Black Oil? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mike Michalek · #1 02-28-2003, 05:27 PM

Hi-just recently purchased my first diesel. There was an oil change sicker on the windshield that stated the oil was changed last November and it has been driven about 1500 miles since. The oil is pure black. Is the oil black in a diesel? It is a turbo and I thought since it recirulates some of the exhaust gases that that would make it black. Or is the oil not suppose to be black?
Thanks in advance.

mpnye · #2 02-28-2003, 05:32 PM

BLACK . . . BLACK . . . BLACK ! ! !

thebern · #3 02-28-2003, 05:37 PM

Yes the oil turns very black after just a 100 miles or so and this is normal. From what I understand, it has to do with the suspended sulfer particles in the fuel and how the exhaust gases are recirculated. Brand new, diesel specific oil (delo, delvac), out of the bottle is the normal golden color.

thebern

dieseldude · #4 02-28-2003, 05:38 PM

That's right Mike, oil in diesels turns black about 5 miles after a fresh oil change. For one, the oil cooler holds about half a quart of the old stuff which quickly mixes in, and diesels generate a huge amount of soot from combustion - the fact that the oil is black means the oil is suspending all that soot like it's supposed to

Not to worry - sounds like it was due for a change time wise though.

Regards,
- Ryan

#5 02-28-2003, 06:02 PM

Hi Mike,

That is your initiation rite for buying a used diesel

I nearly had heart failure when I checked the oil for the first time on my 300D... jet black, and totally normal.

#6 02-28-2003, 07:22 PM

Welcome to the board.
Larry Bible advise on oil "Change it hot" and change it ever 3000 miles. Do the filter also.
Use latex gloves and you stay clean. Don't even have to jack the car up. Drain it, pull filter, replace large "o" ring, check stem "o" ring,add filter. replace filter cover,rebolt. Replace drain plug with new washer and tighten. Get up top add two gallons of diesel oil. Crank up watch gauge, when you get pressure. Kill engine. Check under car for leaks. In under 10 minutes. And I take the glove off before I start car. And I am still clean.
Enjoy
Charlie

leathermang · #7 02-28-2003, 08:37 PM

Mike, Everyone thinks this is funny because they remember the look on their own face when they first looked at their diesel oil....
EVerything that has been said on this thread is correct... an amazing thing in and of itself....

Holson Adi · #8 02-28-2003, 11:02 PM

yup I remember when I checked my oil. I was like "Oh my God... how can it still run fine at 190k mi.!!!"

my friend was like "dude this thing is gonna blow up"

#9 02-28-2003, 11:07 PM

Sorry guys, I couldn't let this one pass.

Come 'n listen to my story 'bout a man named Jed

Poor Mountaineer barely kept his family fed

An' then one day, he was shootin' at some food,

An' up thru the ground came a bubblin' crude.

Oil that is! Black gold! Texas tea!

Well, the first thing ya know, Jed's a millionaire

Kin-folk said, "Jed, move away from there." Said

Californy is the place y'oughta be, so they

loaded up the truck, and they moved to Beverly.

Hills that is! Swimmin' pools, Movie stars!

Hillbilly, that is! Set a spell, Take your shoes off!

Y'all come back, here!

william rogers · #10 03-01-2003, 12:22 AM

I have been thinking about brazing a drain plug on the bottom of the oil cooler on my SD to get the last bit of oil out when doing change. Any thoughts on this?
William Rogers.........

The Warden · #11 03-01-2003, 03:34 AM

Sometimes I forget just how lucky I am...in that my first time seeing a coal-black dipstick was on a -71 series when I was 14 or so...and too young to know that fresh oil didn't look like that.

I was later told why it was like that, and was spared the heart attack...

The black dipstick is the car's way of saying "Welcome to the club!!"

"New black oil, keep on pumpin'
Mercedes star won't you keep on shinin' on me?
New black oil, keep on pumpin'
Mercedes star won't you keep on shinin' on me?
New black oil, keep on pumpin'
Mercedes star won't you keep on shinin' on me?
Yeah, keep on shinin' your light, gonna make every thing
Pretty diesel, gonna make everything all right
And I ain't got no worries 'cause I ain't in no hurry at all"

with apologies to Pat Simmons

mpnye · #12 03-01-2003, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by william rogers
I have been thinking about brazing a drain plug on the bottom of the oil cooler on my SD to get the last bit of oil out when doing change. Any thoughts on this?
William Rogers.........

WHY NOT just loosen the LOWER hose fitting to drain the cooler?

Be SURE to CRANK the engine over PRIOR to starting as NOT to DRY START ! ! !

Mike Michalek · #13 03-01-2003, 09:42 AM

Thanks Guys. It did have me going when I first saw it.

BoostnBenz · #14 03-01-2003, 09:51 AM

I know I can't be getting all of the oil out of my W123s when I change it, because as soon as I fire the motor up to pump all the oil through it is already black! I hate starting a car knowing it won't get oil, I try to keep turning the motor again and again. If it does start, I shut it off and turn the motor again.

My mom's 99 Silverado ran for like 5-10seconds with 0 oil pressure after every change!!

First time I seen that real dark black oil was on my dad's backhoe, I asked him how many years did he think it was before the last oil change?!

Not that it still didn't bother me when I took my 84 home, 900 miles of driving before being able to change any fluids. I asked the seller to change it for me, as soon as I got home, I changed it again (with every other fluid) regardless. But he did fuel it up like I asked him to, so he probably changed the oil too.

Jeff M.

jcd · #15 03-01-2003, 11:47 AM

I too remember the first time I looked at the oil and I was shocked.....two thoughts.

1. Never wear nice clothes.......the black oil NEVER comes out of anything.

2. Don't kill youself on these drain ideas. Change it hot and often and let it drain overnight.....Larry's rule.....but don't go nuts trying to get it totally clean. In a few miles it'll be black and stay that way until the next change.

JCD