an oil change and trust the tech to use the Mobil 1 I brought but the next time I will be in the area and if I find that this is the case "The Hammers of Thor" are not far behind.

------------------
Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)

 

Dunbarton, give that dealer a good beat down for not using the Mobil you took in there. Let us know if you need help, I for one would love to get even with some of these dealers. Hey we could make a rally out of it.

------------------
Mumbly also known as Buck
Carrollton Texas (DFW),
Black 1999 Stage 3 Roush F-150 Super Cab Flairside
Here are all the goodies: Kenne Bell Supercharger, Roush Suspension, 18"x 9.5 Chrome Wheels, B. F. Goodrich Z295/45, Full Ground Effects, Roush Leather Signatured Interior (Front and Back), Flowmaster with Side Exit Infront of the Wheel, Embroidered Floor Mats, F1 Cobra Hood, ******* Hard Tonneau, Bedrug, Slide Window, and lots of other little odds and ends

Work rhigh@nortelnetworks.com
Anytime mumbly_f150@yahoo.com
Home mumbly@gte.net





[This message has been edited by Mumbly (edited 02-22-2000).]

 

Hey Dunbarton, it sounds to me like the hammers of "Thor" should be getting ready to preform a BEATDOWN! This seems pretty shady, especially for your oil to turn BLACK that soon after you last change. I sure don't want to see black oil coming out of my oil pan after only 3,000 miles. Black oil sounds to me like the characteristics of petrolium based oils. I'm aware that synthetic oils discolor a bit, but for it to black that soon after your last change sounds a little suspect. I have a feeling someone's rollin' around in a vehicle with some Mobil 1 on the job!

------------------
2000 F-150 Lariat 4x2 SB,SC,Styleside,Amazon Green/Clearcoat Metallic,5.4 Liter V8, Class III Tow-Package,3.55 Limited Slip Rear,Bug Deflector,Duraliner Bedliner,Superchip,K&N Filter.

[This message has been edited by Lariat Ryder (edited 02-23-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Lariat Ryder (edited 02-23-2000).]

 

------------------
2000 F-150 Lariat 4x2
SB,SC,Styleside,Amazon
Green/Clearcoat Metallic,5.4 Liter
V8, Class III Tow-Package,3.55
Limited Slip Rear,Bug
Deflector,Duraliner
Bedliner,Superchip,K&N Filter.

[This message has been edited by
Lariat Ryder (edited 02-23-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Lariat Ryder (edited 02-23-2000).]

 

Synthetic oil does turn black on occasion, it's from the detergents in the oil reacting with the crap in your crankcase. I wouldn't accuse anyone of anything just yet or raise hell unnecessarily. I used Mobil 1 on my previous pickup, a '92 F150, and it most certainly turned black as did the oil in several of my coworker's vehicles who were also using Mobil 1.

 

Mine is always black when I change it(3-4k). It seems to me if it's cleaning the products of combustion that gets left in your engine it would turn black. That goes for both vehicles in my garage, '97 Taurus, Lightning.

------------------
Red 99.5 Lightning,
#0975,
Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99
Chipped w/SuperChip Flipchip chip,
PSP Filter(track untested),
Water Wetter,
Mobil 1,
Foglamp Covers,
13.573@101.08




[This message has been edited by 4D THNDR (edited 02-22-2000).]

 

I've used Mobil 1 since 1988 and have never drained out clear oil. It is always dark in color. None of my vehicles since 1988 burned any oil between changes, and the oil always has been dark in color after 3000 miles.

------------------
99 F150 XLT Supercab Towing Package 5.4L Auto Two Tone Med Toreador Red/ Silver Power windows, locks, mirrors, driver's seat. Cruise, tilt wheel Alloys, Michelins, ARE topper Superchip / 2000 Chevy Silverado Ext cab 5.3, auto, Tow package, tilt, cruise, power windows,locks,side mirrors, alloy wheels.

 

I never let even my plain old Castrol GTX get black. Darker maybe, but never black. Maybe he didn't change it at all!?!

------------------
97 F-150 SC Lariat, Styleside, White over Gold, 4.6L (Windsor), Automatic, 3.55 rear end, electronic 4X4, w/ every option of Lariat and ORP packages except the 17" wheels (I even got the OR decals now!) MOD's so far: K&N air box mod, Gibson Super Truck, clear Bugflector II, Leer TSC 600 hard cover, Bridgestone Dueler OWL ATP 265/75 R-16's, TrailMaster Invader N7 shocks, Smittybilt step bars, Ford moulded mud guards, "White-white" head lamps, Cloud Rider Design's SS Grill and bumper opening, Bosch Platinum + 4's, Hayden 30K+ Tranny Cooler,Class III Reece load distributing hitch system, full wiring including trailer battery charging system, Escort Sensor II Brake controller, Superchip

 

I use Mobil 1 also and it discolors. I wouldn't be to quit to accuse the dealer of swiping your oil since you may need him on your side someday---Bob

 

Well, if you ever send the truck to them for an oil change again, make sure you put a little identifying mark on the bottles (your initials on a discrete part of the label where it's not so obvious). After the oil change, ask to see the bottles. Don't ask to see them ahead of time. That should set your mind at ease.

When I had vehicles that had really difficult to replace oil filters, I always put a mark on them so I knew for sure they changed the filters at every oil change.

 

I think somebody is paranoid...

...and it ain't me dispite what all of you are thinking.

 

I am just short of 3,000 miles on my 5W-30 Mobil-1...and it has slightly turned brownish in color. I can still tell it is very clean when I wipe the oil stick on a paper towel...but it is not crystal clear like the day I put it in. Much clearer at this time/mileage though than the conventional oils I have used in the past.

------------------
2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

Guys,

Maybe I should have been a little clearer. I have used Mobil 1 since my first oil change at 3 months (1750 miles) and it does discolor a little but has never turned black during the next 3 months. No where near like a petrol based oil EXCEPT after this dealer oil change.

With about 5 oil changes since I bought the truck this is the only time it discolored this much and my driving habits don't change.
I am at 7 weeks now and it's still very clear.

And no, I am not accusing yet but have been put on "alert" for the next time since there was a significant change in the oil's appearance just this one time.

Mt Knee, I would rather not make an accusation regarding my dealer to you via email. I have been pleased with their service to date and have no complaints about them.

Raoul, I don't regard myself as paranoid even if they are out to get me.

------------------
Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)

 

The Mobil 1 I used, and that of my coworkers, DID turn black just like other motor oil. I imagine various factors will have an effect on how dark your oil becomes, i.e. weather, PCV system, driving habits, etc. I think your oil was okay but since this is the first time it happened to you, it most likely seems very drastic.

 

There was a batch of Mobil-1 that was recently recalled because an additive was NOT blended in.

Maybe this is what happened to you??????

------------------
2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99