Attention AMSOIL Users

Dave N · 08-18-03, 03:41

This discussion was brought up on a Toyota Tacoma message board -- What color is your Amsoil motor oil when you change it?

Some people's oil (including mine) is black as tar when changed, while others' drains out a golden honey color even after 15K miles. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to this, as the trucks are very similar. Does anyone here have any theories as to the cause?

If you use Amsoil motor oil, could you please post the following? I'm curious as to whether or not this is a common occurrence.

Automobile Type (year, model, make)
Amsoil Oil Type used (Series2000, original, 7500, etc.)
Oil Filter Brand
Miles per change
Type of air filter
Color of Oil When Changed

Here's mine:
2001 Toyota Tacoma V6
Original Amsoil synthetic oil
Amsoil oil filter
7500 miles per change
OEM paper air filter
Oil is black as tar when changed

Thanks.

hondaguy2582 · 08-18-03, 05:23

dave, g2 www.bobistheoilguy.com for a discussion on your amsoil. You'll get all the answers you need about oil. Your toyota engine sludges up oil because all v6s from toyota are designed that way from the factory. I would do an engine flush with auto rx(again, goto bobs site) then go back to running amsoil.

FalconGuy · 08-18-03, 06:15

Certain gasoline brands can affect that color too, dyses used to distiguish grades, not like the old days but still happens in some markets

Just throwing it out......

Dave N · 08-18-03, 07:59

Thanks for the input so far guys. That is a great website, and I've just begun to read through it.

I'm aware that Toyota engines have a propensity to sludge, but the odd thing is that various Toyota Tacoma V6's all running Amsoil can have such a variation of oil color. Maybe it's the environment, gasoline, air filter, or whatever... It has to be something, right?

rjstaaf · 08-18-03, 09:04

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave N
Thanks for the input so far guys. That is a great website, and I've just begun to read through it.

I'm aware that Toyota engines have a propensity to sludge, but the odd thing is that various Toyota Tacoma V6's all running Amsoil can have such a variation of oil color. Maybe it's the environment, gasoline, air filter, or whatever... It has to be something, right?

Were they all running the same grade or weight Amsoil? That could be the difference. The formula could be completely different depending on the weight of the oil. The only real comparison is if they were running the same grade and weight. I also understand that Amsoil changed their formula. That was some years ago but, there is no way to know how much old stock is floating around.

Any particular reason you run Amsoil over say Mobil1?

Daryl Morse · 08-18-03, 09:54

The black color is caused by the carbon and dirt (sludge) that is in suspension in the oil.

You didn't say how long your engine was run on regular oil before you switched. If the engine was run for a long time on regular oil, particularly with long change intervals, the engine could have gotten sludged up and now you are seeing the sludge in your oil.

Synthetic oil has a greater tendency to break down sludge that may have built up in the engine before you switched to synthetic. This is a common thing for old engines that were switched to synthetic oil. Alternately, if an engine has a lot of blow by, the oil will tend to get more dirty than otherwise.

I've never heard that Toyotas have a tendency to dirty the oil. That is probably due to blowby.

You should be cautious about using a flush. It's pretty harsh stuff and you can damage your engine. If you try this, be careful to follow the directions and be sure to change your filter afterwards.

You may also want to be sure your PCV is working properly. A clogged PCV can cause blowby.

If your oil is getting really dirty, you shouldn't try and set a world record for long change interval. You should also be changing your oil filter more than normal. I change my synthetic oil and filter every 6 months - spring and fall. Oil is cheap compared to a new engine. My oil comes out clean.

Airborne Ranger · 08-18-03, 10:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave N
This discussion was brought up on a Toyota Tacoma message board -- What color is your Amsoil motor oil when you change it?

.

Automobile Type (year, model, make)
Amsoil Oil Type used (Series2000, original, 7500, etc.)
Oil Filter Brand
Miles per change
Type of air filter
Color of Oil When Changed

Here's mine:
2001 Toyota Tacoma V6
Original Amsoil synthetic oil
Amsoil oil filter
7500 miles per change
OEM paper air filter
Oil is black as tar when changed

Thanks.

Airborne Ranger · 08-18-03, 10:43

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave N
This discussion was brought up on a Toyota Tacoma message board -- What color is your Amsoil motor oil when you change it?

