rcryniak
Active Member
OK, so here's what's up. I purchased Pennzoil Ultra Platinum with Pureplus Technology (sounds fancy, right?) for my next oil change. However, I got sick this week (currently coughing up half a lung) and I wasn't willing to wait another week at 5700 miles already, so I brought my own oil and filter to the dealership where they did the change for me for $14 and change... plus a multipoint inspection... plus a wash. OK, that was worth it...
...at least until I got home, and took the second 5 QT jug of 5w-30 out of my trunk to put it on the shelf... when I noticed I only had 3 QTs left in the jug. With 2 QTs gone, and an another entire 5 QT jug gone... uh-oh, that's a 7 QT fill for a motor that calls for 6. Unless of course if he spilled some and had to use more than anticipated, which would be no big deal, so long as I know. So I checked after it sat for 10 min or so... definitely high ...way high. I then called the dealership and asked about it, and after a few minute wait, I was told the tech thought it was a 4 QT jug. He must be a big milk drinker. Nice. lol.
OK, not the end of the world, I'd already purchased one of those nifty oil suction pumps that look like an old school indian pump, just in case (get ready for irony) I made a mistake in an oil change, so I took oil out until the dipstick showed just under the second dot. Spot on. 1QT removed. So, resolved, but still. At least I got a wash and multipoint inspection out of it.
Anyhow, I was noticing as I sucked the excess oil out of the dipstick hole that the oil was much, much darker than I was expecting. The new Pennzoils, at least as they come out of the bottle, are such a light amber color that they're almost clear. What came out of my motor wasn't black, but very dark amber... brown really. Barely translucent in the suction tube, but reasonably translucent on the stick. How could it be this dirty already?? That makes no sense to me after driving, quite literally, 1 mile. But hey, maybe it's a heat thing, but I doubt it somehow. The last change I did, putting Mobil 1 in, when I checked the oil a day or two later (after many more miles than only ONE) it was still that light honey gold color that was very hard to read on the dipstick. Not so with this change, it's quite dark by comparison. The whole thing just seems off to me, all things considered.
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Maybe they forgot to put the new filter on that I gave them? Maybe they didn't empty it all the way?? Maybe both? Maybe it's normal for the new Pennzoils??? I can't say for sure, so let me know what you think could be the cause for my mysteriously dirty appearing oil. I'm also wondering if I shouldn't change it again right away, just to make sure everything was done right. What a PITA.
...at least until I got home, and took the second 5 QT jug of 5w-30 out of my trunk to put it on the shelf... when I noticed I only had 3 QTs left in the jug. With 2 QTs gone, and an another entire 5 QT jug gone... uh-oh, that's a 7 QT fill for a motor that calls for 6. Unless of course if he spilled some and had to use more than anticipated, which would be no big deal, so long as I know. So I checked after it sat for 10 min or so... definitely high ...way high. I then called the dealership and asked about it, and after a few minute wait, I was told the tech thought it was a 4 QT jug. He must be a big milk drinker. Nice. lol.
OK, not the end of the world, I'd already purchased one of those nifty oil suction pumps that look like an old school indian pump, just in case (get ready for irony) I made a mistake in an oil change, so I took oil out until the dipstick showed just under the second dot. Spot on. 1QT removed. So, resolved, but still. At least I got a wash and multipoint inspection out of it.
Anyhow, I was noticing as I sucked the excess oil out of the dipstick hole that the oil was much, much darker than I was expecting. The new Pennzoils, at least as they come out of the bottle, are such a light amber color that they're almost clear. What came out of my motor wasn't black, but very dark amber... brown really. Barely translucent in the suction tube, but reasonably translucent on the stick. How could it be this dirty already?? That makes no sense to me after driving, quite literally, 1 mile. But hey, maybe it's a heat thing, but I doubt it somehow. The last change I did, putting Mobil 1 in, when I checked the oil a day or two later (after many more miles than only ONE) it was still that light honey gold color that was very hard to read on the dipstick. Not so with this change, it's quite dark by comparison. The whole thing just seems off to me, all things considered.
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Maybe they forgot to put the new filter on that I gave them? Maybe they didn't empty it all the way?? Maybe both? Maybe it's normal for the new Pennzoils??? I can't say for sure, so let me know what you think could be the cause for my mysteriously dirty appearing oil. I'm also wondering if I shouldn't change it again right away, just to make sure everything was done right. What a PITA.
experience because I keep hearing such stories on other forums as well 
. Might just be a noob tech or might be a sloppy svc dept, who's to say? You can always ask for an experienced person to work on your car to help reduce the risk 
Lucky not to lose the fasteners while they drop the belly pan! Not like they're gonna video the whole thing for you. So, always an ass-pucker moment when you get the car back from the shop ...
That'll learn me.
