02 Alero 3.4 V6 7000 miles Citgo dino 5W-30

[bxd20]

Before anyone jumps all over me, this is my dad's car and he does with his car as he wishes, if you get my drift.

I think it's obvious: The dino Citgo can't go this long. It was in there almost a year and somewhere around 7100 miles. He used a Fram filter too

this time we continued using up his case of Citgo, but at least we've got an AC filter. Those miles included two very long trips to FL and then around city driving.

I mostly did the UOA to see if his intake was leaking. Not yet it seems. Car is around 35k miles.

Silicon is coming up, time for an air filter. He's probably on the original one.

Car was driven until the Oil Life Monitor said to change it. I will try and talk him into either using synthetic and following the OLM, or doing changes twice a year with dino.

 

[CharBaby]

Well, it didn't shear too badly and the flashpoint is still very good. What is the TBN? Not saying that the report is good but, really doesn't look all that bad considering it's a cheap dino with too many miles on it. Suprising really!

 

[addyguy]

Even thought the wear metals are high, the oil still seems to be intact - viscosity is good, low fuel and insoluables. Maybe the engine is still breaking in a bit.....

 

[bxd20]

Since the point of the UOA was really to check on those intake gaskets, I didn't feel like spending the money on TBN.

My dad does drive very gently, he's older. Perhaps the engine is still breaking in.

Maybe 7000 is doable with a clean air filter (that silicon bugs me) and good oil filter.

 

[Ray H]

Wow - Citgo has that much moly? A TBN would've given an indication on remaining detergency. "1" or less would've been definite evidence the oil was on life support. The silicon may not be out of line for the miles accumultated. My last UOA showed a silicon level of 8 over 3,000 miles - proportionately the same that your dad's engine showed after 7,100 miles. See if you can get your dad to compromise on 5,000 mile OCIs. The low insolubles, especially given the length of service, indicate good filtration despite Fram's generally poopy reputation on BITOG.

 

[Al]

You are smart to do an oil analysis. Its only a matter of time before it blows.

 

[Mr Nice]

Yep, Citgo has a decent amount of Moly.

This oil was a closeout at PepBoys for 39 cents last time I checked. I bought 9 quarts only because of the low price. Its a very good oil that is under rated. Citgo doesn't have big name recognition like Havoline, GTX, Pennzoil, Valvoline....etc.

[ June 15, 2006, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: LT4 Vette ]

 

[jorton]

GM OLM is supposed to work. Is this car underpowered for cross country trips through the mountains? Why else are calcium, phosphorus and zinc so depleated?

 

[UncleS2]

Well- the bearing metals look a little troubling, but considering it took almost a year to put on 7K, & all the little short trips that must have been driven, maybe it's not so terrible. Try to talk him into changing oil every 4 months, maybe he'll change it at 6 months?

I didn't realize Citgo Superguard had such a healthy dose of Moly. Should be a good bargain oil, Atwood's Farm & ranch store usually has it for $1.39/qt in 30, 5w30, 10w30, & 10w40.

 

[leel]

can't read the uoa

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Supposedly plenty of Group I in that Citgo. Strong add-pack - but subpar base oil. That's why it's generally economically priced.

 

[Drew99GT]

And where is your proof 777??? It would be quite hard to blend a 5w-30 with a bunch of group I unless you put in a lick of group III etc. All the MSDSs from oil companies that actually make them moderately easy to decipher show majority group II base oils for 5ws.

 

[BigDz]

Interesting post. My local quick lube uses Superguard with Champion filters. my son's '99 blazer has 150K on the speedo and will need an OC as it has 5000+ miles on the oil. i will get it tested and report it here too. Interesting oil.

 

[friendly_jacek]

Where is this invisible UOA?

 

[Ray H]

Shhh... (It's invisible!)

(I suspect the image posting site pulled it.)

 

[Gary Allan]

The Emperor's new UOA (shhh..don't tell him

)

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

bxd20, your church called and said "don't do that!" LOL

PM me your email address and I can host the image on my site...

 

[bxd20]

I'm the web admin there.

For some reason I just said to myself "dont need this file" and chopped it a while ago. It's back up now!!

 

[friendly_jacek]

Thanks for posting the values again. I was interested as my toyota dealer uses it (I know, the cheapest oil around).
Seeing the lame additive package (I mean Zn/P and Ca) I feel good that I supplement it with a small dose of SLOB.
No, I don't run it that long, average 4000 miles every 6 months.

 

[Cutehumor]

I would check your air intake for a leak of some sort and take a good look at your air filter if it hasn't been changed.