Car oils and everything you need to know about motor oils. Why engine oil turns black in the engine and how to fix it? Dirty engine oil

The quality and shade of engine oil is one of the most important and discussed issues among car owners. What should be a good oil? How often should it be changed? What to do if its color or consistency has changed? What are the consequences of using this oil? Does this lead to engine problems?

Normal engine oil: what should it be

The quality and color of engine oil depend on many factors:

• fuel quality;
• serviceability of the car engine;
• the quality of the oil itself;
• conditions in which the car is operated;
• the frequency of its change;
• additives added to its composition;
• base used.

There is no particular problem that the oil changed its color from amber to dark or black after 4-6 thousand kilometers. The car owner should start to worry if it starts to foam or thicken.

Is it possible to drive if the oil has changed its color and viscosity

If the lubricant has darkened, then you can ride it. Moreover, if after several thousand kilometers the oil has not changed its shade to a darker one, then it needs to be changed - it does not cope with its functions and transfers all the soot to the engine.

The blackening of the oil does not force it to be changed immediately. In the paperwork for the car, the manufacturer indicates the intervals for replacing lubricants. It is advisable to follow the recommendations, but at the same time, it is worth considering the individual characteristics of the vehicle and the mode of its operation - for example, if the car often has heavy loads, the period for replacing consumables is greatly reduced.

The most terrible change in engine oil is its thickening. If grease does not drain from the dipstick, and in consistency it resembles grease or boiled condensed milk, then things are bad. It is necessary to carry out a replacement in the near future, otherwise the engine will run dry, which will lead to deformation of the valves, connecting rods and pistons.

Why does the color change

All motor oils contain detergent additives. Such additives are used to dissolve products resulting from incomplete combustion of fuel. When the products of combustion are dissolved, the oil acquires a characteristic black tint. Despite the fact that soot particles are in suspension, this does not affect the lubricating characteristics of the lubricant. Accordingly, the driver can use the oil for a long time before a scheduled change.

You should start worrying when the oil does not change its color even after a long time of operation. This is not a sign that there is no contamination in the engine: the oil simply does not cope and cannot clean them. In this case, it is necessary to change the lubricants to new ones, preferably of a different brand.

It is worth paying attention to the timing when the grease begins to blacken. If the color changes immediately after filling, then either the engine is too dirty or the fuel used is of poor quality. Correcting this situation is simple - just flush the engine and start refueling the car in another place.

Reasons why it gets dark in the engine

1. Wear of the cylinder-piston group, due to which the combustion products of the fuel enter the crankcase;
2. Oxidation products of low-quality oil with a small amount of additives. Such compounds, reacting with air, are easily oxidized;
3. Old oil left in the engine. It is impossible to completely get rid of it - a certain amount of it will still remain in the nodes of the car. Accordingly, if it was black, then when mixed with a new one, it will also change its shade to a darker one;
4. The amount of additives in the composition of the lubricating fluid. The action of special additives is aimed at reducing friction and dissolving contaminants, so the quality composition may darken over time, since it performs its functions of cleaning the engine;
5. Overheating of the power unit can lead to boiling and blackening of the lubricant up to a change in its consistency, that is, in this way it is easier to thicken the oil;
6. Low quality engine oil that does not cope with its functions.

What can the use of dark oil lead to?

Darkened oil does not harm the engine and vehicle components. A change in the color of the lubricant means that it performs its functions and cleans the motor. The only thing to do is to change the oil to a new one in time according to the manufacturer's recommendations, taking into account the peculiarities of operation.

Foaming: what's the problem?

The formation of air bubbles can lead to various negative consequences:

• Reducing the viscosity of the lubricant composition;
• Slow removal of thermal energy, due to which the parts and components of the car will not be properly lubricated. The oil in the system moves through special channels of small diameter, and high pressure must be maintained in them to lubricate the engine;
• Lack of proper cooling of the parts of the power unit, leading to its overheating;
• The friction between the motor parts increases, which leads to their rapid wear. In the most advanced cases, this can lead to water hammer and engine overhaul.

