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The color of your engine oil.

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Roland, Sep 20, 2021.

  1. Sep 20, 2021 at 7:59 PM
    #1
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    Last edited: Sep 21, 2021
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  2. Sep 20, 2021 at 8:58 PM
    #2
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster Slope Survivalist

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    My observations have been the same, but the most I've ever gone between oil changes is just under 7000 miles. After three years since new I just did my third oil change at 18k miles. I simply don't put that many miles on it. I'm on an annual change interval due to low usage.

    My 12' Sequoia, I was doing the 10k interval, but the oil would look pretty dark and nasty. I recently decided to put it on a 5000 mile interval. Wife drives it all over, mainly city driving.

    After watching the Car Care Nut, I decided to go with a 5k interval or close to it.
     
  3. Sep 20, 2021 at 9:25 PM
    #3
    r32

    r32 New Member

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    I suspect it depends greatly on where you live and what you do with your 4Runner.

    My oil looks pretty nasty when I change it every 5k. Mostly dark-dark brown. I do quite a bit of offroading in the mountains for 8 months out the year, and snowboarding in the winter. And in CA, we have big wildfire season every summer now (or so it would seem) which messes up the air quality pretty bad.
     
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  4. Sep 20, 2021 at 9:30 PM
    #4
    suaveflooder

    suaveflooder New Member

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    Send it to blackstone and get a definitive answer instead of relying on color.

    it’ll save you money and give you an actual answer :)
     
  5. Sep 21, 2021 at 10:34 AM
    #5
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    To clarify, I don't drive 8000 miles to change Oil 4k & filter, I checked the oil on a buddy of mine driving 8K and oil was dark brown.

    Sorry, I rephrased my opening post.
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2021
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  6. Sep 21, 2021 at 10:36 AM
    #6
    Mtbpsych

    Mtbpsych New Member

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    Mines always dark brown when I change it at 8k-10k miles. Let’s me know I used it for what it’s for:D
     
  7. Sep 21, 2021 at 10:39 AM
    #7
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    Sorry, I rephrased my opening post.
     
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  8. Sep 21, 2021 at 11:06 AM
    #8
    LandCruiser

    LandCruiser I have Toyotas

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    Some people just love to change the oil every hundred miles and spend all day under their truck.

    This engine does not operate under high temperatures or high pressures, nor is it made of exotic materials which would suffer if you don’t have peak oil performance.

    I would also like to follow that up that not changing the oil regularly is not going to lead to catastrophic engine failures with this motor type which will probably be the last thing to break on your truck.

    I would argue if you want to be obsessive and change fluids to prolong the life of your truck, you should probably worry about the differentials and transfer case first.
     
  9. Sep 21, 2021 at 11:17 AM
    #9
    Dillusion

    Dillusion New Member

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    We gonna compare oil color now lol.

    Gas color next?
     
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  10. Sep 21, 2021 at 11:21 AM
    #10
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    I change all fluids before the manual limits, always worked for me.
     
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  11. Sep 21, 2021 at 11:22 AM
    #11
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    Everything has a why?
     
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  12. Sep 21, 2021 at 11:35 AM
    #12
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    With most of my vehicles when I reach 50.000 miles, I replace sparkplugs and do a compression test, at least this reveals the condition of my engine's valves, its valve seats, and piston rings.
     
  13. Sep 21, 2021 at 12:24 PM
    #13
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    I don't really pay attention to color. I just drop it at 5K for new oil. It's obviously darker but don't know how much darker.
     
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  14. Sep 21, 2021 at 12:27 PM
    #14
    suaveflooder

    suaveflooder New Member

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    I’m old school. I do that at 100k, but that is a great way to find out as well. Blackstone is cheap. $30 or so, and gives you a ton of info
     
  15. Sep 21, 2021 at 12:30 PM
    #15
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

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    If you're worried about your engine oil getting dirty, replace the air filter more often.

    I also own stock in air filter production. :wink:

    I kid. I kid. :rofl:
     
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  16. Sep 21, 2021 at 2:24 PM
    #16
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    I do that as well, looks like miller light now. :cheers: Stella I prefer.
     
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  17. Sep 21, 2021 at 2:39 PM
    #17
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    Me too, I'm a Dinosaur, that's why I do all these crazy things we used to do. No Blackstone back then, no bichromatic microscopes and no analytical systems for the separation and interpretation of wear and contaminant particles in used lubricant oils, hydraulic fluids, coolants, fuels etc. :facepalm:
     
  18. Sep 21, 2021 at 7:02 PM
    #18
    j cat

    j cat New Member

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    inspect your engine air filter ..... my engine oil looks like new @7500 miles.. drops down 1/8-1/4 qt ..hard to read the oil stick. I suck out the old oil 45 mins... OLD oil filter looks like new..
     
  19. Sep 21, 2021 at 9:13 PM
    #19
    2016Pro

    2016Pro Why all of the Pro hate?

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    I change mine every 50 miles color is amber. Cheap insurance :thumbsup:
     
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  20. Sep 21, 2021 at 10:46 PM
    #20
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster Slope Survivalist

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    You suck out the old oil for 45 minutes? What does that mean?
     
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  21. Sep 22, 2021 at 7:26 AM
    #21
    LA260

    LA260 New Member

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    Sometimes i wish it was Army green
     
  22. Sep 22, 2021 at 8:48 AM
    #22
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

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    Perhaps we don’t want to know? Lol
     
  23. Sep 22, 2021 at 9:26 AM
    #23
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    I have heard that before, some people are using a topsider oil changer with a clear vacuum hose and suction probe that reaches down through the dipstick tube to the bottom of the engine pan. A vacuum pump creates a suction that pulls the dirty oil into the oil tank. You can take the tank off and use this each time you change oil; hence, I don't know how good this is, supposedly, no mess involved. I have never used this system, maybe some members can elaborate more.
     
  24. Sep 22, 2021 at 10:24 AM
    #24
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

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    I’ve heard about this sucky version of oil changes with some of the European makes. If I recall correctly, I heard MB and maybe BMWs don’t even come with oil pan drain plugs anymore.
     
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  25. Sep 22, 2021 at 10:46 AM
    #25
    Dillusion

    Dillusion New Member

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    Plenty people suck the oil out. Its how I change my oil in my boats outboards. But thats only because it drains all over the lower leg.

    Cleaner yes. But 45 minutes for an oil change no thanks.
     
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  26. Sep 22, 2021 at 12:28 PM
    #26
    thirdyota

    thirdyota shouldn't be trusted

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    I use an extraction pump for oil changes on my wife's VW. Filter is on the top of the engine so no need to get under the car. Haven't timed it...but definitely way less than 45 minutes to do the job.

    I/we use the extraction method for oil changes on some machinery where I work as well.
     
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  27. Sep 23, 2021 at 7:50 PM
    #27
    j cat

    j cat New Member

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    well I suck out , drain out the old oil for 45 min ...new engines have small ports that take much longer time to remove the old oil....
     
  28. Sep 24, 2021 at 9:34 PM
    #28
    ElectroBoy

    ElectroBoy Ad astra

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  29. Sep 25, 2021 at 5:16 AM
    #29
    Matt83

    Matt83 New Member

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    Can the next thread be about the smell of the engine oil?
     
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  30. Sep 25, 2021 at 5:52 AM
    #30
    scottalot

    scottalot Stockalot

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    To be determined
    I wish they sold oil infused with incense so that when older vehicles burn oil it would smell nice in their path :rasta:
     
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