That is somewhat normal when you view used oil on a white paper towel. The darkness is a combination of various impurities held in suspension by the oil - combustion by- products, moisture, fuel, wear metals, silicon etc - the oil is designed to hold them in suspension and they come out of suspension when you blot the oil on a paper towel. During the initial break-in period the level of wear metals is at their highest, along with other impurities. The factory oil is also high in moly additive which can appear dark. Your next oil change interval will run cleaner.It comes off every time I wipe the dipstick
OK, I was wondering if it was the moly content, but it seems the black residue is more than just that. Thanks for your input!! I know its frowned upon to change the factory fill early because of the high moly content, but would it be acceptable to change it early (say 5k) if you put a high moly content oil back in it? What do you think on that? Im not really keen on leaving the oil in for 10k miles, especially if most of the wear happens during the break-in process.
I say an oil change at 5k-6k is fine, and you are correct that pretty much all of the break-in wear is done by then. You don't need to use a high moly oil for future oil changes, go with the oil of your choice. There are very few high moly oils out there, and the type of moly that is used in over the counter motor oil is a different form of moly compared to what is used in factory fill oil, so don't dwell on that.
Well they've been saying that for the last decade when recommended oil changes used to be no more than 5k miles, now with oil life monitors they are stretching the mileage use for all oil changes and they are including the factory fill oil in that. You won't hurt anything by changing it at 5k as the break-in process will be done, go 6-7k if you feel better about it or the entire length which the oil life monitor tells you. There is no right or wrong answer, everyone should run what they prefer. I'll probably be changing mine by 6k. You won't notice a difference either way but you will have cleaner oil in there sooner. Break-in was pretty much complete by 600 miles, and the majority of that was within the first 100 miles.
I am having the same issue with 2019 Civic SI at around 1100km, though the black residue seems to be coming off from the upper end of the dipstick not even close to the where the oil is showing.
