1994 Toyota Camry Amsoil 5W30 ASL 14616 niles on oil

[Donald]

1994 Toyota Camry 4 cyl 131248 on vehicle
14616 miles, 11 months on the oil, 2 months and 2500 miles on filter (Amsoil SDF10)
approx. 1 qt. of oil added over the 14K miles

iron 41
chrome 2
lead 15
copper 14
tin 0
AL 10
nickel 0
siler 0
silicon 27
boron 33
sodium 23
mag 926
cal 1800
bar 0
phos 1006
zinc 1356
moly 0
titan 0
van 0
pot 0
visc100 13.85
TBN 3.29

analysis done by oil analyzers inc, with only comment that oil was suitable for continued use.

[ May 02, 2005, 09:24 AM: Message edited by: Donald ]

 

[Pablo]

Looks like the oil held up OK - thickened a bit.

Na and Si seem a bit high - dirty/salty roads - sea air? - leading to elevated iron. Pb seems high, too.

[ May 02, 2005, 09:28 AM: Message edited by: Pablo ]

 

[Donald]

The car is driven in the Mid Hudson Valley NY, so there is no sea air, but we do live in the country and travel short distances on some part paved and part dirt roads near our house. The car has a paper Fram filter I believe that is pretty new. Salt is used on the roads in the winter. However I would think that a functioning air filter would catch the dirt/dust/salt.

 

[The Critic]

Again, your Silicon is too high. Your Al, Cr, Fe, Cu readings can be reduced if you install a new paper air filter and check for intake leaks.

Michael

 

[fuel tanker man]

You went almost 15,000 miles on that OCI.

Divide the wear metals by 5 and you'll see what you might have been getting on 3K OCI's. Looks like all single digits to me...

Not bad, in my opinion.

Dan

 

[Stinky Peterson]

I agree with Dan but I wouldn't try going any farther.

 

[buster]

Toyota UOA's are boring.

 

[Ken4]

Iron wear is definately too high. Usually for the 5SFE, the copper and iron wear are about the same. Lead and Aluminium also look mildly elevated, they should usually be half of what copper is. Why is the test for Water, Fuel and AntiFreeze missing? I recommend changing a new OEM air filter, cleaning or replacing your PCV valve, and 2 cleaning phases with Auto-RX. Try doing shorter OCIs (maybe 7.5k) first before going all the way to 15k. This oil looks like it has become too abrasive.

 

[TooSlick]

Donald,

The OEM Toyota air filters are much better than the F---. Go back to the OEM air filter and you can drop the Fe and Cr levels even further and the lead as well.

TS

 

[Pablo]

Donald - a functioning air filter will catch some percentage of some size particles. (Depending on the design and manufacture of said air filter.) I suggest their may be a slight air leak OR and the reason I mention it - it seems air filters are not that great at catching "salt fog", either from wet salty roads or ocean mist.

As stated by FTM - this is actually not that bad of analysis. Yes Fe is a bit high but not alarmingly so and Ken4's suggestion to run AutoRx (twice) is quite alarmist and unnecessary (unless your engine is already dirty or you have previous sludge problems).

I would simply check for any air intake leaks and run a shorter OCI and see what happens.

 

[JohnBrowning]

I do not think I would run any other Amsoil oil other then the S3K 5W30!! This is especialy true if I were going to go beyound 10,000 miles on an OCI!!! At 15,000 miles and further the increased price of the S3K 5W30 is really insignificant!

I agree with Ken4 on almost everything!! I would definately do an Auto-Rx treatment on this engine and get her realy clean before trying an extended drain again! I suspect that this engine might have some preexsisting deposits.

I think this engine can do better then the numbers it is throwing up right now!

 

[Donald]

I bought a Toyota air filter ($24) to replace the Fram thats in the car, and discovered on the air filter housing above the filter and pointing backwards a grommet with nothing in it. No hose or sensor. Just a 3/8" or 1/2" hole. So this hole is letting unfiltered air into the engine. Anyone know what should be in this grommet hole? I looked with a flashlight for a loose hose or dangling wire but did not see anything. Not even sure what I am looking for or where it should be coming from. I found a empty clip attached to the air filter housing near by that looks like it could support a wire or hose routed to this grommet hole.

 

[Ken4]

The IAT sensor goes there. (Inlet Air Temperature Sensor). Buy a new sensor, plug it in and attach the connector back.

 

[Donald]

Ken - thanks for the tip. I looked more closely at nearby wiring and found the IAT hanging there, so I just re-attached it. Wonder what the engine was doing incorrectly with the temp of the under the hood vs input air temp.

 

[Ken4]

Great! Next time you change filters be careful that the IAT sensor doesnt pop out again. You might want to seal it in permantly with some silicone sealant.

 

[Donald]

I got this car from my Dad after he passed away. Given where I found the IAT (not just dropped straight down) I assume it was pulled out so someone could lift/remove the top of the air filter housing. My guess is that it was done by someone my Dad had work on the car or by my Dad. I would have remembered there being an IAT if I had seen it. Anyway that reasoning makes me feel better.

So the new Amsoil 5W30 ASL oil has about 1400 miles with the IAT not being installed. Do I just run this oil till 12K and dump it, or sooner.

Seems like many suggest I go to a high quality Amsoil 5W30. Others suggest different weight all together.

 

[Ken4]

I would dump it if I were you. Start with fresh oil again. Sorry to hear about your Dad, my deepest sympathies.