I always change my own oil and do my lubes, because I have had a few bad experiences with the fast lube places. I had knee surgery a bit ago , so I let a popular "quickie lube" place change my oil a couple of days ago. I checked it today and it is very brown on the dipstick. I ordered Valvoline 5w 30 all climate , and watched the guy pump it in from a hose rack type dispenser. My engine only has 12 k on it, and when I put new Valvoline 5w30 in it, it stays clear for 500 miles or better. Whats up with the brown Valv 5w30, with only 50 miles on it ?

 

Doesn't seem right. Try a blotter test. Drip some from the dipstick and see what it look like. Compare to another car with normal oil. Try the crackle test. I read on Noria.com that you can drip one drop on the hot manifold and if it crackles there is water in it. Brown oil IIRC is typical of water in the oil. The quick oil shop may have gotten their stock contaminated. It is easier for the big drums to get contaminated than the quart bottles so it seems to me. Also, maybe gunk builds up over the years or stuff in the bottom builds up. Ever hear of bock beer? You maybe got bock oil. But seriously, it doesn't sound right, nor all that good. Could send in a sample, but I would be inclinded to drain, flush with cheap oil, and refill. However, that may affect any claim you have with them. Have you driven it much? Any strange noises from the engine? Not to scare you, but when things don't look right, caution is in order. Could also call Valvoline and talk to their techs.

 

I agree with TallPaul. Something is not right. I would definately call Valvoline and talk to them about it. If nothing else, and to keep a customer, I would think that they would send you a voucher to have the oil and filter changed at no cost to you. Clean, quality oil is almost transparent on the dipstick. Unless your engine has been neglected, with varnish and early sludge formations (which I doubt) and a cleaning flushing additive was added to the new Valvoline oil, for that oil to be dark brown after 50 miles is not right. Let us know if you find out anything, and good luck... Tell this to that fast lube joint >

 

Thanks for the replies

When I looked at the brown tinted oil I didnt drive it anymore, I went and got a new filter with new valv 5w30 and changed it myself, wow their "new" oil running in to my change out pan, looked like it had 3k miles on it, rather than just 50 miles. . My new valv 5w30 oil poured in to the engine nice and clean, like it always looks . Truck is only a year old with 12 k on it, I bought it with just 3K on it and oil stays clean until after 1000 miles of driving, so I wasnt taking any chances on their weird bad oil.

I watched the kid under the truck while I stood in the garage door bay. I requested a front end lube and watched to see if he did it. The clerk handed me the bill checking off what they had checklisted. When I asked her was the truck lubed, she asked the guy under my truck about and he said " Bay 2 lubed !!". I told her I was watching and he DID NOT lube it . The boss come over and I told him a grease gun had not been put on the front suspension, and when he confronted the kid "mechanic"., the kid said he couldnt get his grease gun in to the upper fittings. He had not even tried, so the boss helped him. I greased it again myself when I changed the oil, the grease rubber boots were deflated, EVEN after the BOSS helped the kid. geez, So, I am not going back to dispute the oil, am just never going to another quick lube, hadnt in 15 years,. I quit quick lubes 15 years ago for this very type thing, I dont know who will do my oil/lube when am too old to get around under my truck

 

Maybe the kid in the pit left the old filter on? that would explain the darker color of new oil, one quart of old mixed in. Is there an 800 number or company headquarters address on the invoice? I would call or write to complain, not to the local manager, but the company HQ.

Jim

 

yea, that could do it.