How black is your oil at 3000 miles? - Toyota Yaris Forums

CueBall · 11-15-2010, 02:30 PM

I just did my first oil change on my used purchase, 09 yaris.
It's been 3000 miles since the dealer did it, 11,000 miles total on the car.
The oil was WAY blacker than I would have thought for a car with 11k.
This is the newest car i've owned so maybe that's just how oil comes out???
What's you guy's experience?

Bluevitz-rs · 11-15-2010, 03:22 PM

It all depends on your driving habits and how many short trips you take.

But my oil at 6000km is still golden on the dip-stick. Pretty much anywhere I go is at least a 15min drive so the car has plenty of time to warm up which helps burn off some of the carbon. On top of that, I use a corolla filter so it has extra capacity and more filter area to clean.

severous01 · 11-15-2010, 03:54 PM

mine still looks new. until about 5k and then it's a little dark...kinda light brown/tan colored.

CueBall · 11-15-2010, 04:01 PM

How many miles total on your car?

why? · 11-15-2010, 04:33 PM

my guess might be the dealer lied about doing it, or forgot a new filter or something stupid like that. At this point, unless you are speed racer oil shouldn't be deep dark black.

severous01 · 11-15-2010, 07:13 PM

if you drive a lot and the 'cool' light doesnt go out you're looking for problems with sludge. if you're just going to the corner and back, start the car and make sure it runs long enough to get hot. hot enough to blow heat out the vents. that makes sure all the oil is risen to temps and moved around enough to mix properly. and then cools all at the same time and temp.

if you think you've been duped, start changing your own oil and save some money. it's about 10 bux and about 15 minutes. you dont even need a lift. jsut crawl under with a pan and a wrench.

Happy Little Pony · 11-15-2010, 08:00 PM

The color of the oil doesn't really mean anything. Some oils have additives that change color with use. Unless you have some other engine problem, I wouldn't worry about it.

Klink10 · 11-15-2010, 08:30 PM

Yea, you didn't mention the brand or viscosity the dealer used. That could be an issue. If unsure he changed at all I would do it again. May not have changed the filter thus pumping new oil thru old filter. I use Amsoil XL 5w-30 and change at about 4500, always a light brown at change time. See the posts here and the sticky file on how to change, it really is that easy.

CueBall · 11-15-2010, 08:48 PM

Yes, I almost always do my own oil changes.

Normal driving, average trip about 15 minutes. I called the service dept. and they did indeed change the oil when they took it in (@ 8k miles). They used mobil oil (non synth. I'm sure) and did put a new filter on.
I expect to see the heavy black stuff when I do my truck (chev 350 w/125k miles), I just didn't expect to see that on an engine with only 11k! I was thinkin more like a lite brown. I guess I'll have to check some friends oil on their newer cars and see how black theirs is. I just dont know what to expect, this is the newest car i ever owned!

Freedan · 11-16-2010, 05:51 AM

CueBall, I'm going to go out on a limb here by saying that no service department will admit that they didn't change your oil or forgot to change your oil filter.

ctrj · 11-16-2010, 01:30 PM

You need to remember that at 11k miles, your engine is still very new. There will still be some contaminents from when it was assembled. Black oil is not bad. It means the oil is doing its job and trapping the dirt in your engine. If you want to learn more about your oil, check out Bobistheoilguy.com. You will learn a lot (including that most of the advice given on this website is wrong).

ctrj · 11-16-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klink10

I use Amsoil XL 5w-30 and change at about 4500, always a light brown at change time.

Can you send me your used oil when you're done? You easily have another 5500 miles left in that oil! Why do you change it so soon?

nemelek · 11-16-2010, 04:12 PM

I don't pay too much attention to the oil color. If you are concerned there are places that do used oil analyst. If you want to see black oil try changing a diesel sometime.

bankrobber · 11-16-2010, 05:10 PM

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/what-is-oil-analysis.php

My oil is not Black and I have 5,600 miles on Mobil1 full synthetic. I just put a new filter on and will run at least another 2,000 miles.I have 100,500 miles on my 07. As the other posters said oil color is not important. Get a sample done for 25 bucks

11-15-2010, 02:30 PM	#1
CueBall Ruler of the free world Drives: 09 Yaris 2D HB Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Utah Posts: 49	How black is your oil at 3000 miles? I just did my first oil change on my used purchase, 09 yaris. It's been 3000 miles since the dealer did it, 11,000 miles total on the car. The oil was WAY blacker than I would have thought for a car with 11k. This is the newest car i've owned so maybe that's just how oil comes out??? What's you guy's experience?

