Does the Color of My Car Oil Matter?

Your oil’s color can give you some insight into the health of your engine and vehicle. Here’s what each color means and what to do about it.

Checking Your Oil Color

Checking the color of your oil is as easy as 1, 2, 3: 1) Grab a dipstick, 2) dip it into your oil tank, and 3) pull it out. Simple! The color of your oil should be visible on the stick. If you don’t see any oil , your oil is severely low and you need an oil change right away. 

Oil Colors

Caramel or Amber

If your oil is a nice caramel color, you’re golden (ba dum dum tss). This means your oil is clean, relatively fresh, and more than capable of doing what it needs to do.

Dark Brown or Black

This means your oil is dirty or overly exposed to heat. You don’t want this! Going too long between oil changes is the biggest culprit of dark brown or black oil. In this case, the oil has cycled through your engine too many times and picked up a lot of debris along the way. TLDR; it’s time for an oil change.

Cream or Milky

A moisture issue will cause creamy or milky-looking oil. This is most likely from a head gasket leak, and if the gasket blows, you’re looking at major repairs. Cream-colored oil may also appear frothy, which is a sure sign moisture is at play. Either way, take your car to an auto shop to find the source of the problem.

Don’t Miss Your Oil Changes

Skipping oil changes is the easiest way to do damage to your vehicle. When your oil is in bad shape, it makes things harder for your engine. This can lead to damage or engine failure. Your best bet is to have your oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles to keep it healthy (and that beautiful caramel color!).

Are you due for an oil change? Schedule an appointment with Auto Correct today.