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Synthetic oil turned black

Tiny
RAY DAWKINS
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 BUICK VERANO
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
What can cause synthetic oil to turn dark (black) in low miles (3,000)? Will it be safe to change from synthetic to conventional oil? He has been using this oil for about 60,000 miles.
Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 5:16 AM

19 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

Has the car ever overheated? That will heat up the oil.

What brand did you use?

Yes, you can go back to standard oil.

Roy
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 6:00 AM
Tiny
RAY DAWKINS
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  • 28 POSTS
Mobil -1.
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Sunday, November 10th, 2019 AT 6:50 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Top brand.

Has the engine ever overheated?

Roy
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Sunday, November 10th, 2019 AT 6:56 AM
Tiny
RAY DAWKINS
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  • 28 POSTS
No, that I know of.
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Sunday, November 10th, 2019 AT 7:11 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Okay, the only other thing I can think of is the oil running low. That would also overheat the oil and turn it black.

Roy
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Sunday, November 10th, 2019 AT 7:37 AM
Tiny
RAY DAWKINS
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  • 28 POSTS
Yes it was low and black.
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Sunday, November 10th, 2019 AT 7:42 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Okay, that is the reason. You need to check your oil every time you add fuel to the car.

Change the oil and filter and keep up with checking it regularly.

Roy
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Sunday, November 10th, 2019 AT 8:27 AM
Tiny
RAY DAWKINS
  • MEMBER
  • 28 POSTS
But can you change the oil weight or oil type to lessen the oil loss (burn)on a 2012 vehicle like this one? What can be done other than changing piston rings?
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Tuesday, November 12th, 2019 AT 7:15 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You can go to a non-synthetic oil as I stated but stay with the weight.

How much oil do you use between changes?

Roy
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Tuesday, November 12th, 2019 AT 7:23 AM
Tiny
RAY DAWKINS
  • MEMBER
  • 28 POSTS
About 2 quarts.
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Tuesday, November 12th, 2019 AT 8:54 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Normal usage is a quart every 800 miles.

How many miles between oil changes.

Roy
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Tuesday, November 12th, 2019 AT 9:11 AM
Tiny
RAY DAWKINS
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3,000 miles.
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Tuesday, November 12th, 2019 AT 1:39 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Although that is low mileage, it is still normal. I go 6k on my oil changes and do not use a quart.

The reason is most likely piston rings and it is burning the oil.

If you are using synthetic oil and changing it at 3,000, that is a waste of money. Synthetic oil changes are much longer intervals for protection.

Go to standard oil if you change it at 3,000.

Roy
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Tuesday, November 12th, 2019 AT 1:45 PM
Tiny
RAY DAWKINS
  • MEMBER
  • 28 POSTS
Is it that synthetic oil is made better for some vehicles than other? I have been use to getting 4,000 to 5,000 with conventional oil between changes. But I would have to add oil from time to time. Which car do you drive with the higher mileage changes?
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Thursday, November 14th, 2019 AT 5:39 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Hyundai Sonate. I can go as far as 7500.

It is not made better for different cars at all. It adheres to the engine parts for better lubrication.

Roy
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Thursday, November 14th, 2019 AT 6:09 AM
Tiny
RAY DAWKINS
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What year? Not the GM cars.
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Thursday, November 14th, 2019 AT 6:19 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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2012

It does not matter. You can change it anytime you want. Just realize you need to check it often and use the correct weight according to the manufacturer.

Roy
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Thursday, November 14th, 2019 AT 6:33 AM

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