09 Acadia with a 25k OCI = sludge

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: 21Rouge
We are talking about a car company where we have seen them look for so much less reasons to deny warranty.


I agree with this, which is why I noted earlier: "GM does seem to be awfully forthcoming here. We've seen cases that seem to be much more cut-and-dry requiring lawyering up on the vehicle owner's case."

 

[Greggy_D]

Look at the owner's statement:
Quote:
Dealership Mechanic drained oil and antifreeze after pulling off valve covers and seeing buildup. I had to send the filter and I did scrape oil off valve cover (so I had little to send and none to keep).


WHAT???!!! How in the world could this oil be considered "good"?

 

[Ken2]

On the Acadia forum, the owner said, "According to what I have read synthetic oil doesn't breakdown unless contamination, or motor parts breakdown the oil down." Totally wrong, of course. Synthetic oil, even Amsoil, certainly does break down with useage; it just takes longer. The breakdown is from oxidation changing the basic oil molecule, and from depletion of the additives in the oil.

Have many actually read Amsoil's warranty?
http://www.amsoil.com/lit/g1363.pdf
It has more holes than my socks.

Here's a real-world test of Amsoil showing it dead at 14,000 miles (I know, this is a few years old):
http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/amsoil.html

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Greggy_D
Look at the owner's statement:
Quote:
Dealership Mechanic drained oil and antifreeze after pulling off valve covers and seeing buildup. I had to send the filter and I did scrape oil off valve cover (so I had little to send and none to keep).


WHAT???!!! How in the world could this oil be considered "good"?


The car owner stated: Quote: Oil was sent to Amsoil they found no problems with the oil.

I said the same thing, I'd love to see another report on the oil. I guess that will never happen.

 

[buster]

Oil is not that expensive. Unless you have a large sump or a bypass filter set up, running any oil that far is just not worth the risk.

More oils are now capable of moderate extended drains. In order to separate themselves from the pack, Amsoil will probably stick with the 25k drain interval marketing.

I don't know the details of this situation here, but I do know I would never go 25k miles on any motor oil. It's just not worth the risk IMO. 15k max and only verified by uoa.

 

[buster]

I find it hard to believe amsoil found nothing wrong with the oil. Although sludge and deposits won't be picked up by uoa.

 

[CATERHAM]

They would know if the TBN was depleted though and it sounds like the OP didn't ask.

 

[TimVipond]

AMSOIL, GM and the OP seemed satisfied the AMSOIL did not cause the problem even at a 25,000 mile oil change interval. So that leaves a parts, design, or installation problem that GM's warranty covered. Just as they should.

Not sure what all the fuss is about. AMSOIL has recommended up to 25,000 mile, up to 1 year, oil change intervals for 39 years. Mobil 1 used to as well. AFAIK, the oil has never failed or voided a factory warranty during that time when used as directed. AMSOIL states that as well.

 

[demarpaint]

No coolant in the oil, Amsoil said the oil was fine. Where did the sludge come from then? Especially since the oil was "fine", and the engine had less than 50,000 miles on it.

 

[hardcore302]

I don't care if God himself made the oil, I'm notgoing 25 thousand miles on it.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: hardcore302
I don't care if God himself made the oil, I'm notgoing 25 thousand miles on it.


+1

 

[ltslimjim]

Mistake 1: OP in that thread should have not ran that oil past the "15k miles in severe service" at most, but probably was getting their money's worth at even 10k miles easy.

Observation 2: Does anyone really drive 25k miles without looking under the fill hole or AT LEAST caring to NOTICE the BLACK TAR that will not wipe off of the dipstick?

OMG!!! lol

Ok...vent over.

 

[ltslimjim]

Alright, I actually read the OTHER site's thread(inserts foot in mouth):

The 'help' poster probably is covered by GM because the oil wasn't the cause of engine sludge forming(oil itself past due for service) when it was in reality a mechanical flaw they internally know that is causing this problem. Sure, while he may not have followed the manual for OCI, they couldn't prove his choice of oil/OCI caused the sludge. My .02 cents anyway...

What I REALLY want to know is where on earth his coolant is disappearing to?

In hindsight, he should have changed the oil at 10k, even with Amsoil, but he didn't know about the mechanical issue allowing sludge to form.

...and YET: The oil didn't have problems according to Amsoil, though I'd like to see another lab test.

I think this makes it fairly obvious, you still can't go by UOAs alone. You have to look at the condition of your oil. Smell it when you pull the dipstick for changes in smell, not ethe color, if you had to top it off, and put it all in detailed writing if you have to its going to be in there for a thousands of miles! lol), still more looking into the fill hole for any obvious signs of varnishing/carbon deposits forming.

Look for anything that says it may be heading towards sludge and change the oil, do PM work to curb it before getting into the situation the OP linked us to.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: hounddog
Is not UP TO 25k OCI with oil analysis? Isn't that stated in Amsoil literature? I also would like to see the TECH BULLITIEN that is being referred to. Its mentioned several times but does not say what it is. Seems really odd that GM would repair on their dime a engine that had gone 25k on oil.Anybody's oil.


I don't have access to the TSB info but one of these may be the TSB in question...

07-06-01-016B JUL 09 Engine - Noise/Damage Oil Filter Application Importance
09-06-01-007 MAY 09 Engine - Revised Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement
10-06-01-003A JUN 10 Engine - Engine Noise Or Damage After Oil Filter Replace

 

[hounddog]

I have run Amsoil 10w30 about 25k OCI in two different cars until both had about 250k on the odometers.I did change oil filters every 7500k. I sold both vehicles still running excellant and no sludge. One was a 1985 Caprice Classic 305 4bbl.The other was a 2000 Gran Marquis 4.6. 100 plus interstate miles per day 5 days a week put on those cars.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: hounddog
I have run Amsoil 10w30 about 25k OCI in two different cars until both had about 250k on the odometers.I did change oil filters every 7500k. I sold both vehicles still running excellant and no sludge. One was a 1985 Caprice Classic 305 4bbl.The other was a 2000 Gran Marquis 4.6. 100 plus interstate miles per day 5 days a week put on those cars.


While that is impressive I think part of the problem here is that DI engines are very hard on oil. What is good for one car/engine even under identical conditions might not be good for another. I have a feeling advertised life expectancy of these oils will be severely modified for use in DI engines in the near future, or oil companies are going to be making good on blown engines. The problem is a major modification to oil life expectancy might hurt extended drain oil sales sales, so common sense is a must with extending OCI's. IMO Amsoil lucked out here.

The more I read up on DI engines the less I want one.