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Why does my oil get so dirty so quickly?

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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 09:18 PM
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Why does my oil get so dirty so quickly?

Hey guys thanks for replying to my thread!

My 86 Sport seems to be having problem keeping the oil clean. I drive 1500 miles on the oil and the oil is almost black when observing it through the oil dipstick and when the car is cold. I use Royal Purple 20W50 synthetic (I know what your thinking but the royal purple website has faqs on Rotaries and Synthetics) and it is almost clear when i first put it in but it get really dirty fast. Is this normal?

Thanks for your help guys!
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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 09:32 PM
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all oil does that on every car after its ran through the engine. its from the high heat that it turns dark. natural break-in for motor oil
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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 09:33 PM
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The purple is just a color addative. It does not last long at all. I think mine lasts about 750 miles before it turns dark.
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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by cool_as_crap
all oil does that on every car after its ran through the engine.
Huh, thats interesting.

Because EVERY car I've ever owned or worked on (that wasn't a deisel, or ran very poorly or had high mileage) will keep the oil clean for approx. 3,500-4,000kms.

Between the 4 and 5k mark I get slight darkening from sediment on the 86 N/A Im currently DD'ing, its got about 55,000kms on a re-man.

In short, oil turning instantly black is NOT "normal break-in for engine oil" its a result of an extremely dirty inside of a motor. All the oil containing surfaces in the engine have built up goo and sediment from old oil and the new oil you're putting in absorbs it quickly.
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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 09:51 PM
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do you drain the oil cooler when u do oil changes? If not there's your problem.
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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 09:57 PM
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I'm with classicauto, though I would add that (at least in a piston engine) blowby can cause this. It would have to be seals in a rotary, but a bad seal between combustion chamber and oil containment will also dirty your oil quickly.

If it is just gunk in the engine, a good quality high-detergent synthetic can help get the crap out; German Castrol 0w30 works great for this.
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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 10:00 PM
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Do any of you run Royal Purple?
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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 10:06 PM
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Yea, maybe its just a royal purple thing... Does anyone have any expierence with Royal Purple?
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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 10:07 PM
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Do you guys actually drain the oil in the oil cooler when you do your oil changes? How much oil does the cooler hold?
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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 10:20 PM
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oh yea, i just do it from the drain plug, where is the oil cooler located? I will drain it from there next time
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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 10:38 PM
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How many miles on the engine?
If there is a lot of miles, it's just failing seals.
High mileage motors have a lot of blow-by, that allows the exhaust gases to get into the oil supply.


-Ted
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Old Nov 30, 2006 | 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by jouslee
oh yea, i just do it from the drain plug, where is the oil cooler located? I will drain it from there next time

The oil cooler is located underneath the car, in the back by the fuel tank, if you look down from behind you'll see it under there.







Jst kding.

It's up front underneath by the rad.

Attached Thumbnails Why does my oil get so dirty so quickly?-oilcooler.jpg  
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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 10:33 AM
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LOL, drain the oil cooler? What a waste of time...but if it makes you sleep better at night

James
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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 11:15 AM
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Usually all I do when I change my oil is jack up the front of the car only. Gravity would dictate that 90% of the oil in the cooler will run down and out since the drain plug on the pan is the lowest point in the system..........and its even more so the lowest point when the front of the car is jacked up.

Yep, blowby can cause the oil to get dirty, which is why I mentioned high mileage engines.

I've never run royal purple, none of that fancy schmancy waste-of-money oil for this fella
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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 11:41 AM
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castro gtx is where its at. for having 72k miles my oil stays pretty damn clean, and ive never drained teh oil cooler..?
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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 12:24 PM
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im running royal purple....im at 3k right now and about to do an oil change...when i checked the fluid last night it was dark but wasnt a dark black or anything.......ive used royal purple alot and i think its normal for it to turn black pretty easy....the color is just an additive and probubly burnt out after a few cycles.
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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 12:32 PM
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That is what I have experrienced with my 7,000 mile use of Royal Purple in mine and my wifes car. I am on the third oil change right now with 1,000 miles and it is already darkened.
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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 06:28 PM
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I used to work at a lube place.

Regardless of what oil you use, if you go overdue on your oil changes, once it's black, even the new oil after running through for only a minute will be very dark. (unless you flush it a few times, filling, running it, draining it.. rinse and repeat)
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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 08:01 PM
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Would it be stupid or too much of a headache to take off the oil pan and clean off any sediments, particulates, metal flakes and or debris. To be performed once a year.

I use castrol gtx high mileage 20w-50, when it starts snowing in nyc and temp goes below 20 degrees F , the car gets stored lol.

Jason NYC
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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 09:25 PM
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Assessing oil visually is about as worthless as tasting it. You are lacking education, feel free to get some at www.bobistheoilguy.com
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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 09:48 PM
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2 pages for a simple answer. There is allot of oil left in the system when you change it up in the rotors the lines the E shaft the cooler. This is all dark as the oil that came out the moment the new oil is cycled into the motor with this old oil it becomes black.
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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 11:22 PM
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Assessing oil visually is about as worthless as tasting it.
.
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Old Dec 2, 2006 | 03:08 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by ROTARYROCKET7
Would it be stupid or too much of a headache to take off the oil pan and clean off any sediments, particulates, metal flakes and or debris. To be performed once a year.

I use castrol gtx high mileage 20w-50, when it starts snowing in nyc and temp goes below 20 degrees F , the car gets stored lol.

Jason NYC
Not worth it...I am guessing you have never changed a pan

James
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Old Dec 2, 2006 | 03:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Wankel7
Not worth it...I am guessing you have never changed a pan

James

nah lol

The only dumn question is not asking a question. I hear many ppl say its a pain in the ****, i guess it is lol hahhhaahha

Jason NYC
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