Is It Normal for Engine Oil to Turn Black?
1 Answers
It is normal for engine oil to turn black, and the drained oil will appear particularly dark. Higher quality oils have better dispersancy, but they also tend to darken more quickly. Therefore, premium-grade oils blacken faster than inferior ones. Below are the reasons why oil turns black: 1. High olefin and sulfur content in fuel (prone to sludge formation in gasoline engines and soot deposits in diesel engines) accelerates oil darkening. Thus, fuel quality is a primary source of oil blackening. 2. Variations in engine design and operating conditions, such as frequent stop-start driving, promote sludge formation in gasoline engines and soot accumulation in diesel engines, leading to darkening. 3. Oil blackening and sludge formation are also associated with prolonged high-load, high-temperature engine operation, inadequate engine and oil pan cleaning during oil changes, and the filtration efficiency of the oil filter.