.

Automobile Type (year, model, make)
Amsoil Oil Type used (Series2000, original, 7500, etc.)
Oil Filter Brand
Miles per change
Type of air filter
Color of Oil When Changed

Here's mine:
2001 Toyota Tacoma V6
Original Amsoil synthetic oil
Amsoil oil filter
7500 miles per change
OEM paper air filter

Oil is black as tar when changed

Thanks.

1998 Ford Ranger
Series 2000 0w30
Amsoil SDF34 Filter
5000 per change
stock air filter (soon to be Baldwin)
black as anything when changed

I dunno what it is with my engine, I have the 2.5L dual plug 4 banger in my ranger, ticks like a mofo! Starts up, ticks and pings, hold it at around 1700RPM, tick tick tick tick tick!!!!!! ping ping ping

or letting off the gas to slow down, still ticks and pings. It may be my oil but something in there is really ticking away and TICKING ME OFF TOO!!!!!!!

I dunno maybe switching over something alittle heavier, like 10w30 Original Synthetic will make it shutup, I know it's coming from the engines internals somewhere,,,,,,,,,91

Dave N · 08-19-03, 07:17

Any particular reason you run Amsoil over say Mobil1?

No particular reason. I just heard that Amsoil was "the best". Actually, my last oil change is with Mobil1 (oil & filter) because I ran out of Amsoil and forgot to order more. It will be interesting to see if the color is any different.

You didn't say how long your engine was run on regular oil before you switched...

I bought the truck new a little over 2 years ago and used regular Penzoil for the first oil change at 1000 miles. At 3000 miles I started using Amsoil oil & filters and have used Amsoil ever since. I change every 7500 miles, which is even within the regular Toyota service interval for organic oil. What I can see of the engine in under the oil fill cap looks good. A guy on the Tacaoma mssg board had his oil pan replaced, and the mechanic told him that his engine looked like new. He has 75K on the motor and his Amsoil comes out black, so I guess the Amsoil must be doing its job.

Jeremy · 08-19-03, 11:00

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave N
This discussion was brought up on a Toyota Tacoma message board -- What color is your Amsoil motor oil when you change it?

Automobile Type (year, model, make)
Amsoil Oil Type used (Series2000, original, 7500, etc.)
Oil Filter Brand
Miles per change
Type of air filter
Color of Oil When Changed

Thanks.

Here's mine:
1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo
Original Amsoil synthetic oil
Amsoil oil filter
3000 miles per change
K&N air filter
Oil is black when changed
The car was on dino oil first ~1000 miles then Mobil1 or Amsoil for the last 68,000 miles

Here's my other:
2003 Subaru WRX Turbo
Original Amsoil synthetic oil
Purelator oil filter
3000 miles per change
OEM paper air filter
Oil is black when changed
The car was on dino oil first ~1000 miles then Amsoil for the last 14,000 miles

I stick to the 3000 miles due to the high heat of turbos.

rjstaaf · 08-19-03, 11:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave N
Any particular reason you run Amsoil over say Mobil1?

No particular reason. I just heard that Amsoil was "the best". Actually, my last oil change is with Mobil1 (oil & filter) because I ran out of Amsoil and forgot to order more. It will be interesting to see if the color is any different.

I wouldn't particularly say that Amsoil is "the best". Most synthetic oils today are made with Mobil base stock as was Amsoil. They broke from Mobil though and started using their own stock. There was a lot of discussion about whether Amsoil is even a true synthetic as the term is used pretty much the same way 100% cotton is used

Mobil actually sued Amsoil some time ago trying to get the courts to stop them from using the term "synthetic". I don't recall what came of it.

I have run Amsoil and went back to Mobil1 the next oil change. I compared them side by side before the oil change and Amsoil just felt thinner to me. I thought maybe I was just being too picky. I didn't like the way my engine ran with Amsoil.

These are just my observations. Your mileage may vary

Mosca · 08-19-03, 05:13

I like 'em both, and will use either one. They're both overkill, but for a couple extra bucks I figure I'm hedging my bet.

My Amsoil on my '97 Miata (Mobil 1 or original Amsoil since I bought the car with 13,792 miles) with 32,000 and Mazda filter drains honey colored after 7500 miles/1 year, btw.

Tom