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What color should my engine oil be?
I checked my car’s oil yesterday and it was sort of a light brown color, but I don’t actually know what that indicates as far as oil health goes—what color should my engine oil be?
Andrew Biro · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
This is a really good question! In general, your engine oil should appear amber or light yellow in color and be slightly translucent—if your engine oil has turned a darker brown, you’ll probably need to schedule an oil change.
When you first buy engine oil, it will have an amber glow to it and have roughly the same consistency as olive oil. After the oil is added to your engine it will slowly start accumulating contaminants, eventually turning a dark brown color and gaining a much thicker consistency.
If you check your engine oil and it appears dark brown or black, while also being thicker than normal, you will need to have the oil changed.
Milky or cream-colored oil is indicative of water or coolant contamination, which will also require the oil to be drained and changed to ensure peak performance.
Hope this helps!
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