11-15-2010, 04:33 PM	#5
why? Only Happy When it Rains View User's Garage Drives: Yaris LB Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: harnett county NC Posts: 4,097	my guess might be the dealer lied about doing it, or forgot a new filter or something stupid like that. At this point, unless you are speed racer oil shouldn't be deep dark black. __________________ Colin Chapman disciple

11-16-2010, 01:30 PM	#11
ctrj Drives: 07 Yaris Sdn, 97 4Runner Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Upland, CA Posts: 113	You need to remember that at 11k miles, your engine is still very new. There will still be some contaminents from when it was assembled. Black oil is not bad. It means the oil is doing its job and trapping the dirt in your engine. If you want to learn more about your oil, check out Bobistheoilguy.com. You will learn a lot (including that most of the advice given on this website is wrong). __________________ RJ 2007 Toyota Yaris Base Sedan -5 speed SOLD

11-16-2010, 04:12 PM	#13
nemelek DWEED Drives: 3DR 2008 Metorite Metalic Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,161	I don't pay too much attention to the oil color. If you are concerned there are places that do used oil analyst. If you want to see black oil try changing a diesel sometime. __________________ Making a decision without following it with an action is still a fantasy.

11-16-2010, 05:10 PM	#14
bankrobber Drives: 2007 Yaris Hatchback Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 254	http://www.blackstone-labs.com/what-is-oil-analysis.php My oil is not Black and I have 5,600 miles on Mobil1 full synthetic. I just put a new filter on and will run at least another 2,000 miles.I have 100,500 miles on my 07. As the other posters said oil color is not important. Get a sample done for 25 bucks Last edited by bankrobber; 11-16-2010 at 05:11 PM. Reason: add more

11-15-2010, 03:22 PM	#2
Bluevitz-rs 1NZ-6spd View User's Garage Drives: '05 6-Spd Vitz RS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,967	It all depends on your driving habits and how many short trips you take. But my oil at 6000km is still golden on the dip-stick. Pretty much anywhere I go is at least a 15min drive so the car has plenty of time to warm up which helps burn off some of the carbon. On top of that, I use a corolla filter so it has extra capacity and more filter area to clean.

11-15-2010, 03:54 PM	#3
severous01 Drives: 2008 yaris, stripped, red Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Texas Posts: 977	mine still looks new. until about 5k and then it's a little dark...kinda light brown/tan colored.

11-15-2010, 04:01 PM	#4
CueBall Ruler of the free world Drives: 09 Yaris 2D HB Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Utah Posts: 49	How many miles total on your car?

11-15-2010, 07:13 PM	#6
severous01 Drives: 2008 yaris, stripped, red Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Texas Posts: 977	if you drive a lot and the 'cool' light doesnt go out you're looking for problems with sludge. if you're just going to the corner and back, start the car and make sure it runs long enough to get hot. hot enough to blow heat out the vents. that makes sure all the oil is risen to temps and moved around enough to mix properly. and then cools all at the same time and temp. if you think you've been duped, start changing your own oil and save some money. it's about 10 bux and about 15 minutes. you dont even need a lift. jsut crawl under with a pan and a wrench.

11-15-2010, 08:00 PM	#7
Happy Little Pony Drives: 2007 Yaris HB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 83	The color of the oil doesn't really mean anything. Some oils have additives that change color with use. Unless you have some other engine problem, I wouldn't worry about it.

11-15-2010, 08:30 PM	#8
Klink10 View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 910 Posts: 1,229	Yea, you didn't mention the brand or viscosity the dealer used. That could be an issue. If unsure he changed at all I would do it again. May not have changed the filter thus pumping new oil thru old filter. I use Amsoil XL 5w-30 and change at about 4500, always a light brown at change time. See the posts here and the sticky file on how to change, it really is that easy.

11-15-2010, 08:48 PM	#9
CueBall Ruler of the free world Drives: 09 Yaris 2D HB Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Utah Posts: 49	Yes, I almost always do my own oil changes. Normal driving, average trip about 15 minutes. I called the service dept. and they did indeed change the oil when they took it in (@ 8k miles). They used mobil oil (non synth. I'm sure) and did put a new filter on. I expect to see the heavy black stuff when I do my truck (chev 350 w/125k miles), I just didn't expect to see that on an engine with only 11k! I was thinkin more like a lite brown. I guess I'll have to check some friends oil on their newer cars and see how black theirs is. I just dont know what to expect, this is the newest car i ever owned!

11-16-2010, 05:51 AM	#10
Freedan Drives: 2010 Yaris Bayou Blue 3DR Lift Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 150	CueBall, I'm going to go out on a limb here by saying that no service department will admit that they didn't change your oil or forgot to change your oil filter.

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