Used oil question...

I have changed my oil in my new 2005 Sunfire. I noticed that the motor oil has a slight red tint to it. I have changed car oil in my previous vehicles and never noticed the used oil to have a redish tint, always brown. Is this a problem w/ the vehicle or is it normal??

Can't say I've ever seen a reddish tint to used oil. How red it is? Siginificant or barely there?

Can't say I've ever seen a reddish tint to used oil. How red it is? Siginificant or barely there?

The oil is noticeable red tinted if looking at it fresh in the pan. The bubbles in the non settled oil has a redish tint to them. I am concerned also because this car emits a almost rubber burning or other burning type smell at acceleration. Smell definently comming from front of vehicle. I have been having trouble getting the dealer to admit that is a problem.

Red oil and burning smell. Sounds like you need to talk to the dealer again. The only fluid that I can think of that is red is the tranny fluid. I wonder if its possible that it seeped into your oil. I would get it fixed immediately. If you are burning oil on this new of a car, something is wrong. Could be catasrophic or it could be just a seal. if the dealer won't admit to it, let them know the BBB and a lawyer will be in touch with them. Most companies usually jump at that sort of thing.

Red oil and burning smell. Sounds like you need to talk to the dealer again. The only fluid that I can think of that is red is the tranny fluid. I wonder if its possible that it seeped into your oil. I would get it fixed immediately. If you are burning oil on this new of a car, something is wrong. Could be catasrophic or it could be just a seal. if the dealer won't admit to it, let them know the BBB and a lawyer will be in touch with them. Most companies usually jump at that sort of thing.

Thank you, You have confirmed what I was thinking. The car makes a smell noticeable at acceleration the harder the acceleration the more the smell which would make sence. When I saw the red in th oil it had the same color appearance as trans fluid and that was my gut feeling about the seal. I will take it to the dealer immediately. I have had other problems right off the bat non related to this. I think this car must be a lemon :( Thanks for the help.

There is only one problem with that theory. The transmission fluid and oil cannot mix. There is no way the two can come into contact with one another even if you have a bad seal on the transmission. The torque convertor is connected to the front of the transmission and then connected to the flywheel. There is a physical separation between the transmission and the rear main seal that is so great there would be no way the tranny fluid could get into the engine.

There are not interconnections between the engine and the transmission other than the physical connection at the flywheel. What type of oil are you using? And, are you leaking any coolant? Dexcool could be contaminating the oil but you should see other signs like low coolant levels not just red tinted oil.

Ok.. Another thought on this matter and this is kinda of fin left field. I have seen mechanics and dealerships do some stupid shit in my life. I know that the fill caps for the oil and the transmission are in 2 completely different spots, but I wonder if some dolt poured tranny fluid where engine oil goes? Do you have irregular exhaust or engine noise/behavior? Is this the first time you chanegd the oil in this car?

good point matt plus a lot of dealers or most dealers now use bulk oil, maybe tthey got the reel or the distributor got the tanks mixed up?

That is an excellent point, I thought about a mix-up but I really didn't think that even dealers could make that mistake. If the oil hasn't been thrown away or recycled I would take a sample and have a lab analyze it. If it is transmission fluid you will have an excellent case against the dealer for a new engine in your car. Tranny fluid doesn't lubricate very well and you will probably develop bearing problems real soon.

My friendly neighborhood GM dealership is that dumb. When they replaced my transmission and gave my car back to me (2 months later) I got in the car with a torn stearing wheel cover, my brake pedal was sitting on my passenger seat and my check gauges light was on. I had ZERO gas. They would not give me any gas because they claimed that it was like that when they got it and all they did was push the car around the lot. They had no explanation for the rest of it. And to think, they are more expensive than regular shop mechanics.


Another "I'm a dumb mechanic story." My wife took her car to walmart while I was gone to have her oil changed. When she got the car back, they told her "the oil plug was missing and we put a tissue in there until you get another one." So when she tells me this, I kneel down and see what the hell he's talking about and the plug was sitting right there where it should be. So I let it go. 2 days later I'm out smoking and doop-de-doo I think well I wonder if they meant the oil cap. So I check that and sure enough... there is a big flippin shop rag stuffed inside the engine where the cap should have been.

*sigh* I love wal-mart

/rant off

Another thought... I wonder what the coloration is of the new 10k and 15k oils from Mobile 1? Maybe they put that stuff in there?

ALSO! I asked someone at work about this for some reason and they suggested that some people put about 1 qt of tranny fluid in the oil to clean the engine out. However it is usually reserved for older, high mileage cars and its not intended to drive around with. Just run the car for a bit and make the fluid act as a detergent.