Engine oil can foam for several reasons:

• Penetration into the lubrication system of antifreeze transport due to damage to the gasket between the cylinder block and its head;
• Water entering the lubricant, which leads to a change in its chemical composition and the formation of an oil emulsion;
• Lubricant incompatibility. When changing the oil, it is impossible to completely drain the old one, because of which it can mix with the new one.

Depressurization of the cooling system

The reason for the appearance of foam in this case is the mixing of oil and antifreeze. In most cases, this is due to defects in the gasket located under the cylinder block cover. Antifreeze can mix with engine oil if parts are defective. Cracks in them are formed due to metal fatigue or prolonged exposure to high temperatures.

An antifreeze leak is diagnosed simply: it is enough to evaluate the smoke from the exhaust pipe. To do this, the engine idles for 10-15 minutes, after which the exhaust pipe is covered with a white sheet of paper. The sheet is carefully dried and checked for stains of gasoline or oil. You can talk about a violation of sealing if there are no traces on dry paper. This can only be eliminated by contacting a service center, since it is almost impossible to find an antifreeze leak on your own.

Various engine oils

Foaming is characteristic of mixing two oils that differ in composition and properties. The main reason for this is the mixing of synthetics and mineral oil. This happens due to the difference in the structure of the two types of lubricating fluids: mineral oils are inferior in their properties to synthetic ones, which are formed as a result of catalytic synthesis reactions and the structure of which includes molecules of the same size located at the same distance from each other. Mixing two different types of lubricant leads to the formation of sediment, which, circulating in the engine, forms air bubbles. Foaming is eliminated in the only way - using engine oil of the same type and preferably the same brand.

Condensate

When water enters the engine or its parts, the latter mixes with oil, forming an oil emulsion. It does not have a negative effect and is not the cause of malfunctions, but indicates low-quality oil. Most often, the emulsion is formed in the winter season: a poorly warmed up car leads to condensation on the engine. Eliminating the formation of moisture is simple: it is necessary to thoroughly warm up the car before each trip in the cold season.

Consistency change

Engine oil thickening is the most dangerous problem. The consistency of the lubricant can be like condensed milk, grease or even plasticine, the latter lead to negative consequences for the car:

• The car engine starts poorly, stops responding to pressing the accelerator pedal. At the same time, the pressure indicator on the dashboard is constantly on;
• The connecting rods of the engine can break away from the pistons and break through the wall of the cylinder block, which disables the entire engine.

The exact reasons for the change in oil consistency have not been identified, but there are several basic assumptions:

• Mixing engine oil with water or coolant, resulting in the Shell effect. It is named so because the experts of this particular company discovered in the 40s the presence of traces of antifreeze and water in the thickened oil. It should be noted right away that not all oils will change their consistency even under similar conditions, however, the presence of water and antifreeze in the composition is a possible cause of thickening of the lubricant;
• Low quality fuel. According to the theory, the products of combustion of such gasoline can be mixed with oil, reacting with additives, which causes thickening. It should be noted right away that this reason is one of the most dubious and is still in question. Low-quality fuel is unlikely to have a strong effect on oil: it enters the crankcase in minimal quantities and does not stay there for long, since the evaporation temperature of gasoline is lower than that of oil. In addition, mixing fuel and oil leads to a decrease in the viscosity of the latter, and not to its increase. In addition, changing the consistency of the lubricant also disables diesel engines;
• Human factor. A common cause associated with filling low quality grease or a composition that has nothing to do with oil.

Why viscosity decreases and how to quickly deal with it

Engine oil not only thickens, but also loses its viscosity. There may be several reasons for this:

• Thermal cracking. During this process, the fractions and components of the lubricant decompose into components, which reduces the viscosity of the composition. The main thing is that their boiling point becomes lower, respectively, they practically do not ignite and evaporate faster;
• Contamination of the lubricant with substances that enter the engine along with the fuel;
• Mixing grease with special solvents that are used to clean the power unit before changing the oil. It is impossible to completely drain such compositions;
• Mixing oils with different viscosities. Filling in a new lubricant can lead to this: an incompletely drained old one can adversely affect a new, even branded, fluid.

