Engine oil's colour of my 2 month old Golf

[stewarthou]

Today I checked my Golf's engine oil, and I found it's a little bit darker than I thought. Thus I took a photo of the oil on a print paper(after 1 hour I put the oil on the paper).

The Golf TDI is less 2 month old, and the mileage is only 2300km, is the engine oil's colour normal?

[kryten2001]

Today I checked my Golf's engine oil, and I found it's a little bit darker than I thought. Thus I took a photo of the oil on a print paper(after 1 hour I put the oil on the paper).

The Golf TDI is less 2 month old, and the mileage is only 2300km, is the engine oil's colour normal?

yeah my GTI was pretty much the same colour at 1000... Changed it out, and 500ks later it's still golden brown.

I wouldn't worry so much about the colour, but what's in it... Good idea to change at 1000 I reckon.

[Rileyowner]

Oilers are different. Black sump oil is normal and doesn't indicate any problems.

My Landrover TDI's oil turned black within 10 minutes of filling, and it was still doing that 300,000+ km later l

[gregozedobe]

As Rileyowners says, diesels get black oil very quickly - that's what the oil is supposed to do (capture soot). When you do an oil change your lovely new golden oil will go black straight away. Just make sure you check levels regularly, use a VW 507.00 oil and you'll be right

[gerhard]

I am constantly amazed that people think oil should stay clean.

When you have a bath, people, the water gets dirty, no matter how low mileage or well looked after the bather is

[Johnbu]

I am constantly amazed that people think oil should stay clean.

When you have a bath, people, the water gets dirty, no matter how low mileage or well looked after the bather is

thats true.

Oil is designed to clean & lubricate the engine, if it's golden brown after 1,000km, it's prob hasn't done its job.

[vwrallycar]

diesel oil is typically a detergent oil, its used to collect the soot and therefore turn black

[Greg Roles]

As a diesel has almost twice the compression as a normal "gasser" you tend to get more "blowby" that is exhaust getting past the rings and into the sump. That alone makes the oil black as black in no time, and as already said it's dead normal in a TDI. I'd suggest more regular changes if you are at all concerned. I do 7500kms, twice the recommended. Oil and filter from VW is about $100. Pretty cheap insurance really.

[POLARBEAR666]

Yeah I'm 7500 changes too!

Part of the chemicals in engine oil are detergent like stuff. They clean the metal. There are also a bunch of chemicals designed to cling to the metal and reduce friction by bonding with the surface.

Over time these get used up. So a fresh batch of oil is very very helpful.

I wouldn't change more than every 5000. Waste of time.

Also you are giving your car a fresh oil filter each time, which helps collect any wear and tear.

[Greg Roles]

ESPECIALLY in a TDI where the oil is the ONLY thing cooling the turbo.

[POLARBEAR666]

ESPECIALLY in a TDI where the oil is the ONLY thing cooling the turbo.

It is a pitty that nobody makes a high capacity race sump for the TDI.

An extra 2-3L of oil would be best thing for you car. One of the benefits of fitting a race oil cooler to my subaru was that it increased the capacity of the system by about 800ml. Which is a fair percentage increase on the normal 5L.

It also kept the car running really smooth in hot weather as the engine oil was absorbing far more temperature each run through the motor as it was getting cooled back to under 90 degree's every time it passed through the Process West Oil cooler.

I wish there was an oil cooler kit for the TSI... sniff.

[CatonaPC©]

I wouldn't worry about changing your oil sooner than the recommended 15,000km/12 months. It's not necessary, and you'll be just wasting your money. Far better you check your oil level regularly.

If you're not going to do any track work (or illegal street racing) or tow a 40 metre tri-axle caravan, I wouldn't worry about adding an oil cooler either!

[POLARBEAR666]

I wouldn't worry about changing your oil sooner than the recommended 15,000km/12 months. It's not necessary, and you'll be just wasting your money. Far better you check your oil level regularly.

If you're not going to do any track work (or illegal street racing) or tow a 40 metre tri-axle caravan, I wouldn't worry about adding an oil cooler either!

I drive my cars hard so the oil works harder. On turbo cars the oil is probably more than 100 degree's and up to 120 when racing. With a cooler it wont be over 100 ever. Thats up to 30 degrees difference in a fluid going around the engine. That will definitely make a performance improvement.

Also, engine oil breaks down over a certain temp, by keeping it cool you keep its functional properties in tact.

My last car had 300kw@wheels, could do mid 11's and snapped axles so don't roll eyes at me!

[CatonaPC©]

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[gregozedobe]

I wouldn't worry about changing your oil sooner than the recommended 15,000km/12 months. It's not necessary, and you'll be just wasting your money. Far better you check your oil level regularly.

If you do lots of short trips, stop/start driving (eg heavy traffic), drive very hard or drive in dust this is classed as "severe conditions" by VAG and you should change at 7,500/6 months.

I agree that you should check your oil level regularly (and coolant, and tyre pressures).