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This is the factory fill (presumably BMW MTF 94, the recommended fluid). The 6-speed Getrag manual transmission is equipped with the optional LSD. The manufacturer claims that the transmission oil is a "lifetime" fluid, which I suppose is true if you decide the vehicle's lifetime is over when...

No engine modifications, mixture of freeway and country roads. The car has an service indicator for oil changes, and it's been calling for roughly 20,000 mile intervals for me. I've been changing the oil once between its recommendations, and I think I'll continue that regimen. I changed the oil...

This was the second oil change on the car, still breaking in. The first oil change was shortly after the end of the break-in period, during which time I kept the engine under 4,500 rpm. Since then, I've made good use of the high end and the supercharger. Next planned oil change is the first...

Here is a UOA of the factory fill on my new 2006 MINI Cooper S. I broke it in as the manual instructs, keeping it below 4,500 rpm for 1,250 miles. After that, it's mixed freeway/city/mountain driving. MINI calls for synthetic oil, changed when the on-board computer instructs (typically 10,000...

Here's my first analysis of German Castrol in my 1994 del Sol Si (D16Z6 SOHC VTEC engine). Before you get too excited about the numbers, you need to understand that the car's usage pattern has changed. I used to autocross and do a lot of mountain driving. Now I have a new place to live and a new...

Hi everyone. Here's the latest analysis from my Del Sol using Mobil 1 10W-30 SuperSyn. The latest is on the left. The only previous analysis on the SuperSyn was a short interval where I was very hard on the oil. I wanted to do a longer, more normal interval as a baseline before starting Lube...

Oops, it's 10W-30. Sorry for the omission!

I would say it's because they want a 40-weight oil, and the only such Mobil 1 is 0W-40.

1994 Honda Civic del Sol Si (D16Z6 SOHC VTEC engine, 125 hp). No engine modifications. This was my first analysis on 10W-30 SuperSyn, since I forgot to collect the first fill. Interpretation by Terry Dyson is pending. About 0.25 qt of Mobil Drive Clean were added, unnecessarily and unbidden, by...

I recently replaced my Honda's distributor cap and rotor. The rotor (#3) is held to the shaft with a 5x12mm screw (#12): When I installed the rotor, I tore up the screw's little phillips head, and re-installed it using Vise-Grips. Since I've read several accounts of this screw coming loose...

Maybe I'm not understanding, but... when you check the dipstick, you should pull it out, wipe the oil off with a clean cloth (or disposable shop towel), put it back in, pull it back out, and then examine it. That way you're seeing the current level of oil in the sump, not the effects of...

I've read through Division 12 of the California Vehicle Code, but I can't find any section that tells me what oils are street-legal.

The weekly Kragen ad in the LA Times yesterday had a coupon and rebate offer that makes Chevron Supreme $0.69/quart if you buy a case. I'm not sure how widespread the offer is. Bought a case of 10W-30 to start using in my girlfriend's Infiniti QX4. Edit: Oops, I meant for this to go in the...

Previously in our story, Schaeffer's sent me a report with a false positive for glycol. I got their corrected report, as well as a Blackstone analysis of the same oil. A previous Blackstone analysis is also included. This is a 1994 Civic del Sol Si (D16Z6 1.6L SOHC VTEC) which sees a lot of...

Holy restrictive filter, Patman! Do I need to be thinking (expensive, hard-to-find) K&N, then? Or does something like a Bosch have a reasonable flow rate? I don't plan on any super-long change intervals; probably 8,000 miles or so, tops. I have an oversized M1-105 waiting to be used, which is...

EDIT: The glycol was a lab error. See below! Well, I just got bad news from Schaeffer's. My oil tested positive for antifreeze. 2,500 miles ago it was negative on a report from Blackstone. I have an identical sample of this oil in a Blackstone container, and I guess I'll send it off to...

This is the first oil analysis on my girlfriend's 1994 Ford Explorer (4.0L V-6). She drives a lot and would like something with better fuel economy, and the Explorer has been needing all kinds of minor repairs, so we did the analysis to see whether the Explorer should be retired sooner or later...

I just got the following analysis from Blackstone. This is my first analysis, and my first fill of Mobil 1 or any synthetic. Oil: Mobil 1 Tri-Synthetic 5W-30 API SJ Miles on oil: 5,825 Make-up oil: none (no consumption) Filter: Purolator PureOne Vehicle: 1994 Honda Civic del Sol Si Engine...