You can eliminate all these phenomena in one way: replacing the engine oil. It is not entirely easy to do this on your own, especially if a complete cleaning of the entire system is required. The easiest way is to carry out the entire procedure in a car service, where the car will be lifted on special equipment, the system will be washed and new oil will be poured in, the viscosity of which will be checked immediately after the repair work.

What to do if the oil resembles solidol in consistency

The most terrible for the engine is excessive thickening of engine oil. If in its consistency it resembles grease, then this is the reason for immediately contacting the auto center.

Thickening of the oil to such an extent can occur for various reasons:

• Polymerization. Under the influence of high temperature, the components and components of the lubricant begin to stick together;
• Oxidation of oil that reacts with air;
• Long-term use of grease without regular replacement can lead to the accumulation of a large amount of soot and oxides in its composition;
• Formation of water emulsions leading to oil coagulation.

How to eliminate and prevent thickening of the lubricant

• Regularly check the operating temperature of the engine;
• Check fuel combustion efficiency;
• Do not allow water and antifreeze to get into the oil;
• Use only high-quality original compositions recommended by the car dealer.

If the consistency of the oil still changes, then you should immediately contact a car service.

Changing the color and consistency of engine oil can be a source of problems. Many of them are eliminated on their own, to get rid of others you will have to contact a car service. You can avoid malfunctions of a gasoline or diesel engine if you use only high-quality branded engine oil and follow the recommendations of the car manufacturer.

For many owners of different brands of cars, it is a mystery why the engine oil quickly darkens. There are several reasons that lead to this result. We will figure out what caused the rapid darkening of the oil, and then we will find out whether it is dangerous for the car or not.

Reasons for the rapid darkening of the oil in the engine

During operation of the motor, the oil gradually changes its color and becomes darker, and sometimes black. For many, this is intimidating and intimidating. In fact, oil blackening is a natural process. Sometimes it goes faster, sometimes slower. But why is it happening at all? Due to the following reasons:

• there is little alkaline additive in the lubricant;
• the piston group is worn out, due to which a large amount of combustion products and fuel oxidation enters the lubricant;
• the motor overheats, causing the oil to boil. As a result, additives are destroyed and the lubricant darkens;
• poor quality lubricant. This usually happens when it is bought in spontaneous markets or from suspicious sellers;
• on the contrary, a high-quality lubricant is used, which quickly and thoroughly flushes a contaminated engine.

The fact is that during engine operation, the oil is constantly moving, while it collects carbon deposits, oxides, and other debris and brings it to the crankcase. Such a lubricating ability of the oil is due to the presence of various additives in it. Depending on the brand of lubricant used, the amount of additives in it will also be different, and each of them will play its role:

• reduction of friction;
• increase in viscosity;
• temperature control and others.

One of the additives used in lubrication is alkaline. It allows you to remove chemicals that have entered the motor, reduces the likelihood of precipitation, removes carbon deposits and dirt. If there is little alkali in the oil used, the engine will wear out faster, a large amount of soot and various deposits will form faster.

Video: reasons for the rapid darkening of engine oil

What is the danger of darkened oil

Some drivers believe: if the lubricant has darkened, then it has used up its resource and it is necessary to replace it. However, not everything is so clear-cut here.

If for some reason you really used cheap low-quality oil, then when it gets dark, it is better to replace it. The use of such a lubricant will quickly clog the engine with dirt, soot and other deposits. As a result, its power will decrease and fuel consumption will increase. If you use such oil for a long time, then the motor can become very dirty and you will have to overhaul it, and this will entail serious costs of both time and money.

On the other hand, a quickly darkened high-quality oil may indicate a poor condition of the engine and its severe contamination. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to rely not only on the color of the lubricant, but also on the engine resource, the age of the car, the frequency and quality of car care, driving conditions, and the quality of gasoline.

