Color of Engine oil?

[ms2000]

2013 MZ5 with 118k miles
Drives about 4k/year - 2x6miles daily commute.
Always used Mobil 1, WIX filter
Changed oil yearly at a shop - I provided the parts - once after 15months, sent the oil to lab - they, as usual, asked to drive longer!

Since the last oil change, I might have driven 1k.
But the color of the oil is darker than that of Volt or Prius. It is not black!

Is there some additive or whatever needed in the engine - I never used anything inside engine.
Or another treatment a shop does?
Any other tips to maintain it better?

There is no good Mazda or private mechanic that I know of whom I regard well.

 

[Maikel]

It's "normal" that the new might get darker pretty fast.
It has many cleaning properties, so it's doing it's job.

I have kinda same situation, I drive about 6-7k (km) per year and also short trips.
When I'll change the engine oil, every 10k km, I'll do it with a flush. Then the new oil keep looking fresh quite a long time.

My flush metod is:
1. Old oil and -filter off.
2. New oil and -filter and with engine flush.
3. Let the engine what flush instructions say.
Usually it's 15-20min and varying idle speed.
4. Drain the flush oil and remove oil filter.
It's usually already really black.
5. New oil and filter install and happy Zoom zoom.

 

[ms2000]

So what do you use to Flush - I understand its an additive?
Does it cause any damage to the engine seals or whatever?
How long have you been doing this?

Other than the oil color, have you noticed any difference on the engine performance, mpg, noise level?

 

[Maikel]

Well, it's not really additive, it's more like a cleaner what you put in your oil.
Then run the engine and drain everything out.
ie. BG epr is good one, but little bit difficult get in here.

Oil additives are usually what you put to new oil and leave them there.
I personally aren't fan of those, because oils are already so "good" and should have all the necessery additives in them.

I have been doing this type of flushing many years and also with my previous Mazdas.
Haven't had any problems, or gains, except that the oil stays cleaner for longer.

My 5 is low mileage, about 176k km, and has been pretty good maintanenced before me.
It's just my low usage and short trips which aren't good for the engine.

 

[ms2000]

Thank for for recommending BG epr. I found it here:
<https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)>

A m/c tells me to use Seaform - <How To Add Sea Foam Motor Treatment To Crankcase Oil | Sea Foam>

So I need to add 5 Oz since it takes 5 qts.

 

[N7turbo]

What is the reason you think it needs a treatment?

 

[ms2000]

What is the reason you think it needs a treatment?

I did a detailed OP -> But the color of the oil is darker than that of Volt or Prius. It is not black!

 

[N7turbo]

I did a detailed OP -> But the color of the oil is darker than that of Volt or Prius. It is not black!

Oil is always dark when changing it. That doesn't indicate much.

I would refer to the oil analysis if it turned up anything concerning.

 

[ms2000]

Oil is always dark when changing it. That doesn't indicate much.

I would refer to the oil analysis if it turned up anything concerning.

This isn’t moving the discussion forward, Good Bye

 

[Maikel]

Thank for for recommending BG epr. I found it here:
<https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)>

A m/c tells me to use Seaform - <How To Add Sea Foam Motor Treatment To Crankcase Oil | Sea Foam>

So I need to add 5 Oz since it takes 5 qts.

Just my 5cent, but I would skip the Seafoam.
It's pretty extreme cleaner and proccess.

Oil is always dark when changing it. That doesn't indicate much.

I would refer to the oil analysis if it turned up anything concerning.

N7turbo has a point there.
Color of the oil doesn't give that much of a info about anything.
Oil analysis is good way to know what's in there.

Is there some problem with your 5, or is it just there darkening after 1k what you're conserned?
Because the old saying "Don't fix it if it ain't broken" might suit here pretty good.

 

[sm1ke]

Further to what's already been said, Mazda typically does not recommend adding oil additives or treatments to the oil. They are simply not necessary unless you are seeing issues in performance or fuel economy. A change in oil colour doesn't indicate anything on it's own.

