I got my first oil change done around 4100 miles and put in synthetic. Right at 5500 miles, the change oil indication comes on which was a bit suprising, so I checked the oil out and it's darker than I would have expected after such a short time. From what I know, synthetic oil shouldn't turn this dark after only 1500 miles and dark oil essentially means it's broken down and needs changing. It's super clean, just darker than I expected...

Wondering if I actually didn't get an oil change done to begin with...I've done some wheeling since the original oil change, but even still, it shouldn't show that worn I would think. Thoughts?

 

Not alot of information here, except that you did your first change at 4100 miles, and you used synthetic for replacement. At 5500 miles your oil seems surprisingly dark.
One of the many benifits of synthetic oil, especially if it's a group IV synthetic is the high detergent/dispersant additives. This of course will tend to clean out engine, and may be what you are seeing.
I know when I switched my 94XJ over from Dino to synthetic it had about 6000 miles. I was quite surprised that the oil was almost black only 1000 miles later. Having talked to my local 4wd shop mechanic who is one of the best in the area at engine rebuild, regearing and the likes, he stated the synthetic is most likely cleaning out the engine. At any rate, I did another change, including filter, and another one about 1000 miles later. The oil was again very dark. After that change the oil was not so dark, and I'm happy to say I still have the 94XJ with the same engine, and no problems or leaks going on 15 years later. Today I give the XJ a change and 3K later a new filter and 1qt, 3K later a new filter and 1qt, then the next change is a complete change. I have been doing this for the last 10 years or so. By the time I get around to the complete change the motor has an additional 9000 miles, and the oil doesn't look as bad as it did when I did the first few changes after converting to synthetic.
If it really concerns you I suggest you might want to do an oil analysys. There are a few reputable places online, and are not that costly. Blackstone Labs come to mind. Doing an analysis this early in the game however may lead you out to left field, as the engine is new and just now breaking in. If you choose to do an analysis, be sure to give the lab as much info as possible about your vehicle.
Unless you have been using a poor grade of synthetic, and have been subjecting your vehicle to extreemly high temperatures, I doubt the oil has broken down. I would more believe that it is cleaning out the results of 4100 miles of engine use using conventional motor oil.

 

Though I am sure there is a sensor somewhere that can turn your indicator on, mostly it is milage that turns it on and 5500 sounds about right. You can get the reset code out of your manual. If you waited until 4100 miles for your first oil change it is most likley not bad oil you got but left over crap from break in, most people do there first change around 500-1000 miles because of it. My suggestion to you is to reset the indicator, and change the oil again at 6000 miles, then put yourself on a schedule, i.e. 3000 miles or 4500 miles, depending on your driving habbits.

The reset code should be something like this:

1. Turn you key to the ON/ACC position without starting the engine
2. Press the gas pedal to the floor three times within 10 seconds (be as slow as possible and still be in the time frame).
3. Turn your key to the OFF position. Wait a few seconds then start your vehicle, light should be off. you may have to try it a few times to get it.

 

They may not have actually changed your oil. Only reason I could think of that could lead to synthetic oil going that bad that quickly is something failing in the engine, or some really bad contamination. I would get a filter and oil change it yourself check the old oil for metal flake, then run the new oil for 500 miles and check it. That should tell you if there is something wrong. My 2 cents.

 

Weird. X2 what Lorrel said on cleaning the engine, though at 4100 miles I would be really surprise if it had that much build-up. I did the synth change and about 18Kmiles and my oil is somewhat dark, but no indicator.

Food for thought, I had an engine technician explain to me once that the dark color of motor oil is not necessarily an idicator that it is not good, that in gas engines the hydrocarbons are actually the primary reason for the color change. He stated that in some electric motors the oil will still look like new, but it will actually be spent from a lubricating standpoint. I've not researched this myself, so take it at face value.

 

I have less than 2K miles on my current synth oil, and it is pretty dark. If you did significant wheeling in really dusty conditions, it could certainly hasten the demise of the oil. I recommend checking everything after a change by a shop, not only to verify that they did it, but also to make sure it's not under/over filled. Last summer the dealer technician forgot to re-insall the oil fill cap on my JK.