Preventive measures to prevent the rapid darkening of the oil

During engine operation, even the highest quality and most expensive oil will gradually darken. To avoid its rapid darkening and pollution, you must adhere to the following rules:

• use only high-quality oil and buy it only in specialized stores and from trusted sellers;
• for cars with high mileage, do not use low alkalinity grease;
• monitor the condition of the engine and, if necessary, carry out repairs in time. It is motor malfunctions that most often cause rapid contamination of the lubricating fluid;
• when changing the oil, flush the engine. Many owners ignore this step. You can perform this procedure both at the service station and on your own.

Engine flush features:

Some craftsmen flush the engine with kerosene or diesel fuel. Although they also help clean the motor, they have poor lubricating properties, unlike flushing fluid. Such amateur performance can lead to failure of the motor, so it's better not to risk it.

Video: how to flush the engine

Answering the question of whether black oil in the engine is “good” or, conversely, “evil”, we can say that this is rather good. Gradually darkening grease indicates that the motor is well flushed. But if it gets dark very quickly, then you should pay attention to the condition of the engine.

Blackening of oil is a phenomenon that occurs quite often. Most car owners pay little attention to the condition of the car. But in vain. After all, a malfunction detected in time will help to avoid major repairs, for which you will have to pay a lot of money.

The most common sign that something is wrong in the car is a change in the color of the lubricant. When poured, the color of the composition was transparent. A little time passed, and the oil turned black. This phenomenon is always worrisome. And sometimes the darkening occurs very quickly.

Causes of color change

For blackening, certain conditions must be created. When the engine is normal, this may be due to the properties of the lubricating fluid. Manufacturers are trying to produce universal lubricants that could perform many functions at the same time. They include a large number of special additives that increase the period of operation of the internal combustion engine.

Among all the components are substances that dissolve deposits that accumulate during the operation of the engine. When changing the oil, all these "cleaners" are permanently removed.

If the car is working normally, there are no failures, fuel consumption does not increase, then the blackened oil does not cause any harm. It is enough just to maintain the required level.

Blackening may also be due to a motor malfunction. In this case, a strong smell of burning is felt. The oil scraper rings may have worn out. When the vehicle starts moving, the lubricating component begins to burn.

Another reason for changing the shade is the so-called "eating" of oil. This problem is solved quite simply. It is necessary to top up the car oil in time until it is completely replaced.

All of the above reasons are valid for high quality consumables. If the light color persists for a long time, you should be wary. Apparently, it does not clean the engine of harmful deposits, they simply accumulate in the engine.

When expensive quality oil is used, it quickly begins to darken. This means that detergent additives free the surface of the internal combustion engine from the remaining dirt.

Factors affecting the darkening of motor lubricant

In some cases, the oil in the engine turns black almost immediately, sometimes it takes time. Several factors influence this process:

• ICE pollution.
• Absence/presence of contaminants.
• The amount of alkaline additives in the lubricant composition.

If, after replacing the oil, various deposits remain in the power unit, it will quickly begin to blacken. It is important to monitor the oil filter and prevent contamination. To keep the oil passages always clean, it needs to be changed frequently. If the oil is of high quality, its detergent properties do not change during operation. Suspended particles will remain in the filter, the propulsion system will be gradually cleaned.

Experts advise cleaning in several stages. Additives have a variety of properties, some of them behave very aggressively, they can lead to sad consequences.

Good automotive oils always have the optimum viscosity. To reduce engine wear, do not use ordinary flushing fluid.

Blackening of engine oil is sometimes associated with gas breakthrough. In this case, overhaul is indispensable. Temporarily solve the problem will help:

• Replacement of piston rings;
• Sleeve boring.

Basically, this situation occurs in older motors. The increased fuel consumption is clearly visible, the oil disappears right before our eyes. Only a complete repair will make the motor workable.

It is not difficult for an experienced motorist to determine when a replacement is required. It is guided by the mileage of the car and the color of the oil composition.

Is it necessary to urgently change the blackened oil

Having found that the car oil has darkened to one degree or another, it is not necessary to urgently carry out an unscheduled replacement. The dark color of the composition only means that it has fulfilled its functions by cleaning out the elements of the propulsion system. Such oil will not cause harm to the engine, although it has also lost its useful properties.

