- 1/22/2025
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Every time you change the engine oil in your car, especially if it is old and used, you will notice that the oil comes out black in color, even though the oil you use is mainly golden or light brown, and this is normal.
There are times when the oil is black, but your engine is clean and your car is a bit new, and here you should pay attention to the matter, perhaps the reason behind this color is an issue with the engine, or the oil has become too old and has not been changed on the right date.
There are several reasons why engine oil turns black, and they are usually not alarming, but you should know these reasons to determine what caused the color change, as there are types of oils that are basically black, and you may think that your engine has an issue.
For your peace of mind, Motorgy offers you used cars for sale in Kuwait at excellent prices and fully inspected, even the engine oil, to ensure that you buy a healthy car that is free of engine issues and has the right oil to be happy in the years to come.
Read also: How do you maintain the engine oil?
Why is my engine oil black?
There are a few reasons why engine oil turns black and they are:
Dirt
It is known that car engines, especially old ones, have some dirt, impurities, carbon and fine metal filings that are formed during the combustion process, wear and friction of parts with each other over the years, and often these dirt and carbon cause the oil to become black, especially when its quality is not good, or it has been a long time since it was changed.
Type of oil
There are several types of engine oils, there are high-quality types and poor quality types, and the lower the quality of the oil, the weaker its components will be and will change and weaken with use, and one of the disadvantages of bad oil is that its color will change to black faster than high-quality oil, and traditional oil is different from synthetic, so make sure to choose the right oil for your car to ensure that it stays clean, its color is intact, and the maximum efficiency is taken from it throughout the days of the year.
Oxidation
The oxidation process occurs inside the engine when oil molecules interact with oxygen molecules and cause chemical damage to its components, and the very high engine temperature accelerates the oxidation process, and this will greatly contribute to making the oil black, and it also works to reduce its age and reduce its efficiency as well, and it will lose its full ability to lubricate and pull heat from the engine.
Read more: Causes of low engine oil in a car
Importance of changing engine oil
All engine oils, regardless of their quality, will reach a point where you must change them with new and clean oil in order to ensure that the engine works actively, performance and efficiency and maintain fuel consumption within the normal range, and checking and changing the oil level protects your engine and increases its lifespan as well.
The main purpose of engine oil is to provide proper lubrication to the internal parts that are constantly moving, allowing it to run smoothly, and when the engine is started, the oil pump works directly with it to pump oil from its bowl through the filter into the engine, and here the oil picks up many dirt and metal filings, and although the filter keeps them inside it, some of them remain in the engine.
The oil then lubricates the crankshaft, bearings, pistons, camshaft, valves, valve springs, and many other parts, and covers these parts with a protective layer and allows them to move freely without resistance or friction before returning to the oil pan and completing the cycle.
Therefore, keeping the oil clean and changing it constantly within the dates specified in the owner's manual, the dealership, or even the manufacturer of the oil you used is very important so as not to cause damage to the internal parts of the engine and possibly disable it completely and cause damage to the parts connected to it.
