Used Oil Analysis and a bunch of info

[NavyDood]

To start off, I am not an oil expert and never have claimed being one. I have just done my homework and research for the better part of five years now. I know what works in my Dodge Cummins doing 25,000 mile oil change intervals. Now I have the proof that the Camaro is living a happy life using the OLM. For the non believers and naysayers, this is black and white. There is no other way to get any better proof on how the oil held up and to show that the oil still had life left in than doing an oil analysis and seeing the proof. I hope this post is beneficial to some and will ease the reservations people have on actually using the OLM for its intended purpose. To those that stay “weary” or still can’t or refuse to grasp the OLM system when the proof is in black and white, keep on wasting your money. I am starting to sound like a broken record here on C5, but GM has spent millions of dollars, countless hours and a lot of resources perfecting the OLM system. You gain more than you lose by following the OLM. Do I feel like a guinea pig for what I did by going the “whole” length of the OLM (13,504 miles) and spending the money on an oil analysis? Not in the least. I had total faith in the system and the capabilities of Mobil 1.

Here are my results and positive proof that today’s group III synthetic oils are very capable of going the extra distance by using the OLM. After the report I added my narrative of the results.



Top Section. The first and second columns are identical because this is my first analysis with Blackstone. If I use them the next time the first column will be the previous analysis report and the second column will be the current report so you can compare the results. The far right column is the averages for the type of engine that the oil came out of. The average on the right is for a 5100 mile period. I went 2.64 times longer than the average of 5100 miles so keep that in mind when looking at Red dot wear metals and Blue dot contaminate metals. This does not apply to the Black dot multi-source metals and Green dot additives. Take a good look at the Zinc and Phosphorus. The amounts held up unremarkably well with little depletion.

Bottom section. Everything falls within the “values should be”. The only thing I was bummed about is that the oil thinned/sheared to the equivalent of a fresh bottle of Mobil 1 5w-20. I am not overly concerned about it though because all oils thin/shear even if it was only in the car for 3000 miles. In reality, it actually held up pretty darn good. The majority of the miles are from my wife commuting 80 miles round trip for work. The flash point is great which means that the oil wasn’t getting fuel diluted. Insolubles in a gas engine would be ash/carbon in suspension. Only being .2% over 13,504 miles is very good. TBN is about where I thought it would be, on the lower end because of the amount of miles. Fresh Mobil 1 5w-30 TBN is right around 8.8. TBN = Total Base Number. The TBN is a set number that is giving to a fresh bottle of oil and gives you a base line on the amount of additives in that particular oil to fight acids and provide contaminate control. TBN will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and it will also vary viscosity blend to viscosity blend within a particular manufacturer. When you get a TBN at the time of a used oil analysis, that is the amount of the additive package that is left in the oil to fight off the bad stuff of that particular brand/weight of oil.

Here is another broken record moment for me. Oil filters play a huge part in extended oil usage, not just the oil. There are quite a few oil filters on the market that can easily go the distance of the OLM and even surpass it. IMO those filters would be the Amsoil EaO series, Donaldson Endurance, Bosch Distance+, Napa Platinum,Royal Purple and Mobil M1/K&N. Filters like (but not limited to) ACDelco, WIX, Motorcraft, SuperTech, anything OEM and the dreaded Fram orange cans of death should not be run for the distance. They should be changed out at a minimum 50% on the OLM when following the OLM. For the first 50% of this oil I used a PF48 and changed it when there was 50% left on the OLM to the Wix 57060 and added approximately 1/2qt of makeup oil.

[buzzy56]

Nice work.Very through analysis.Appears to put all the questions too rest. Thanks ! Quality oils and quality filters can go the distance.

[SC2150]

I have been preaching oil analysis for years. I dont see carbon particulate or sulfuric acid content listed though....or acidic levels @PPM like many do.....

Good thread!!!

[NavyDood]

Originally Posted by SC2150

I have been preaching oil analysis for years. I dont see carbon particulate or sulfuric acid content listed though....or acidic levels @PPM like many do.....

Good thread!!!

Carbon particulate is Insolubles. Acid content and acidic levels are practically a non issue as long as your TBN still shows good.

[SC2150]

Acid levels are important for those that have deleted the crankcase evac system thinking it is only to relieve excess crankcase pressure....same as unburnt fuel, water, and carbon particles. They have no idea that with out proper evacuation all those contaminants are detremental to engine life. We see etched bearings and crank journals on these and the carbon particulate (insoluables) need to be evacuated through the PCV system before they mix with the oil.

[NavyDood]

Totally understandable.

[Andy@AMSOIL]

Originally Posted by SC2150

I have been preaching oil analysis for years. I dont see carbon particulate or sulfuric acid content listed though....or acidic levels @PPM like many do.....

Good thread!!!

That is because blackstone the lab he used accustomes to not test those areas, this is why we prefer Oil Analyzers for labs

[SC2150]

I have used Oil Analyzers in the past.

