Oil always black - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DieselPaul · #16 05-18-2010, 05:37 PM

I've only been going 3k.

Doktor Bert · #17 05-18-2010, 06:12 PM

Anyone done an oil analysis on a 617?????

#18 05-19-2010, 07:46 AM

My 77 owners manual called for 3,000 mile oil changes. I kept up that interval, or very close to it with 3,333 for all my 123 diesels and always had oil that was at least clear on the dipstick when I poured it in and ran it long enough to check for leaks.

That said, I did hot overnight oil changes. That makes a bigger difference than some folks think.

BTW, I used a 3,333 mile OCI because it was just easy to keep up with. You know, the multiple of 10,000 miles then two times evenly spaced in between.

noah brinkman · #19 05-20-2010, 10:25 AM

I'll clear this up in short order

I had to take out my IP

so I drained the oil it was about 8 months old and had maybe 2500 miles on it
it was synthetic with Z-max in it (hated to see it go) I drained as much out like jacking the car from pass side and the rear and since it was "down" every couple days a would drain what settled in the pan out to REALLY clear it out!

got my IP back put it in
8 quarts of new moble 1 synthetic

start it up get it to full temp (80C)
IP leaks between the two haves of the case (if you want some of the hair I pulled out I saved it to make a wig)

the new oil had two full temp and cool down cycles on it!! but never hit the road!

So IP had to come out AGAIN (I'm really good at pulling an IP from a 603 diesel now my record is 1 hour 50 min not bad and I'm not a mechanic)

So gotta drain the oil it was already black

maybe 30 min of run time and 2 heat cycles on synthetic

I drained that and put it in my truck since I didn't want it back in the car
I'm sure it was fine it was in a perfectly clean container but that's just how I am

then I put 8 new quarts of moble 1 in a week ago to replace the moble 1 I drain out that had 30min
on and Iam sure thats black already too!

Oldwolf · #20 05-20-2010, 10:44 AM

I change between 4 to 5k miles.

alabbasi · #21 05-20-2010, 12:23 PM

Oil turning black is perfectly normal. It's trapping the soot that would turn into sludge. If you have blow by, it will get black sooner.

#22 05-21-2010, 07:02 AM

Yes, but it should not be so dirty that it is immediately black on the dipstick as soon as you pour in the fresh oil. If it is THAT black, it needs some cleaning out. Doing a hot overnight drain or two should clean it out to this level. If not, I would be concerned.

pawoSD · #23 05-21-2010, 06:04 PM

My oil is black right after being changed, and I change it hot and every 5k, with 95% of that being 75mph highway driving. Its the soot, and its normal. And very helpful for seeing the oil level on the stick!

fruitcakesa · #24 05-21-2010, 10:09 PM

The VW and Benz's all have quickly blackened oil but the Cummins oil stays quite clear looking even after long use.

vstech · #25 05-21-2010, 10:15 PM

yeah, industrial engines running in a light duty truck really baby the oil!

fruitcakesa · #26 05-21-2010, 10:20 PM

Yes and that 12 qt sump sure makes for an expensive synthetic oil change.

ashedd · #27 05-21-2010, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doktor Bert

So, what's the consensus on oil change intervals????

Twice a year. I figure with 300k and 450k that it really doesn't matter anymore. I do check the level quite often. My '87 is treated a little different but still only get's driven maybe 1000 miles a year.

nelbur · #28 05-23-2010, 08:50 PM

I agree that oil in a diesel turns black very quickly, but there are a few things that one can do to make sure as much old oil is removed as possible. First, warm the oil and park the car so that the drain plug, or dipstick if you suck the oil out, is the lowest part of the pan. The oil filter holds a pint or more of oil so loosen it and let it drain back into the pan. Now drain the oil. If you suck the oil out, don't assume that you can attach your device to the top of the dip stick tube. On my 606 the dipstick tube does not go to the bottom of the pan. I run a plastic tube down until I hit the pan. If I push a bit too hard I can curl the tube up above the level of the oil. My oil will run fairly clean for a day or two, but it is soon as black as the old Arco graphite oil I used to use back in the '70s.

wolf_walker · #29 05-24-2010, 12:38 AM

Just passing by and thought I'd toss an apple-ish to orange-ish bit out.
I did a headgasket the other week on my little vw IDI 1.6L that has who knows how many miles on it but is in good order all in all. HG was weeping oil externally as they are prone to do, but anyway it has, just like the half dozen others like it I've had, always had black oil, and indeed would be black by the time it was run for any length of time on a fresh change. I cleaned the ahead and lapped the valves and all that and behold, 400 miles later the oil is a dark gray, almost black but not quite. Go figure.
I don't expect it to last, but it was interesting to see.

vstech · #30 05-24-2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf_walker

Just passing by and thought I'd toss an apple-ish to orange-ish bit out.
I did a headgasket the other week on my little vw IDI 1.6L that has who knows how many miles on it but is in good order all in all. HG was weeping oil externally as they are prone to do, but anyway it has, just like the half dozen others like it I've had, always had black oil, and indeed would be black by the time it was run for any length of time on a fresh change. I cleaned the ahead and lapped the valves and all that and behold, 400 miles later the oil is a dark gray, almost black but not quite. Go figure.
I don't expect it to last, but it was interesting to see.

what do you attribute to the cleanliness of the oil? valve blowby repair? when the head was out, did you have new guides installed? or do you think it's just the clean head no longer has sludge/residue on it, and it takes time to build this back up?

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