Accordingly, if the car oil quickly turns black, but the consumption does not exceed the norm, it is enough just to replace it more often. The oil filter will have to be changed twice. Over time, the system will be cleaned of dirt, the oil will begin to change its color much more slowly.

Blackened motor grease

Many owners of various car brands ask the same question in car services. They do not understand why the motor oil running in the car engine turns black so quickly.

Someone immediately begins to make claims about the fact that only low-quality grease turns black so quickly. Someone does not behave so categorically, but worries about the condition of their engine, worrying about the fact that the recently filled car oil turns black literally before our eyes, while the car owner can even smell burning.

It is practically useless to argue about this, since the reasons for such a darkening of the lubricating fluid can be very different. It is far from always that car oil turns black as a result of poor quality or engine malfunctions.

However, such situations are quite common, so they should be considered in more detail. Below we will try to figure out why the darkening of the oil occurs, as a result of which it darkens, and what the consequences and side effects can be.

Reasons why oil can turn black

It is best to start from the very beginning - directly with automotive oil. The composition of any modern lubricating fluid contains a large number of various additives. They are used to achieve various goals during the operation of the oil. They include additives to reduce friction, additives that change the operating temperature properties of the oil, and many other auxiliary substances.

One of these additives in the lubricant is responsible for regulating the "base number" that engine oil has. It turns out that the alkali contained in it is a vital element. It neutralizes acids that penetrate the oil system during operation, and also prevents the formation of deposits in the engine, removes varnish deposits, dirt and other debris.

Additives improve lubricant properties

In the case when alkaline additives are contained in the oil in a small amount, the motor begins to wear out faster and become clogged with various deposits. An increase in the amount of such deposits leads to a complication of the operation of the engine for two main reasons:

• In places of such pollution, the passage of oil becomes much more difficult, which leads to the so-called "oil starvation".
• There is a violation of the temperature regime of the motor, since deposits do not allow heat to escape. The consequences of this are local overheating, clogging of oil channels and the destruction of various engine elements, such as camshafts, cranking liners, rockers, etc.

It should be noted that a similar situation can also arise in the case of long-term use of high-alkaline oil without replacement.

Over time, aging of the alkaline additive occurs. It is carried out very quickly and accelerates as the engine becomes clogged, resulting in a decrease in the quality of protection of the motor from dirt.

Darkening is quite natural

Speaking about why blackening occurs, a few nuances should be clarified. First, darkened and blackened oil are completely different things. In addition, the reason that the car oil turns black quickly enough does not always lie directly in the car engine or in the insufficient quality of the lubricant. In fact, it is much worse if, after a certain period of operation, the car oil in the engine is just as clean. In this case, we can assume the presence of various impurities in the lubricant, making it simply useless.

open motor auto

Simply put, the lubricant moves in the motor in a vicious circle. That is, the oil pump is pumped from the crankcase and driven through the channels. At the same time, it lubricates the engine parts, the waste is removed, and the excess settles again in the crankcase. It turns out that the same lubricating fluid constantly circulates through the system. There is nothing surprising in the fact that it gradually becomes darker.

The operating temperatures of the lubricant in the engine should also be considered. During its operation, the oil can heat up to 100-120 °. Such a high temperature not only allows you to create a lubricating effect, but also ensures the removal of carbon deposits from the internal combustion engine elements. It is as a result of this that the lubricant darkens, experts call this phenomenon “oil work”.

If, after a long period of operation, the oil remains uncontaminated, it means that it does not contain cleaning additives. In this case, all waste, including slag, impurities and soot, is deposited on the engine elements. In this case, it is advisable to remember this brand of oil so that you never buy it again.

Blackening - the norm or not?

Another thing is if the grease turns black, and does not darken, and begins to resemble fuel oil. This can be determined with an oil dipstick. If black stains remain after wiping the dipstick, it means that the lubricant is burning in the engine.

A similar problem most often occurs as a result of wear of the piston group. In this case, excess fuel that has not burned out in the engine cylinders penetrates into the lubricant. As a result, its composition changes, which makes the oil unsuitable for use. That is, in this case, rapidly blackening oil is a kind of indicator of the presence of internal combustion engine malfunctions, including an increase in fuel consumption and a decrease in the power characteristics of the motor.

