Car Maintenance 101 Reminder: On Oil Color

April 25, 2008

Although pop culture seems to portray car oil as something black and viscous, keep in mind that oil is not supposed to be black at all! Usually great quality oil should be fairly translucent and amber in color when you’re checking it with your vehicle’s oil dipstick. If you see that your oil is too thin or too thick, grainy with residues floating on top, or black (or near it), then your vehicle needs an oil change. If you’ve already had your oil changed recently, but it still looks somewhat opaque, then you may need a mechanic or a professional to have a good look inside your engine. It’s possible that the oil corruption is caused by a faulty part of your engine’s system.

If you need to replace your oil cap or some other part of your engine, then you’ll need to find a great auto parts or truck accessories provider. Conducting your search online helps you find the best parts providers on the market. Keep in mind that the initial price indicated on the vehicle part may have “hidden costs” that includes shipping. For great quality discount auto parts minus the confusing computations and hidden costs, click on the link.