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Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:29 pm
by dazza85
Checked the oil in the truck and found black treacle
Thought thats not right, best I drop it out ...
Checked that I had oil and a filter found the drain tray
Pulled the plug out and it took a few seconds before the stuff that "was" oil started to ooze out.
I have never seen anything quite like it ...
It took about 3 hrs for 6 ltrs to drain out during which time I I got the filter off and discovered that the spare was for the wife's Surf
And the shops are shut and truck is in front of the only vehicle that still goes
So tomorrow Its off to get a couple of filters
I thought I would refill it and run it for a week and change oil and filter again
Is there a better way to clean it out ??
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:05 am
by mud_slinger
you could run a engine flush but they not ideal. stick with the idea you had bout drianin the oil and filter in a weeks time. do it when its hot tho and then i'd do it a month later jus to make sure its all out. mabe even drop the sump and see wat crap in there and around the oil pick up jus in case. nothin like a blocked pick up to kill your engine
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 1:16 pm
by Heath
While its empty drop some diesel in there to wash the sump maybe.
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:54 pm
by tweake
what brand/spec oil was it and how long since it wsa changed ?
heard of a couple of reports where they could have had the wrong oil in the container.
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:07 am
by Swamped
I let the engine idle with diesel in to clean out old oil. Diesel has some lubricating properties so its not too bad for em. Don't use anything like petrol for it.
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:27 am
by timotheus
Swamped wrote:I let the engine idle with diesel in to clean out old oil. Diesel has some lubricating properties so its not too bad for em. Don't use anything like petrol for it.
Ive been doing the same for the last few years with either kero or diesel. I idle 500ml-1L through for 20-30mins.
Works a treat. Thins the oil down massively.
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:10 pm
by Bulletproof
How many Ks since the last oil change. A diesel should be done between 2500 - 5000 Ks depending on use. My oil is still clear after 2000 Ks and I change oil and filter every 4500 and have done since new.
If you are doing oil changes as you should be, you must have stuffed motor to have oil like that.
Cheers Richard
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:12 pm
by curly12
Bulletproof wrote:How many Ks since the last oil change. A diesel should be done between 2500 - 5000 Ks depending on use. My oil is still clear after 2000 Ks and I change oil and filter every 4500 and have done since new.
If you are doing oil changes as you should be, you must have stuffed motor to have oil like that.
Cheers Richard
Mmmmmmmmm, thought that the oil was meant to suspend solids and stop them wearing out the bearings etc. I have always been told that clean oil in a diesel is a sign of incorrect oil and running temperture's. You may have a build-up of solid waste if the oil is not picking crap up
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:22 pm
by Bulletproof
curly12 wrote:Bulletproof wrote:How many Ks since the last oil change. A diesel should be done between 2500 - 5000 Ks depending on use. My oil is still clear after 2000 Ks and I change oil and filter every 4500 and have done since new.
If you are doing oil changes as you should be, you must have stuffed motor to have oil like that.
Cheers Richard
Mmmmmmmmm, thought that the oil was meant to suspend solids and stop them wearing out the bearings etc. I have always been told that clean oil in a diesel is a sign of incorrect oil and running temperture's. You may have a build-up of solid waste if the oil is not picking crap up
Whoever told you that knows stuff all.
Cheers Richard
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:27 pm
by Windsock
Bulletproof wrote:How many Ks since the last oil change. A diesel should be done between 2500 - 5000 Ks depending on use. My oil is still clear after 2000 Ks and I change oil and filter every 4500 and have done since new.
If you are doing oil changes as you should be, you must have stuffed motor to have oil like that.
Cheers Richard
I can understand a clean engine having oil considered clear at 2000km but what is it like at 4500km?
I do my oil changes every 5000km and although the oil is black with soot, it still has viscosity and some semblance of life left. All things considered, not bad for a 24 year old engine.
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:36 pm
by curly12
Bulletproof wrote:curly12 wrote:Bulletproof wrote:How many Ks since the last oil change. A diesel should be done between 2500 - 5000 Ks depending on use. My oil is still clear after 2000 Ks and I change oil and filter every 4500 and have done since new.
If you are doing oil changes as you should be, you must have stuffed motor to have oil like that.
Cheers Richard
Mmmmmmmmm, thought that the oil was meant to suspend solids and stop them wearing out the bearings etc. I have always been told that clean oil in a diesel is a sign of incorrect oil and running temperture's. You may have a build-up of solid waste if the oil is not picking crap up
Whoever told you that knows stuff all.
Cheers Richard
So solids produced by the engine are meant to fall and lodge in oil passage's etc??? What is the purpose of oil??? Thats right, to lube bearing etc because the solids are falling to the bottom of the sump etc and you remove the sump to clean out the crap??
Don't think so, the oil is there to suspend the solids to stop them clogging oil passeges etc. If you oil is not picking this crap up the you have the wrong type of oil for the job and the solids are wearing out the motor due to them not being removed.