Another reason for blackening may be overheating of the oil in the motor. In the case of frequent operation of the engine at high speeds and an incorrectly selected viscosity, oil begins to boil. All impurities contained in the hot liquid dissolve, forming a single mass. As a result, the oil ceases to be as dark as usual, turning into black.

It is necessary to immediately replace such a lubricant, since it no longer has cleaning properties. Moreover, it can be the cause of malfunctions of the oil pump and other units.

How does the blackening process take place?

Why do different oils turn black at different times? In answering this question, two main factors can be considered:

• The cleanliness of a car engine, that is, the presence of substances in it that can contaminate the lubricant.
• The amount of alkaline additives contained in the engine oil used.

Let us consider in more detail what to do with both reasons why a motor lubricant turns black quickly enough. In the first case, the engine may be heavily contaminated with various deposits that have accumulated in it during the previous period of operation. This can be considered normal, although the oil channels may gradually become clogged, after which the motor may fail. In this case, it is recommended to replace the oil filter first. It is advisable to do this several times throughout the entire period of working out the oil, while it retains its lubricating and detergent properties. In this case, suspended particles will settle in the filter, which will lead to a gradual cleaning of the engine.

Flushing the motor

It is better to clean the engine gradually, rather than using aggressive additives to wash the motor. Any aggressive component that has entered the lubrication system, if subsequently mixed with a working lubricant, can cause unpredictable consequences. In addition, even good flushing oils have a much lower viscosity than performance grades of auto lubricants, which leads to engine operation with increased wear. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase engine oil in advance and reduce the length of the service run between replacements.

In the second option, the lubricant can turn black quite quickly due to gas breakthrough in the crankcase. At the same time, there is a significant increase in fuel consumption and an inappropriate appetite of the engine for motor oil. The solution to this problem is, in fact, a major overhaul. In addition, the replacement of piston rings and boring of cylinder liners for repair dimensions helps to partially solve the problem. It should be noted that such a solution, as well as the problem situation itself, is more typical for old and worn out engines.

In general, you should be guided by the mileage of the car and its general behavior. If the oil simply turns black at a high rate, but is consumed within normal limits, then you can try to replace the lubricant itself more often and change the oil filters twice during the cycle. In this case, the engine can gradually clean up, and the blackening of the lubricant in it will slow down.

Consequences

The question of whether blackening of grease is a bad sign is both psychological and practical. Practice shows that people get deep moral satisfaction from a pure motor lubricant. Experienced motorists often believe that good quality car oil should not turn dark at all, except perhaps closer to 10,000 kilometers.

Bad lubrication will ruin the motor

This opinion is rooted in the past, when the quality of auto lubricants was completely different. A good motor lubricant then differed from a bad one, among other things, by the speed of its pollution. And such a factor as the blackness of the lubricant was considered one of the most important indicators of the need for its replacement. The cheapest oils turned black after 500 km, so car owners treated them negatively - few people like to change the lubricant every week.

It should also be noted that motor oils in those years could turn black not even due to additives, but precisely as a result of the poor quality of the lubricants themselves, so the problems of those times are quite understandable. At the same time, there is a doubt whether such an attitude is fair for assessing the quality of modern products and the condition of engines?

The constant purity of modern motor oils may not speak of their high quality and not the cleanliness of the car engine.

Most often, the opposite conclusion can be drawn: the car oil is unable to cope with one of its most important duties. It simply cannot keep the engine running and protect it from harmful wear products. The reason lies in the fact that darkening oil "absorbs" all these products. At the same time, it “binds” them, as it were, not allowing them to settle on the surfaces of the motor elements. In addition, at the same time, acid “precipitation” does not come into contact with metal parts in any way, which prevents increased wear and corrosion of these elements.

Consistently clean oil is an indication that this function is simply not working. Even though a clean drop of grease on the dipstick always looks nicer than a dirty one, this is a disadvantage in terms of engine care.

