what looked like black dirt at the tip of the dipstick. I don't know a lot about cars but I don't think this good thing. Any ideas on why that crap is there? I have changed my oil every 3,000- 3,200 miles. I don't push the car a lot...just once in a great while. By the way it's a 2K1 and it's got 15K on the odometer.

 

~limsandy

 

no one has any input....I guess it's cuz it's the weekend.

 

What kind of oil and filter are you using? Also, how many minutes/miles is your average trip in your car?

 

dirty is never good i'll have it plushed it i was you.

 

did you accidentally tap the engine block with the tip of the meter? there is a lot of out side dirt on the engine block.

 

err, mine has that since using Mobil1 (2 years now). Not sure what it is, but since Blackstone didnt seem to think anything was odd, I'm inclined to believe its just funk build up in the dipstick tube.

 

That's what I thought at first but after re-dipping a couple of times, the tip still had black stuff on it.

 

I'm using a Fram tough guard filter and valvoline conventional oil. I was using penzoil before that.

 

ahhhhhhhh fram filter thats a

 

Definitely use a better filter and if your drives are short, the oil won't heat up sufficiently to burn off water and other residues that it collects and that can cause the oil to gunk up too.

 

Go buy a Mobil 1 M-110 filter or the Amsoil SDF 13. The Mobil 1 filter is a tad better. K&N also has a very good oil filter that is made by Champion labs which also makes the Mobil 1 filters. Don't ever use Fram crapguard again.

 

My badd....damn Fram oil guard. Hey Larry where do you get your oil filters from?

Thanks for the help guys! Should I have the engine flushed or will the gunk eventually go away as I change the oil?

 

Years ago they got rated #1 in Consumer Reports (or so I was told). They're junk??

 

Those are the key words. "Years ago". Would you want a filter that uses cardboard endcaps?

 

I believe that Fram changed their manufacturing processes to save money.