What does color of car engine oil tell you?

My car had dark brown oil but I only changed it about 1,000 miles ago. Does the dark color mean there is something wrong? Thanks.What does color of car engine oil tell you?
The oil goes in as a golden color but carbon and engine soot will blacken the oil. the oil actually absorbs this byproduct and runs it thru the oil filter, bu the small particles wikll color the oil anyway.


Any black or gold is fine, you don't want red, anything green. the red is automatic transmission fluid and the green is coolant getting into the engine.


Good rule of thumb, change the oil and oil filter every 5000 to 6000 miles , you'll be fine.What does color of car engine oil tell you?
Had or has ? Need to clear up this area.
it is ok colour.





if it had been black, its a sign of weared out pistons and cylinders.





old oil will get blac eventually, but not after 1000 miles yet.





if oil is white, there is a water leak between engine oil and cooling system..normally some gasket broke.
no need for worry, mineral based oils turn color after a little use. Just change the oil as scheduled.
not necessarily, it just means that maybe you missed a few oil changes along the road someplace, I mean you went over the 3,000 mile recommended change. Most oil is that color after 3,000 miles.
no, it's black you have to worry about..
it means that you have ran your motor since you changed the oil





I mean think about it Rpm revolotions per minute in other words if you have a v-8 that is 8 little firesevery time the engine turns over oncemost cars idle at 1000 rpm that is 4000little fires in a four cyclender and 6000 in a six and 8000 in a 8





when doing the speed limit you are about running 2000 rpm 8000 in a 4, 1200 in a 6, and 1600 in a 8 in just one minute


you would be a little burned if you moved that fast to wouldn't you??
the color can tell you weather you have a coolant leak, but since yours is black you should be fine
When you pour in the new oil it is a 'honey' color, as the engine works carbon and soot deposits from the combustion process are held in suspension in the oil, hence it goes black, this is normal and the oil is doing it's job, change the oil at the correct interval and you should not have any problems.