About the speed and consequences of darkening

It should also be considered why the oil may darken at different rates. First of all, this is influenced by the internal state of the engine itself, as well as the value of the coefficient of alkaline additives contained in the lubricant used. So, in case of non-compliance with the recommended oil change intervals or the use of a bad (cheap) substance, deposits begin to accumulate in the engine, settling on metal elements. The more such dirt settles in the engine, the faster the oil begins to darken, “eating away” deposits from the motor elements.

The amount of alkaline additives directly affects the intensity of removal of various dirt.

Oil change

Thus, even in the case of an average degree of engine fouling, the use of low alkaline oil leads to delayed removal of deposits. At the same time, highly alkaline motor oils can darken after 200-300 kilometers. That is, the amount of dirt in the motor and alkali in the lubricant together have a direct effect on the rate of darkening.

If we talk about the side effects of modern blackened oils, then they are absent as such. A grease with a large amount of alkali, which has taken on the dirt, is, in principle, able to continue working in the motor throughout the entire replacement period. The only feature of such motor oils is their relatively short service life, averaging from 5 to 7.5 thousand kilometers. In addition, high alkaline oils usually do not contain strong anti-aging additives. In this regard, their long-term operation, exceeding 10,000 km in the climatic conditions of our country, is not recommended. And the oils themselves, which have good detergent properties, are not able to work so much - they are more likely to burn out in the engine from old age.

Summing up the above, three main conclusions can be drawn:

1. If modern high-quality engine oil darkens, this is more a plus than a minus. At the same time, it performs its task and washes away deposits from the engine.
2. The rate of blackening of oils depends on the state of the engine. If it is clean, then the oil will turn black slowly, if it is dirty, it will turn black quickly.
3. High-quality high-alkaline motor oils are most often not able to work for too long run intervals. They are recommended to be replaced after every 5000 - 7500 kilometers.

When using the machine, its parts gradually wear out. This cannot be avoided. Both spare parts and consumables that are poured into the car have a certain service life. In view of this, it is sometimes necessary to change the oil in the engine. All car manufacturers prescribe in the operating manual how often the lubricant needs to be changed. However, many drivers prefer to decide for themselves when a replacement is required.

The color of the oil matters. Some believe that if the oil has turned black, then you need to buy another one. Why does engine oil turn black? Does blackened car oil really indicate that it needs to be changed? Can I do it myself, or is it better to contact a car service?

Reasons why the lubricant darkens

Remember that when using any car oil will darken. This is due to various reasons. First of all, you need to deal with the car oil.

Today, the lubricant that is poured into the internal combustion engine on gasoline / diesel is a liquid consisting of many components that performs various tasks in the power unit, such as:

1. Formation of a lubricating film on contacting parts.
2. Heat sink. During the operation of the internal combustion engine, its parts rub, therefore, the temperature increases. If there is no heat sink, the metal will begin to become wider. Because of this, the engine may jam.
3. Washing of parts to eliminate contamination, the effects of wear. Due to friction, small chips of metal appear. It is abrasive, the motor wears out quickly.

The gases entering the crankcase from the cylinder block contain soot. Do not allow it to settle on the details.

Metal shavings and dirt after flushing remain on the crankcase bottom or in the oil filter. The lubricant dissolves soot with the help of special additives (alkalis).

Alkali neutralizes acids. If it is in the lubricant, foreign particles do not remain on the internal combustion engine parts. Due to the dissolution of soot and dirt in the car oil, it quickly darkens.

How fast does oil darken?

Many motorists are interested in how quickly the oil in the engine turns black. The color of the lubricant does not directly depend on the mileage of the car. The following factors are important:

• oil quality;
• additive substances included in its composition;
• engine performance;
• the level of deterioration and pollution.

If the engine is new, absolutely serviceable, then the color change of the lubricant depends on the elements included in its composition.

High-quality oil becomes darkened no earlier than after a couple of thousand kilometers. However, there are also many nuances here. The car oil may contain various additive substances. If a lubricant with a low concentration of alkali is poured into the motor, flushing will be carried out slowly, therefore, the oil will not darken quickly.

In any case, the grease will turn black. This does not always mean that it needs to be replaced. If the car oil remains light, think about it. Perhaps it does not flush the engine, which is why the parts are very dirty. In such a situation, it is advisable to replace the lubricant with another one.

