Is it "normal" for Skoda (Fabia Diesel) engine oil to get so black, so soon?

I have had mine now for about 4-5 months and done around 5K and the oil looks quite black!

In my Toyota, (Petrol) The oil still looks clear after 30-40K and, yes, I know it has been changed a number of times but dealers don't seem to bother flushing, so SOME old oil will remain, contaminating the new stuff a little!

Over time, even a fresh oil change will look tainted after a few hundred miles but the Fabia , as mentioned, is black!

It may well be that Skoda use black oil to start with, but I doubt it as most fresh oil looks like a honey colour.

Also, has anyone noticed how difficult it is to use the Fabia dipstick? Remove, wipe, replace, still messy... repeat, still messy! Coupled with the black oil on a black dipstick, very hard to read quickly! I am used to, and expect better!

Edited 17 April, 201016 yr by mrgf

Perfectly normal for a diesel engine to turn the oil black pretty much straight away, nothing to worry about.

Graham

Mrgf, yes...I agree with Big Gray. The oil in diesels goes black very quickly...don't worry about it. This is normal and shows the oil is doing it's job of (suprisingly!) keeping the engine clean! The discolouration of the oil is, as you may know, caused by combustion contaminants that all engines produce. The are held harmlessly in the oil. Now if the oil in a petrol engine looked so black so soon, it would be cause for concern because the contaminants in a petrol engine are much more harmful. For example, the carbon build up in a petrol engine oil is of a very harsh gritty texture. This will over time cause much wear to the engine. However, in a diesel engine the carbon produced is a softer type and not gritty. It doesn't cause any extra measurable wear. However, this has the disadvantage of causing a build up of sludge in the engine if you don't change the oil regularly or use the proper diesel oil. The Skoda oil for your diesel has a high detergent rating (to prevent sludge) and an extreme pressure additive (to prevent wear). Always use the correct spec oil and you won't get any problems whatsoever.

Concerning the dipstick oil checking issue...it is again a common problem with diesels as the oil is very thin. I gave up checking my oil when the motor was hot, I now check it first thing in the morning when she's completely cold. It's easy then as the oil clings better to the dipstick. Just make sure if you do it when it's cold that the level is at the maximum! (but not over). Your dealer will add a flushing agent to your old engine oil periodically to make sure everything is nice and clean.

Edited 17 April, 201016 yr by Estate Man

Is it "normal" for Skoda (Fabia Diesel) engine oil to get so black, so soon?

I have had mine now for about 4-5 months and done around 5K and the oil looks quite black!

In my Touota, (Petrol) The oil still looks clear after 30-40K and, yes, I know it has been changed a number of times but dealers don't seem to bothe flushing, so SOME old oil will remain, contaminating the new stuff a little!

Over time, even a fresh oil change will look tainted after a few hundred miles but the Fabia ,as mentioned, is black!

it may well be that Skoda use black oil to start with, but I doubt it as most fresh oil looks like a honey colour.

Also, has anyone noticed how difficult it is to use the Fabia dipstick? Remove, wipe, replace, still messy... repeat, still messy! Coupled with the black oil on a black dipstick, very hard to read quickly! I am used to, and expect better!

As replied in earlier post......

If its any consolation, my new Fabia Greenline 1.4tdi has done around 700 miles . I monitored the oil throughout this period and it goes dark quite quickly compared to a petrol engine. In my earlier years I used to work on tractors and other diesel powered machines. They ALL made the oil darken quickly.

Unless its actually using up a fair amount of oil I really consider what you describe to be normal. I agree the dipstick isnt the easiest to use, bit fiddly but its ok if you twist slightly putting it in. Its a flat section of metal strip so it will only bend and slip in right if you put it in the right orientation......no I wasnt intentionally trying for a dooble entendre there !

Thanks for the replies, guys...

I feel a little better now, knowing this is to be expected... Also, a cabby I met at a filling station said his does the same thing.

The dipstick issue isn't so much a try to get it back in issue, I have had fiddly ones before, just trying to read the level of oil against a black background! Surely a silver dipstick would suit the job better? Again, the mention of doing it cold was fair comment and made good sense as the issue I had was trying to wipe it and re-insert it, only for it to come out smudged, again!

(Yet another double entendre, methinks)! Too many carry-on films!

Diesel engine lubricating oil has strong detergent additives that keep engine parts clean even though the oil may be black .

I have noticed this problem on my dads Audi A3, the dipstick on his car is round with no flat bit just to make it even harder.

I do recall someone suggesting painting the end of the dipstick white as a solution.

I have noticed this problem on my dads Audi A3, the dipstick on his car is round with no flat bit just to make it even harder.

I do recall someone suggesting painting the end of the dipstick white as a solution.

Re hard to read dipstick. Spoke to dealer and was told that one customer dipped his dipstick in white hammerite and 3 yrs later it's still ok (tdi). Sounds sad but I so want to be able to read the stick easily.