08-08-2021, 02:09 AM | #1 |
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Dark oil
I change oil in my'39 pickup in May as it was nearly black. It ran some during the winter and i flooded it during starting a few times. I figured I got gas in the oil (no electric fuel pump). This week I noticed it was dark again. I drained the dark oil this evening. No oil filter.
Should I add STP (Only because I had some) to the fresh oil at this time? clem |
08-08-2021, 04:33 AM | #2 | |
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Re: Dark oil
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08-08-2021, 08:20 AM | #3 |
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Re: Dark oil
Don't add the STP unless you want more oil leaks.
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08-08-2021, 08:21 AM | #4 |
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Re: Dark oil
Clem, I’m sure you know several things can cause your oil to get black. I hate the word but I’m assuming W/O a filter your changing every couple thousand miles, that being the case & W/O a filter dark dirty looking oil is pretty normal. Having said that if your engines been running rich for any length of time Will crud up the engine with black improperly combusted black residue on plugs, valves & cylinders & this can prematurely make oil black. If only a few times flooding shouldn’t do it & the gas in your oil from a few times flooding will evaporate out of oil w the heat from engine running. If you have a regular issue with flooding it could be dangerous if indeed a lot of fuel gets in your oil & will reduce the ability of the oil to lubricate causing excessive engine wear. Check your carb as maybe is running too rich or ignition issues or a combination of both.
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08-08-2021, 08:54 AM | #5 |
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Re: Dark oil
Thanks. No STP then.
I drove in the neighbor hood and once to a car club breakfast. Maybe 30 miles in 6 months. Maybe detergent oil got in. Clem |
08-08-2021, 12:33 PM | #6 | |
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Re: Dark oil
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08-08-2021, 01:10 PM | #7 |
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Re: Dark oil
A buddy of mine was on the Honda motorcycle race team.......they used STP in every engine. He routinely got about 1000 RPM more out of his engine with STP. Can't be all that bad.......
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08-08-2021, 02:03 PM | #8 |
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Re: Dark oil
I think the big issue is the buildup of crud inside the engine. A race engine very rarely has the oil + additives in them for any length of time. We would change oil after almost every race (as in weekly).
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08-08-2021, 02:30 PM | #9 |
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Re: Dark oil
Clem, you should be using detergent oil.
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08-08-2021, 06:21 PM | #10 |
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Re: Dark oil
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08-08-2021, 06:40 PM | #11 |
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Re: Dark oil
I’ve been using Lucas Antique and Classic car oil. 20W50. They also have 10W30 and 10W40. It has a higher level of Zink.
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08-09-2021, 02:21 PM | #12 |
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Re: Dark oil
Can I have an special FORDBARN oil waver, please. I'm tired and hot and I bought 30W Shell oil. Can I please just dump it is and go trucking? Maybe 3.46 gloops (3 dollops per goop) of ATF to serve the detergent need, please.
Clem |
08-09-2021, 04:23 PM | #13 |
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Re: Dark oil
It's your engine.
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08-09-2021, 04:26 PM | #14 |
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Re: Dark oil
Sure, but just interested in why you were/are using non-detergent oil?
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08-09-2021, 09:09 PM | #15 |
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Re: Dark oil
Picked up the wrong jug I guess. Thanks for the waiver(:>)
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08-09-2021, 11:00 PM | #16 |
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Re: Dark oil
Good answer, LOL.
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08-10-2021, 07:19 AM | #17 |
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Re: Dark oil
Why don't you pull a sample and send it to blackstone lab for analysis. Unlike here their assessment is not free but it is worth every penny. They can probably tell you exactly why it is black and if you need to be concerned about it. Give them as much info as you can. Motor, mileage, type of oil, how driven. It all matters.
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08-10-2021, 08:18 AM | #18 |
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Re: Dark oil
Does it say "detergent" on the container, or is there some other type of designation?
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08-10-2021, 10:14 AM | #19 |
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Re: Dark oil
All motor oils are likely detergent today unless noted otherwise.
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08-10-2021, 10:39 AM | #20 |
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Re: Dark oil
Gotcha - thanks Jack!
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