Recent content by gnr

Thanks dnewton! I have an engine like you describe ('06 Cummins 5.9), but I don't presently put enough miles on it to ever worry about wearing it out (assuming I never have an injector issue). I have done a couple of UOA's on it just to make sure there was no fuel in the oil. I just find this...

Originally Posted By: Oil Changer Can't be done. What synthetic of the proper viscosity will do at those temperatures is provide easier starting, better fuel economy (that really can't be measured), and maybe quicker warm-up. You will smash the vehicle, it will rust through, or you will get rid...

Hi All, I've heard of some guys switching to synthetic in the cold weather for the better flow characteristics at start up. Just wondering if anyone has actually proved less wear with a synthetic vs conventional by doing a UOA? I'm more curious when temps are in the -5 to -10 celsius range. I...

Originally Posted By: RISUPERCREWMAN I believe that Cummins is the only one with a 300K mile warranty. That says alot! I think you are referring to average life expectancy rather than warranty. I don't think I've ever seem comparable figures on life expectancy. I think the cummins' B50 is...

Anyone know which of these engines has the best wear rates? Perhaps there is no appreciable difference between the three. May also be a difference between newer vs older models given the different emissions strategies employed. Just curious.

Originally Posted By: Gene K G05 is Potassium free (added for future reference). Can I ask where you came upon this info please? Thanks!

A little update on what I have found out so far. Fleetguard/Cummins has a published document that says that sodium is the most reliable indicator of coolant in oil. They don't mention potassium. I have also read, but have not been able to verify yet, that the HOAT coolant used in the Dodge...

Originally Posted By: sikesix gnr, I've run Blackstone analysis on every OCI for the last 50K on my truck. I've run Val. Prem. Blue 15W40 and Castrol Tection Extra 15W40 every other time, with average OCI at 7K. My highest Potassium has been 5 with an average of 0 to 2. The VOA (that someone...

Originally Posted By: MolaKule What did your VOA show on the new oil? Formulations can change and unless you know what the new oil contains, it is difficult to know if you have any coolant seepage or not. Never had a VOA done. Guess maybe I should have.

Originally Posted By: A_Harman Search through the VOA section of this website for Valvoline Premium Blue analyses. Thanks for the tip. Couldn't find it (found 5w40 Synthetic), but I did find Rotella T 15w40 which did show potassium at 5. Interesting.

Hi Folks, Just had a UOA done which showed Potassium at 17. Sodium was just average at 3. Silicon at less than average at 2. Boron less than half of average at 32. Blackstone indicated that elevated potassium can indicate coolant in the oil, but said it is typically accompanied by sodium. This...