[NavyDood]

Originally Posted by Andy@AMSOIL

That is because blackstone the lab he used accustomes to not test those areas, this is why we prefer Oil Analyzers for labs

Carbon particulate would be Soot from Oil Analyzers Inc. Blackstone calls it insolubles. Acid content or Acidic levels are not tested at Oil Analyzers Inc either unless you are referring to Oxidation and Nitration. I personally prefer Oil Analyzers Inc over Blackstone. Just thought I would give Blackstone a try for the first analysis on the Camaro.

[1hotchevy]

How about a K&N oil filter? has anyone used them and if so how did u like them??

[bmorecam]

So how much did the oil analysis cost ya? I love stuff like this LOL

Sent from my VTAB1008 using Tapatalk 2

[Andy@AMSOIL]

Originally Posted by bmorecam

So how much did the oil analysis cost ya? I love stuff like this LOL

Sent from my VTAB1008 using Tapatalk 2

You can get a ore paid postage kit for 25 bucks

[tonyko1]

Originally Posted by NavyDood

To start off, I am not an oil expert and never have claimed being one. I have just done my homework and research for the better part of five years now. I know what works in my Dodge Cummins doing 25,000 mile oil change intervals. Now I have the proof that the Camaro is living a happy life using the OLM. For the non believers and naysayers, this is black and white. There is no other way to get any better proof on how the oil held up and to show that the oil still had life left in than doing an oil analysis and seeing the proof. I hope this post is beneficial to some and will ease the reservations people have on actually using the OLM for its intended purpose. To those that stay “weary” or still can’t or refuse to grasp the OLM system when the proof is in black and white, keep on wasting your money. I am starting to sound like a broken record here on C5, but GM has spent millions of dollars, countless hours and a lot of resources perfecting the OLM system. You gain more than you lose by following the OLM. Do I feel like a guinea pig for what I did by going the “whole” length of the OLM (13,504 miles) and spending the money on an oil analysis? Not in the least. I had total faith in the system and the capabilities of Mobil 1.

Here are my results and positive proof that today’s group III synthetic oils are very capable of going the extra distance by using the OLM. After the report I added my narrative of the results.



Top Section. The first and second columns are identical because this is my first analysis with Blackstone. If I use them the next time the first column will be the previous analysis report and the second column will be the current report so you can compare the results. The far right column is the averages for the type of engine that the oil came out of. The average on the right is for a 5100 mile period. I went 2.64 times longer than the average of 5100 miles so keep that in mind when looking at Red dot wear metals and Blue dot contaminate metals. This does not apply to the Black dot multi-source metals and Green dot additives. Take a good look at the Zinc and Phosphorus. The amounts held up unremarkably well with little depletion.

Bottom section. Everything falls within the “values should be”. The only thing I was bummed about is that the oil thinned/sheared to the equivalent of a fresh bottle of Mobil 1 5w-20. I am not overly concerned about it though because all oils thin/shear even if it was only in the car for 3000 miles. In reality, it actually held up pretty darn good. The majority of the miles are from my wife commuting 80 miles round trip for work. The flash point is great which means that the oil wasn’t getting fuel diluted. Insolubles in a gas engine would be ash/carbon in suspension. Only being .2% over 13,504 miles is very good. TBN is about where I thought it would be, on the lower end because of the amount of miles. Fresh Mobil 1 5w-30 TBN is right around 8.8. TBN = Total Base Number. The TBN is a set number that is giving to a fresh bottle of oil and gives you a base line on the amount of additives in that particular oil to fight acids and provide contaminate control. TBN will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and it will also vary viscosity blend to viscosity blend within a particular manufacturer. When you get a TBN at the time of a used oil analysis, that is the amount of the additive package that is left in the oil to fight off the bad stuff of that particular brand/weight of oil.

Here is another broken record moment for me. Oil filters play a huge part in extended oil usage, not just the oil. There are quite a few oil filters on the market that can easily go the distance of the OLM and even surpass it. IMO those filters would be the Amsoil EaO series, Donaldson Endurance, Bosch Distance+, Napa Platinum,Royal Purple and Mobil M1/K&N. Filters like (but not limited to) ACDelco, WIX, Motorcraft, SuperTech, anything OEM and the dreaded Fram orange cans of death should not be run for the distance. They should be changed out at a minimum 50% on the OLM when following the OLM. For the first 50% of this oil I used a PF48 and changed it when there was 50% left on the OLM to the Wix 57060 and added approximately 1/2qt of makeup oil.

Good analysis, however, incomplete, in my humble opinion, (IMHO).

Have you since done this study again without changing the filter and adding new oil, albeit 1/2 qt to an 8qt capacity is but 6.25% new oil, but given the rigidity of the testing, it can have an effect, including swapping out a filter that is holding contaminates but since changed.

Thanks for all the hard work, the rest of us live off it.

Best regards,

tony

[james347]

Think I am going to have my oil sent off for analysis as well. Good investment.