Remember not to drive with more oil than the auto manufacturer recommends. This is due to the fact that when driving, the oil fluid consumes its own additive substances. In view of this, over time, she does not cope with her tasks (including washing).

Being deposited in the oil channels, dirt and soot will reduce their size and throughput. If you do not change the lubricant in time, the motor will be coked. The layer of dirt will become so thick that the new liquid simply cannot wash it off. This will affect the power of the engine, reduce its performance.

How engine malfunctions affect oil color change

Why does oil turn black quickly? One of the reasons for this phenomenon is the poor condition of the power unit. If the cylinder block and piston system are worn out, there is an increase in the volume of blown gases. Blackening oil becomes because of this.

Consequences of not timely oil change

If there is a problem with the power system in a gasoline engine, the lubricant will darken at an even faster rate. For example, due to incorrect adjustment, enriched fuel enters the cylinder block. Due to the high volume of fuel, this mixture will not be able to burn completely. Soot will appear, which will settle on the cylinder walls. Car oil, washing them, will remove soot, but it will remain in the lubricant, change its color.

In diesel engines, the oil liquid will darken much faster than in an internal combustion engine on gasoline (even if the unit is in full working order). This is due to the peculiarities of the fuel system and fuel.

When diesel burns, there is a lot of soot. It penetrates into the crankcase with burst gases. In view of this, in diesel ICEs, the lubricant darkens at a faster rate.

If you are worried about why the oil turns black, know that this is normal. No need to worry, because darkening is a good sign if it is gradual and does not interfere with the operation of the car.

It is much worse if the oily liquid does not change its own color. In the future, this will have a bad effect on the engine, because the dirt will clog the channels, therefore, oil starvation of the parts will begin. Because of this, the internal combustion engine jams.

For most drivers who have changed the brand of lubricant, the question arises why the oil in the engine turned black quickly. When a low-quality oil product is poured into the engine, a lot of dirt accumulates in it. After pouring high-quality grease, it washes away all contaminants. So that the next time the car oil does not change its color, reduce the replacement frequency by about half.

The oil filter also needs to be replaced occasionally. This will help reduce the amount of pollution. If the oil turns black quickly, the engine is probably worn out. Needs a complete overhaul.

Oil filter device

In order to understand why the grease quickly turned black, you need to check the engine for performance, measure the pressure under the hood. This will determine what the true cause of the darkening is.

How to proceed

When using a car, the best characteristic is a gradual change in the color of the oil. The main thing is the right choice of lubricant. Auto manufacturers prescribe in the operating manuals what are the indicators of the optimal car oil for the car. These guidelines must be followed. If the manufacturer recommends pouring synthetics / semi-synthetics, then you need to forget about the mineral water.

Consumables should be purchased only from trusted suppliers, choose products of popular brands. It costs more than lesser-known products, but it ensures the smooth functioning of the engine.

It is undesirable to switch to a different brand of motor oil, if there is no strong need for it. This should be done only when the lubricant does not perform its functions or is difficult to get.

Sometimes you need to flush the power unit. For this, special washers are used. Flushing must also be carried out when switching to another brand of oily liquid.

The washer is a conventional car oil, which contains many detergent components. Its use makes it possible to remove dirt from the crankcase before filling in new grease. Also, when flushing, the remains of the spent oil product remaining in the engine after draining are removed.

To clean the engine before filling, it is undesirable to use traditional methods, for example, diesel fuel. It could be used on old motors with a simple design. The use of a diesel engine in a modern internal combustion engine can lead to a major overhaul.

If, after washing the engine, the oil quickly darkens again, it is probably too clogged. To remove all the dirt, you will need to disassemble the engine, clean the oil channels with special cleaning agents.

Changing oil filters, regulating the operation of systems, and other types of maintenance not only guarantee the uninterrupted operation of the power unit, but also increase its service life, because the amount of combustion products polluting the internal combustion engine is reduced.

If the grease darkens too quickly, take action, because ignoring such a problem can lead to significant malfunctions.