Oil Color

[LCH21]

This may be a really stupid question but for those who are using Amsoil Signature Series 0W-20, what color is the oil? New, it is honey colored but I got this after about 2,300 miles. The dealer did the oil change as it was free for the first 4 services.

This is what I have, sorry for the blurriness:

Looks like transmission fluid to me. Maybe I'm nuts and just don't remember seeing this color before. Who knows with the way my brain has been lately... I have Amsoil European formula in two other cars and it don't look like this.

 

[CharlieS]

I've never used the Amsoil you specify in your post, but the google machine shows it being gold in color. Amsoil does have a red colored break in oil, but it is a different viscosity, and I can't imagine why they would have used that.

 

[Artie]

Here are a few pictures of my Amsoil SS 0W30 with almost 4K on it.

 

[Artie]

For reference, here is some 0W30 Amsoil SS straight from the container.

 

[OregonLC]

The color is a minor datapoint in the representation of oil condition. Oil can be pretty dark and still spec out and having much life left in it. If it's jet black that would be cause for alarm. Brown/red hues are normal. I've found the discoloration happens quick quickly during the OCI and then levels off for the remainder of the duration. Remember, there's a lot of old oil still hanging out even after a drain.

If you're concerned, would recommend that you send a sample into Blackstone on your next change to get a read on what's really going on. You can ask the dealer to take a sample for you, or you can do one yourself with a partial drain, topping it off before you drive. Either way, you want to capture it mid-flow, not just the first drop which may have extra contaminants that were disturbed by the removal of the plug.

 

[LCH21]

Thanks for the responses.

I asked Amsoil the same question and this is their response:

"Thank you for the question. The reddish hue color of the Signature Series oil is fine and not unheard of. This is from one of the additives that we use in this oil."

The pictures look like mine so I am not going to worry. I did order a Blackstone sample kit for my own curiosity.

Funny thing is, I just don't remember the oil being that color when I checked the level in the past. Must be my memory. Getting old is a bitch.

 

[bj70bc]

Looks normal, i used ams ss 0w20 in the tundra for the first 150k km and it would normally come out with a reddish hue

 

[bj70bc]

thats how you know its working!

 

[gasman4u]

without getting into "bob is the oil guy" level of detail, I have read a few times that the color being jet black isn't necessarily indicative of oil being beyond use spec's (as it used to be). This has been confirmed by sending in BLACK amsoil used oil to Blackstone for analysis and having plenty of TBN left.

I've clearly drank from the amsoil kool-aid and am a fanboy. With that said, I will gladly be proven wrong if someone has a better contender (Redline, RP, etc).

 

[TeCKis300]

I find the 5.7L to be super easy on oil.

Whatever it is, color, TBN, etc... Best thing that can be done is change the oil at factory recommended OCI. Stretching intervals is not a good idea no matter how good the oil. It's cheap insurance without any second guessing.

 

[04UZJ100]

Just use M1 5W30 and be done. Save your $$.

 

[bj70bc]

Ya I switched from ams-signature to mobile 1 extended-interval because there was so much oil life left at the end of 10000KM that i was throwing money away and i wanted to stay with a nice easy round number to do oil changes on, i feel mobile 1 extended-interval is closer to done at 10000KM and is almost half the price if you buy it on sale (ams is never on sale)

 

[LCH21]

I agonized long and hard over the difference as I used M1 5W-20 in my Tundra for 240,000 miles and it ran as good the day I traded it on the LC as when it was new. It did not burn any oil between changes. Being the pedantic old goat that I am, I was very impressed with the performance of Amsoil, particularly the ball bearing wear test done in independent testing that I thought I would give it a try. Also, as a "preferred customer" it is only - ha ha - three and a half bucks more per quart than (yes, the correct word is THAN, not THEN - no, they are not interchangeable) M1. I know, I know... any top brand synthetic will do just fine, but like I said, I am a pedantic old goat. And change the oil regularly. If I am going to waste money on something, I would rather it be oil than on some stupid "performance enhancement" gadget like a CAI or obnoxious exhaust or some poser gear.

 

[Mrtwooooo]

I’m running the same exact oil. It’s my first time using it though on a 2016 LX I bought about 8 months ago. I’ve noticed the same exact color as you’re seeing. Figured the oil was doing some cleaning.