Oil ‘35 VLD

[Hdace]

So in another post I mentioned the cam adj cover on the oil pump was leaking oil and I think there is other small leaking around the oil pump.

So I thought I would release some oil from the crank and see if too much had collected in the bottom end. To my surprise the oil was quit dark almost black BUT the oil leaking out the oil pump is clean, fresh oil. I guess the oil hits the pump first and works it way through the engine then in the end goes out the relief pipe on the chain and to the ground.

It was surprising to me that the oil in the crank case was so dirty/dark. Why would the oil be dirty when the oil system results in total loss of the oil. Shouldn’t it be clean? Why would it be dirty? Thank you

[Rubone]

So in another post I mentioned the cam adj cover on the oil pump was leaking oil and I think there is other small leaking around the oil pump.

So I thought I would release some oil from the crank and see if too much had collected in the bottom end. To my surprise the oil was quit dark almost black BUT the oil leaking out the oil pump is clean, fresh oil. I guess the oil hits the pump first and works it way through the engine then in the end goes out the relief pipe on the chain and to the ground.

It was surprising to me that the oil in the crank case was so dirty/dark. Why would the oil be dirty when the oil system results in total loss of the oil. Shouldn’t it be clean? Why would it be dirty? Thank you

The "dirty" in the oil is carbon blowby as a result of combustion and minimal sealing of the rings. Very common in early engines and can discolor the oil quickly.