Does this look like old diesel engine oil?
 

Can anyone tell me if this looks normal for engine oil that was supposedly changed less than 2000 miles ago? If not, I'm going back to the dealer to complain.

This is my first diesel so I'm not sure if it's what it's supposed to look like. On gas cars, it's supposed to be slightly yellow/orangish....


http://imageshack.us/a/img21/5061/20130514224623.jpg

I didn't think there was a dipstick anymore.
FWIW, my father did the same thing when a friend got his 300SD serviced, back in 1984. Diesel oil turns black almost instantly because of the high compression.
Tell me where you found the dipstick?

Yup, totally normal. Diesel oil turns black as squid ink soon after changing it.

on my 09, the dipstick is right below the intake tube. Mine was just as dark after a change too. I added the last quart afterwards as the computer told me level was right but dipstick said i was low.

It is perfectly normal. It turns black because of soot loading, not high compression. Soot is generated from the diesel fuel combustion.

It could be 2000 mile oil, but could also be 22,000 oil.

As above the oil darkens quickly, but that fact doesnt speak to 'was it changed'.

Make sure they listed the correct diesel oil on the work order. If serious doubt, pull a sample and have a UOA.

Normal as others have mentioned.