Modern engine oils already have detergents and additives in their formulas to keep engines clean, as long as the maintenance intervals are followed.

 

[sm1ke]

This isn’t moving the discussion forward, Good Bye

This was unnecessary. If you didn't like his answer, just ignore it.

 

[ms2000]

Just my 5cent, but I would skip the Seafoam.
It's pretty extreme cleaner and proccess.


N7turbo has a point there.
Color of the oil doesn't give that much of a info about anything.
Oil analysis is good way to know what's in there.

Is there some problem with your 5, or is it just there darkening after 1k what you're conserned?
Because the old saying "Don't fix it if it ain't broken" might suit here pretty good.

Tx for the tip of Seafoam.
How much of BP EPR do u mix with the engine oil?

I do not have any issues with the car - as you correctly quoted from my OP, its just darker relative to my hybrids within 1k miles.

Do you guys replace PS Fluid? I did at shop after getting the car - then did myself wth a syringe. Haven't touched it for a while.

 

[ms2000]

Further to what's already been said, Mazda typically does not recommend adding oil additives or treatments to the oil. They are simply not necessary unless you are seeing issues in performance or fuel economy. A change in oil colour doesn't indicate anything on it's own.

Modern engine oils already have detergents and additives in their formulas to keep engines clean, as long as the maintenance intervals are followed.

Thank you.
What mpg do you get?
After adding S1 Red bottle, my mpg goes up but not for a long. By 3rd gas tank it goes lower.
For the 2x6 mile commute, most recent filling, got 20mpg - is this acceptable?

 

[Maikel]

Tx for the tip of Seafoam.
How much of BP EPR do u mix with the engine oil?

I do not have any issues with the car - as you correctly quoted from my OP, its just darker relative to my hybrids within 1k miles.

Do you guys replace PS Fluid? I did at shop after getting the car - then did myself wth a syringe. Haven't touched it for a while.

I use the whole can and the let idle what instructions say.

But compaering your 5's oil to some hybrid engines oil, isn't apples to apples and I would carefully say that there's no point doing that.
Your 5 is 13 years old and almost 120k miles driven, so of course there is deposits/sludge inside.
How much newer and less driven is your hybrid?
And especially how much ICE driving is done in that 1k?

 

[ms2000]

I use the whole can and the let idle what instructions say.

But compaering your 5's oil to some hybrid engines oil, isn't apples to apples and I would carefully say that there's no point doing that.
Your 5 is 13 years old and almost 120k miles driven, so of course there is deposits/sludge inside.
How much newer and less driven is your hybrid?
And especially how much ICE driving is done in that 1k?

Gt questions - Prius 2017 w/ 40k.
Volt, 80k, 50% is battery.

But, you and i are seems on the same boat - you used BP EPR and removed sludge.
Should I not do this?

 

[Maikel]

Gt questions - Prius 2017 w/ 40k.
Volt, 80k, 50% is battery.

But, you and i are seems on the same boat - you used BP EPR and removed sludge.
Should I not do this?

Well.. it's hard to say should you do, or not.

I haven't had any problems using different engine flush cleaners, but it doesn't mean that you wouldn't eather.

So everyone to it's own.

And as long that you understand that there's always some risks involved with using those cleaners.

In my case, I don't have any problems with my 5 engine, I'm not using engine flush to fix anything, I see it more like preventive maintenance.

 

[ms2000]

Well.. it's hard to say should you do, or not.

I haven't had any problems using different engine flush cleaners, but it doesn't mean that you wouldn't eather.

So everyone to it's own.

And as long that you understand that there's always some risks involved with using those cleaners.

In my case, I don't have any problems with my 5 engine, I'm not using engine flush to fix anything, I see it more like preventive maintenance.

Well taken.
Yeah, preventive in a sense ensuring bad stuff is gone - but I guess it could go in either direction!