How many colored motor oils are out there? I mean, oil with a coloring agent, and not just the usual, yellowish or brownish color. I know RP for one.

 

All oils have marker dyes. Oddly enough, it is the most expensive ingredient, but very little is used. If an engine were to fail under warranty and the oil is suspected, Ford could, in theory, find out who made the oil by testing for those dyes.

There is the distinctive green German Castrol 0W-30. Brad Penn also uses green.

Royal Purple is a copy, marketing wise, of the 1950's Royal Triton oil from Union Oil.

Jim

 

Colored brake fluid makes more sense. Let's you know when the system is flushed.

Once oil is in the engine, I don't really look at it again until I watch it come out the drain plug.

 

I didn't know that. I thought that the usual yellowish/brownish color is a natural color of the ingredients, not modified by any coloring.

 

Mostly due to leaky gaskets (at 215k) I normally look at the dipstick weekly.

 

No sorry NOT true while markers are used in some oils they are mostly used in "bulk" oil but even then NOT all companies do it and NO Ford could not find out who's oil you used there are way to many varibles and blenders to be 100% sure.
And current makers are normally Not dye they are very stealth and do not show up in "normal" UOA.
bruce

 

Schaffers oil is a blueish green color.I buy it from a local distributor.