03 Pontiac Montana 11662km Amsoil 0w30

[olympic]

Got my first UOA back! To my newbie eyes I think it looks pretty good. FYI I'm running DR bypass filtration with SDF15 and BE90 filters along with an Amsoil air filter. This was the first run of synthetic in this vehicle. Lab was Metro-Tech Systems in Calgary Alberta. First number is used oil, second number is virgin oil. Any comments welcome.

Sample Date: Jun 07/04
Unit: 81162 Kms
Oil: 11662 Kms 7243 miles
Oil Type: AMSOIL Series 2000 0W30
Make up oil: none

Tin 1...0
Lead 1...0
Copper 15...0
Aluminum 2...0.9
Silicon 13...5
Iron 11...2
Chromium 0.3...0
Silver 0...0
Zinc 1300...1150
Magnesium 805 723
Nickel 0...0
Barium 0...0
Sodium 7...2
Calcium 2000+...2300
Vanadium 0...0
Phosphorus 1100...1050
Molybdenum 2...0
Boron 29...60
Manganese 106...0

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Viscosity D445 @ 40ºC
Viscosity D445 @ 100ºC 12.11...11.31
Water D4007 % v/v 0...0
Solids D4007 % v/v Glycol No...No
Fuel Dilution No...No

OTHER PROPERTIES
Acid No. D664
Base No. D2896 10.99 12.87
Base No. D4739
Oxidation
Nitro Compounds
Organic Nitrates
Oil Changed? No

I think the wear, Si, %solids and TBN numbers look awesome! The bypass filter and Amsoil air filter are definitely doing their jobs. I don't know where the moly and manganese came from though, perhaps from an additive used in the previous oil change.

 

[Chris B.]

Looks very nice!

 

[Pablo]

Mo is leftover oil.
Mn is from Canadian Gasoline

Numbers look good. However, since this car is relatively new and this in the first extended OCI on synthetic, I wouldn't go too much longer.

Total miles on car indicates lots of highway miles and well broken in.

Please share some info. on the engine in your Montana.

 

[tmorris1]

Looks good, but keep watching, you are getting to the point where the intake manifold gasket will be going out.

 

[tmorris1]

Everyone I know with one of these vans has had intake manifold leaks. Mine was fixed about 40,000 miles agao, so I feel like I am driving around a time bomb waiting for it to go off.
The filter should be fine. It isn't going to get that dirty unless something is wrong with your engine.

 

[slider]

quote:

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Originally posted by Pablo:


Numbers look good. However, since this car is relatively new and this in the first extended OCI on synthetic, I wouldn't go too much longer.

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Sorry, that just doesn't make any sense. Wear, TBN, viscosity and solids are just fine, and in fact, exceptional. The data should overide dogma and it is warranted here.

Changing it is throwing out perfectly good oil and a waste of money and resources.

 

[Pablo]

slider - actually I agree with you, the oil is fine...but see all the mani leak comments...Dogma? maybe...caution? yes.

 

[olympic]

I tend to agree with slider too. This is a business vehicle and I'm doing this for the long term savings and the immediate savings in fuel and downtime. Like the old saying goes, "I'm in it for the $$$!"

I added 1/2 qt make up oil immediately after the last sample and I'll have to add another 1.5 qt after the next sample(20,000km, 12500 mi) when I change the FF filter. So the 30,000km UOA would be most interesting.

I'll have to check with my dealer but I thought I read somewhere that GM rectified the intake gasket problem recently.

 

[slider]

quote:

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Originally posted by Pablo:
slider - actually I agree with you, the oil is fine...but see all the mani leak comments...Dogma? maybe...caution? yes.

---

Changing the oil isn't going to stop a leak, if it occurs at all.

 

[Pablo]

Changing the oil won't stop a leak....who said it would?

But if Olympic takes a sample, well then indeed no need to dump the earl.

 

[olympic]

It has the standard 3.4l pushrod V6 engine. The van does 99% hiway driving. Until now I was running dino 5w30 and OEM filters changed every 10,000km/1 month. The oil life indicator said I could have went much further but the filter on this engine is so small that I didn't want to push it.

I'll definitley be watching for signs of a coolant leak. I have a 01 Montana and the intake gasket started leaking around the 160,000km mark.

I'm going to leave this oil in until atleast 20,000km and see what the UOA says.