How do you know if oil hasn't been changed?

Jimmy Garlic

I took my car in for a service on Wednesday. Today I checked the oil to make sure it wasn't overfilled. It was as black as the ace of spades. Surely it isn't new oil? I would expect new oil to be still transparent on the dipstick after less than 100 miles of driving, this stuff is really black. Have I been conned?

SV

Definitely hasn't been changed if it's completely black.

chrismon

It defiantly should not be black!

Ded_Zebra

If the car is Diesel it is perfectly normal for it to go black almost immediately. On a petrol it should stay a clear brown kind of colour for a good while, however if the oil is often left over due changes the new oil can go black very quickly.

CiniO

Is it a diesel or petrol car?

Jimmy Garlic

It is a diesel. Always regularly serviced. I remember checking after the last service and the oil was transparent on the dipstick, not jet black.

Supergurrier

If the filter wasn't changed it would go black abit quicker

Ded_Zebra

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

It is a diesel. Always regularly serviced. I remember checking after the last service and the oil was transparent on the dipstick, not jet black.

I would say it probably was changed TBH. How many miles did you drive this time before checking it compared to last time when it was transparent?

Jimmy Garlic

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

I would say it probably was changed TBH. How many miles did you drive this time before checking it compared to last time when it was transparent?

I would say about 60 miles or so.

Ded_Zebra

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

I would say about 60 miles or so.

After 60 miles I would expect it to be black in a Diesel. What you could do next time to check is mark the filter or the sump/plug so you can see if it has been changed/removed:)

CiniO

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

It is a diesel. Always regularly serviced. I remember checking after the last service and the oil was transparent on the dipstick, not jet black.

I always had petrol cars, and it usually for first few hundred km after oil change oil was always goldish in colour.
I got diesel car this year, and after I changed oil, started engine to suck it up to the filter, and checked dipstick, oil was already blackish. 10km later it was completely black.

ardle1

It's definitely going to be black after 100mls, but if it's running off the end of the dip then it wasn't changed, and even just dripping!, a drip every few seconds would sugest that it probably was changed. ..... Anyway that's best I can explain it! just make sure it's not too 'pissy'.

Atlantic Dawn

Supergurrier wrote: »

If the filter wasn't changed it would go black abit quicker

If they didn't change the oil filter the oil change was pointless.

marketty

This obviously depends on your car, but for me it would be immediately obvious by looking at the filter. It's in an exposed position and the old one does be manky coming off