1991 Corolla, Maxlife Dino, 5000mi

[RippyMan]

This is the first UOA I've ever had done. First of all, the oil used was Maxlife dino and not synthetic, as is printed. I put "semi-synthetic" on the form, which probably confused Blackstone.

Prior to the change the car had been driven on a 400-mile highway trip down to SC, where I drove between 75-80 MPH. Otherwise, it's driven 100% city driving, with constant stop-and-go, idling, short trips, etc. Wilmington has brutal traffic with no freeways. Frequently I have to rev it over 4k to keep up with more capable cars. I also haul kayaks on the roof which certainly causes extra strain on the drive train. Overall, considering the conditions, I think it held up really well. Also, this is the first time I've changed it past 3.5k. The car usually burns 1/2 quart over 3k, and a little more when I pushed it out to 5k. MPGs were about 32 city / 38 highway with the Maxlife. How does it look considering the mileage and conditions?

 

[02zx9r]

My opinion is it held up really well considering the conditions you state the vehicle is driven in.

Stayed in grade. Very good report. You sticking with what apparently works or gonna try something different?

 

[RippyMan]

Oh, and I was amazed at the silicon considering the environment. I make frequent trips to the beach, and the soil inland here is very sandy as well. The car has even been on a beach once to unload a kayak. The air filter must be doing a heck of a job.

 

[02zx9r]

what air filter you running? everything appears to be intact with no leaks or anything.

 

[RippyMan]

Originally Posted By: 02zx9r
My opinion is it held up really well considering the conditions you state the vehicle is driven in.

Stayed in grade. Very good report. You sticking with what apparently works or gonna try something different?


I dumped in some Superflo 10w30 my Dad had lying around, which I'll probably run out to 4k or so. It's sort of a beater, and pretty much bulletproof, so I don't stress over the wear too much. But after the run of Superflo I'll probably go back to Maxlife, because I think it was slightly quieter with it. Before the Maxlife it had the new Castrol 10w30 in it and sounded like a diesel at idle! Never again!

I should also note that the filter used was a Purolator PP. The oil was in use from Sept-March, with mostly city driving but an occasional 185-mile highway run.

 

[RippyMan]

Originally Posted By: 02zx9r
what air filter you running? everything appears to be intact with no leaks or anything.


It has a China-Mart Fram in it, which probably needs to be changed soon. About a year ago I took off the air ducts, cleaned them along with the throttle body, and put them back on tight, so it's unlikely that its leaking anywhere.

 

[02zx9r]

the highway runs probably did the oil some good. I have some superflo 5w30 as well, it is one of the better bargin oils

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Those little Toy 1.6L engines are just hard to kill. I have heard a lot of great things about Max life on this board, and this analysis really confirms that it aint' a half bad oil.

 

[RippyMan]

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
Those little Toy 1.6L engines are just hard to kill.


They're definitely good little motors. I've come to tolerate their sluggish acceleration. My family has had four of them, two of which we own now, and they've all been extremely dependable. You put very little into them and they give back a lot. The only repair I did recently was to replace the original wire set, which was causing it to misfire. I was still able to limp it into college for four days while the part was coming in! I wonder if that affected the UOA any?

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
I have heard a lot of great things about Max life on this board, and this analysis really confirms that it aint' a half bad oil.


This confirms all of the Maxlife fanatics' contentions.

I haven't been impressed with ML's conditioning abilities though. It burns the same on whatever oil I use. From 155k-178k that's all I used and the consumption was 1/2 per 3k. It doesn't really bother me though, as long as it remains at that. I once even put Maxlife 10W-40 in another one of the Corollas and the consumption was the same, while MPGs went down and cranking time increased.

 

[FZ1]

Did you put in any make up oil? That would bump the tbn. Adding make up oil is a good thing.

 

[RippyMan]

Originally Posted By: FZ1
Did you put in any make up oil? That would bump the tbn. Adding make up oil is a good thing.


I added 1/2 quart at 2500 miles, and another 1/2 quart at 4500 or so. This no doubt skewed the results somewhat. I considered this rather minor considering it's 17 years old.

 

[FZ1]

Good job. The make up oil seems to rejuvinate the oil and keeping it to the full marker is smart when you've got a user. Good luck with it.

 

[glennc]

Nobody has mentioned the high lead (except Blackstone). Any idea why it's so high? Perhaps an additive?

 

[ARB1977]

Wow really good report...i would like to use Maxlife in both Jetta and Tacoma but ill be doing maintence doses of Auto Rx, currently in the clean phases.

 

[badtlc]

I don't like the lead. Low silicon........Hrmm..... Are you a Techron user by any chance?

 

[addyguy]

5,000 miles, and the TBn is still 3.3 - even with the top-up oil, I think this is impressive.

This report, and another couple of recent reports, seem to confirm that Maxlife will go 7-8k miles without a problem! Good show for Maxlife!

 

[RippyMan]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
I don't like the lead. Low silicon........Hrmm..... Are you a Techron user by any chance?


I used both Techron and Regane two OCIs ago. So it had about 5k miles and two fills of oil to rinse away any residual additives before this fill of Maxlife was dumped in. I do find it odd that lead is not in line with the rest of the metals. Perhaps it is left over from all the fuel that was likely in the oil. I'm just speculating though.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: RippyMan
Originally Posted By: badtlc
I don't like the lead. Low silicon........Hrmm..... Are you a Techron user by any chance?


I used both Techron and Regane two OCIs ago. So it had about 5k miles and two fills of oil to rinse away any residual additives before this fill of Maxlife was dumped in. I do find it odd that lead is not in line with the rest of the metals. Perhaps it is left over from all the fuel that was likely in the oil. I'm just speculating though.


Yeah, only someone like Terry would know for sure. It does stick out like a sore thumb, though. All else looks fantastic.

 

[Cutehumor]

5k oci on a beater no less. good results. we have people running premium synthetics at the same 5k oci.

 

[RippyMan]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
5k oci on a beater no less. good results. we have people running premium synthetics at the same 5k oci.


If there's one major thing I've learned on this forum, it's that oil isn't that much of a big deal, unless you've got a turbo or a sludge bucket or an intake gasket eater. I think some people would be horrified to know that I'm unafraid to take my mom's 04 Civic to 10k on PP without an UOA

(I do hate that car!), although usually I change it at 9k or so because of limited access to it. I would probably take the Maxlife further if my conditions were all long, frequent highway runs.