Get an oil breakdown and see what is the residue...........
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:42 pm
by Bulletproof
Windsock wrote:
I can understand a clean engine having oil considered clear at 2000km but what is it like at 4500km?
I do my oil changes every 5000km and although the oil is black with soot, it still has viscosity and some semblance of life left. All things considered, not bad for a 24 year old engine.
I agree with that. My motor is now 7 years old and has now done 80000 , I have always changed the oil and filter at 4500 since new.
Richard
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:37 pm
by Moriarty
Bulletproof wrote:Windsock wrote:
I can understand a clean engine having oil considered clear at 2000km but what is it like at 4500km?
I do my oil changes every 5000km and although the oil is black with soot, it still has viscosity and some semblance of life left. All things considered, not bad for a 24 year old engine.
I agree with that. My motor is now 7 years old and has now done 80000 , I have always changed the oil and filter at 4500 since new.
Richard
Bloody ell, Richard, 80K in 7? 73K in 3.5 from new. and YES!! full oil and filter change every 5K now. expensive in materiels, but cheap in the long haul.
Watch this space, working on a smartarse oil purifier and carbon remover.
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:34 pm
by Bulletproof
Moriarty wrote:Bulletproof wrote:
I agree with that. My motor is now 7 years old and has now done 80000 , I have always changed the oil and filter at 4500 since new.
Richard
Bloody ell, Richard, 80K in 7? 73K in 3.5 from new. and YES!! full oil and filter change every 5K now. expensive in materiels, but cheap in the long haul.
Watch this space, working on a smartarse oil purifier and carbon remover.
There is no Question regarding the 80K in 7 years because I have had it since new and it is only used for 4 wheel driving.
I bought a new motor with the purpose of supercharging because I didn't want some clapped out heap of junk.
Others have Questioned the oil I'm using. Rowan Coutts in the Nelson 4x4 club ownes the Volvo truck dealership and service dept and I get my oil from him and the oil Volvo use is the best spec oil. Some trucks do around a million Ks so the oil can't be that bad.
Cheers Richard
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:49 pm
by Flyingpony
timotheus wrote:Swamped wrote:I let the engine idle with diesel in to clean out old oil. Diesel has some lubricating properties so its not too bad for em. Don't use anything like petrol for it.
Ive been doing the same for the last few years with either kero or diesel. I idle 500ml-1L through for 20-30mins.
Works a treat. Thins the oil down massively.
My petrol engine is due for an oil/filter change. Can this trick be used on petrol engines or is it diesel engines only?
Am I correct in assuming that you drain sufficient oil out so that the 1l of diesel fuel added doesn't cause the engine sump fluid level go above maximum?
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:09 pm
by Moriarty
Flyingpony wrote:timotheus wrote:Swamped wrote:I let the engine idle with diesel in to clean out old oil. Diesel has some lubricating properties so its not too bad for em. Don't use anything like petrol for it.
Ive been doing the same for the last few years with either kero or diesel. I idle 500ml-1L through for 20-30mins.
Works a treat. Thins the oil down massively.
My petrol engine is due for an oil/filter change. Can this trick be used on petrol engines or is it diesel engines only?
Am I correct in assuming that you drain sufficient oil out so that the 1l of diesel fuel added doesn't cause the engine sump fluid level go above maximum?
seems like a helluva risk to me.
if you DO do this, fer chrissake DONT put ANY load on the engine.
THEN do a full engine oil and filter change.
once we used to be able to buy a product called "Flushing oil" this did the same trick, but it WAS a very light lubricating oil.
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:48 pm
by Sadam_Husain
If its not broke dont fix it

Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:32 pm
by Swamped
Diesel does have lubricating properties its just real thin. It works fine on petrol engines but yeah i def wouldn't drive it anywhere or rev it too much...Just leave it idle a bit. I've heard of people driving with diesel as an oil substitute to limp home but I don't know how safe that would be.
Re: Oil that looks like black treacle
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:02 am
by timotheus
Flyingpony wrote:timotheus wrote:Swamped wrote:I let the engine idle with diesel in to clean out old oil. Diesel has some lubricating properties so its not too bad for em. Don't use anything like petrol for it.
Ive been doing the same for the last few years with either kero or diesel. I idle 500ml-1L through for 20-30mins.
Works a treat. Thins the oil down massively.
My petrol engine is due for an oil/filter change. Can this trick be used on petrol engines or is it diesel engines only?
Am I correct in assuming that you drain sufficient oil out so that the 1l of diesel fuel added doesn't cause the engine sump fluid level go above maximum?
Yes. But like the others have said, dont rev it, just let it idle. Most bought engine flushes are in effect kero (so I have heard). There was a big thread on it a year or so ago. Consensus back then was just use 500ml of kero instead of paying 15 for a branded flush.