14 replies to this topic

[gaffer1986]

Is it normal for oil to go black after one track day? I don't recall my other cars going black this quick and this is my fourth car I use on track.

 

20170222_122851 by Richard Fanders, on Flickr

 

[james_ly]

Mine goes black within a tank or two of fuel even on the road. My understanding is that colour is no measure of its condition.

[haggi961]

Is your valve blocked off in the inlet manifold for the PCV. If so it will turn the oil black quickly.

[SteveA]

Even after flushing my engine with Wynns Flush my new oil did this after 1 track day so in my experience it's normal.

[The Batman]

My Honda is still a lovely golden brown and doesn't go black But then I do a oil change after every one or two trackdays.

[Nev]

It's just soot from an unclean burn, very common in over fueled (i.e. over-safely mapped) cars; nothing to worry about as the oil will be fine to absorb a load of it.

 

A sniff test (for petrol) and/or a simple pouring viscosity test vs the original oil is a better "home" test of the oil's state of health.

 

 

Edited by Nev, 22 February 2017 - 04:30 PM.

[gaffer1986]

My Honda is still a lovely golden brown and doesn't go black But then I do a oil change after every one or two trackdays.

I do too

[gaffer1986]

It's just soot from an unclean burn, very common in over fueled (i.e. over-safely mapped) cars; nothing to worry about as the oil will be fine to absorb a load of it.   A sniff test (for petrol) and/or a simple pouring viscosity test vs the original oil is a better "home" test of the oil's state of health.    

That's good to know, I would like to do an oil analysis but don't want to spend £70 for the privilege.

[Tibbles Stryker]

You'd only need a viscosity cup as Nev says, great idea 👍

[gaffer1986]

I'll Google it.

[gaffer1986]

I get it now, would be good to know if there are any metals etc in the oil, although this would probably just worry me. Rather drive it until it dies and then get Vocky to sell me his 2.5 engine   hopefully it will last many more thousands of miles though.

[Andyeddie]

Is it really so black? I mean the tip of the dip stick looks golden brown!

[gaffer1986]

Much more black than new. All in 150 miles of track Driving. But on the road it stays golden for several thousand miles.

[gaffer1986]

Well at least 1000 miles.

[ChrisS1]

You really do worry too much! I wish I had time to worry about the colour of my 250 mile old oil in my Vectra engine.