Our diesel Clio recently had its first service after 9 months and 12000 miles. Today, one week and 180 miles later, I was checking the fluid levels for the first time since the service and noticed that the oil was black.

The main dealer where the service was done assures me that this is normal and that in a diesel engine new oil will turn black within a couple of hours.

Can anyone confirm whether this is true, or should I be concerned about the quality of the service or the quality of the engine?

Perfectly normal, nothing to worry about.

Yep diesels do turn their oil black quick but I`ve noticed on my 2010 Verso diesel the oil is still clean after 9 mths.

My Hilux was the same, would gradually darken between 1 and 2k miles after changes, maybe Toyotas drain properly, and possibly Toyota dealers still do it the old way via the sump plug.

(BX, 205, Xantia & Berlingo) do this.

Plus Renault it seems...now where are they all nailed together...;)

C2's oil is black as your hat within 10 minutes too, more French.....and i drained that properly too.

Edited by gordonbennet on 11/12/2011 at 16:02

It is a characteristic of all diesels!