07 Chevy 3500, 8.1L 123k, 3k Valvoline 10w30

[TXHunter]

Oil and filter were changed during sample. Truck is used for welding on gas/oil fields, and during this run hauled a 15K 5th wheel travel trailer from texas to wyoming.

2007 Chevy Silverado Classic 3500
8.1L (496cid) V8

Code:


Oil Valv10w30

Miles in Use 3K

Miles 123K

Sample Taken 8/15/12





Iron 10

Chromium 0

Nickel 0

Aluminum 3

Copper 0

Lead 8

Tin 0

Cadmium 0

Silver 0

Vanadium 0

Silicon 12

Sodium 177

Potassium 0

Titanium 0

Molybdenum 31

Antimony 0

Manganese 47

Lithium 0

Boron 0

Magnesium 17

Calcium 2298

Barium 0

Phosphorus 773

Zinc 861

Fuel Dilution 0.5%

Soot
Water
Viscosity 8.9 cst

Base Number 4.55

Oxidation 10

Nitration 8

 

[oggb]

Looks ok. It sheared out of grade, however. It's now a solid 20-weight oil. Not sure I'd be terribly comfortable towing a 15,000 lb load with a 20-weight in the sump of that engine.

 

[volk06]

Which valvoline was this? Calcium is much to high for VWB but sodium is too low for Maxlile/synpower and moly is not high enough for Maxlife. Durablend?

Looks lik a great uoa except for the shearing. Good tbn after 3k for valvoline. Is this an older formulation?

 

[TXHunter]

Conventional Valvoline, previous fill was rotella 10w30. Owner couldn't find rotella locally so switched on this fill.

Was concerned with lower oil pressure that engine might be having issues, but looks like oil just sheared based on the workload. $25 UOA saves a costly and unnecessary engine rebuild.

 

[fdcg27]

Wear looks good, so the drop in viscosity didn't hurt anything.
TBN still hangin' in there.
I'd use FAR Nextgen, maybe the Maxlife flavor, in this truck.
Maybe bump up to the 10W-40, so it will shear to a thirty grade.

 

[chubbs1]

Where would Manganese be from? Otherwise, very good looking engine on this run.

 

[Phishin]

Originally Posted By: chubbs1
Where would Manganese be from? Otherwise, very good looking engine on this run.


I'm a plating chemist. This is only a guess, but a lot of rod/main/crank bearings are playing with manganese phosphate....one of the hardest and most durable plating surfaces that aren't military exotic.

 

[volk06]

Manganese can also come from fuel but I don't think that would be an issue with this engine and the driving conditions. Black stones fuel % is hardly ever accurate anyway.

 

[Nickdfresh]

Originally Posted By: volk06
Which valvoline was this? Calcium is much to high for VWB but sodium is too low for Maxlile/synpower and moly is not high enough for Maxlife. Durablend?

Looks lik a great uoa except for the shearing. Good tbn after 3k for valvoline. Is this an older formulation?


It could be a newer one...

 

[KCJeep]

I think this is the VWB we are used to (except the shearing). High calcium is probably due to the previous run of Rotella.

Wear looks very good anyway IMO, I'd also be curious as to what VWB 10w40 would do.

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: Nickdfresh
Originally Posted By: volk06
Which valvoline was this? Calcium is much to high for VWB but sodium is too low for Maxlile/synpower and moly is not high enough for Maxlife. Durablend?

Looks lik a great uoa except for the shearing. Good tbn after 3k for valvoline. Is this an older formulation?


It could be a newer one...


Based on recent SN voa/uoa.... It couldn't be a newer formulation. Probably from previous fill as mentioned.

 

[Brons2]

Good report. Keep on doing the same. Go a grade heavier if the shear bothers you. Won't hurt anything.

 

[jjcom]

Considering the abuse of towing that much weight for that long, I'd say it looks decent. I wonder if this might be a good candidate for something like T6. Perhaps a thicker synthetic would hold up to the harsh conditions and stay in grade better. It should also allow for a longer OCI than 3k miles.

If you're wanting to stick with Valvoline, I would go ahead and step it up to a 10-40, the shearing would worry me, especially while towing like that.

 

[addyguy]

Not bad results for that big GM V-8, but seeing the shearing, I'd go thicker.

The Rotella 10W-30 normally used sounds like a good option for HD usage.