My engine has right around 1000 miles on it, Ive changed the oil once...

The oil was a pretty nasty color, like a dark gray. Is this normal...is it not normal? Ive heard yes and no...

Ive had this second oil "batch" in for about 150 miles and I think its dirty also...havnt drained it yet.

So, is it normal for the oil to be a strange color the first couple oil changes or is something wrong?

 

Hrm, what color is the oil on the dip stick.....I would think that a grey color would be water getting blended in some how.

 

If u used assembly lube with graphite in it, it could take a couple of changes to get it out of the engine.

 

Its not water, I know what water+oil looks like - it looks like chocolate milk.

I did use assembly lube, so thats what it might be. Im changing the oil yet again and Ill keep a look out.

The only think I could think that would cause it is if the bearings are being shaved down and mixing with the oil...but I dont know.

 

Cool, good........I wasn't even thinking about the assembly lube.......that crap is around that color well depends on what you use but most of it is around that color........

 

Bearing particles are usually visible with a magnifing glass and look like little silver flecks. Have never seen the oil turn gray from assembly lube. White/Gray color is usually water/antifreeze.

 

But he ment to say Chocolate milk color which is more brown then grey......

 

No..I meant water + oil looks like chocolate milk...

While my oil has a dark gray color to it.

 

The assembly lube you used will mix with the oil. It'll take about 3-4 changes to rid it from the system. You should have changed the oil at 250mi and then again at 1000.

Yo udon't want to be running on the assembly lube.

 

Yea I realize that now...I took TOOs advice on the 1000 mile oil cahnge...although I didnt wait that long really, I changed the first "batch" at 750 miles.

 

After you drain the oil check the used oil for metal particles by running a magnet thru the drain pan. Before I got a magnetic drainplug I would always use my telescoping bolt/nut finder magnetic thingy!

 

Well you are most likey using conventional oil - hehe, their's your problem, conventional oil gets dirty quick!

 

you don't wanna use synthetic in a new engine...gotta give it at least 5-10 thousand miles of use with conventional oil for a good break-in unless the specs of your engine say otherwise. BMW is one of the only companies that uses synth from the factory.

just change the oil a couple more times and if that weird grayish color is still there then you should start worrying. does the engine run fine? no signs of compression loss, etc...rite?

l8er,
andrew




[Modified by roman420, 9:18 PM 1/4/2002]

 

Yea engine ran great (before I tore it apart again - well took the head off)

Compression was 250 PSI across the board and no signs of detonation.

 

Wow! I'm surprised you still had lots of oil left after changing it around 750 mi. My friend's car burned up almost all the oil around 500 mi on his motor after it was rebuilt.

 

Wow...umm..is that normal? Heh

My rings were fully seated after 100 miles it seemed (compression test showed 250 PSI)...oil level was at the same spot in my motor the whole time.

 

Don't worry....It's just assembly lube. Your next oil change should be practically like normal.