1995 Buick Roadmaster LT1 Mobil 1, 0w40-- 5,000 Miles.

[Buffman]

I got this back a week ago, and completely forgot to throw this up on the site. Mileage on Motor is 155k. During the past 5k, engine had seen many trips to the strip, along with normal everyday abuse.
I had been doing a lot of really short stop and go driving to work and back (5 trips a day at less than 1.5 mi per trip)so I figured wear #s would be higher. I had missed out on the chance to get a winter beater, so the Beast became the winter car.

Since the Oil changed I've cut my daily trips of less than 1.5 miles down to 2 times a day three days a week. With College back in swing I get to spend a good 15+ mins now 4 days a week on the highway

Now on with the data. Report came from BlackStone Labs

ALUMINUM- 3
CHROMIUM- 2
IRON- 35
COPPER- 5
LEAD- 22
TIN- 4
MOLYBDENUM- 53
NICKEL- 1
MANGANESE- 105
SILVER- 0
TITANIUM- 0
POTASSIUM- 2
BORON- 73
SILICON- 34
SODIUM- 7
CALCIUM- 1899
MAGNESIUM- 15
PHOSPHORUS- 707
ZINC- 833
BARIUM- 0

SUS@ 210F- 65.4
FLASH PT- 325

Fuel 2.5%
0.0% antifreeze found
0.0% water found
0.5% insoluables found

What they had to say

quote:

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MATT: Considering all the city driving your Roadmaster sees, we are not surprised to find some fuel
in the oil. We are a little surprised to find such high lead. We normally consider fuel over 2.0% to be
potential problem, but we're pretty sure this fuel is from city driving. Unfortunately, when fuel is
constantly present in the oil it can soften the babbit of the bearings, causing above average lead.
Other wear still looks okay and your other bearing metals (copper and tin) still look okay. If you can,
take the engine on the highway prior to taking your next sample. Check back.

---

Car is a full bolt on LT1. Cold Air Intake with S&B filter, Roller Rockers, Exhaust, Headers, 160 Thermostat, etc.
I use the ultraguard gold series AC Delco Filters. This was the first 5000 miles after completing the 2nd stage of my Auto-rx treatment.

Any Comments are Greatly welcome

Matt

 

[edvanp]

Ever consider swapping out the 160 degree thermo stat for 180 or 195 during the winter?

 

[Buffman]

I've thought about it. I still have the old one laying around(to my knowledge you can only get a 180 or 160). It only takes a few minutes + the time it takes to load a revised tune. If it helps reduce wear, it would be a good idea. I just never really worried about it before since I still get great heat

 

[Geoff]

Too much dirt getting through that K&N. Put a paper one in there and your wear will drop.

 

[DJ]

Matt good to see you here.
Conditions considered and taking into account the way I believe you drive I would say this is decent.

As to the thermostat stock on these is 180 they are odd that way coolant hits the head first then the cylinders so the a 180 stat in this ends up with similar cylinder wall temps as a 195 in an older smallblock Chevy. Also with that short a trips nd so little highway the higher temp wouldn't be present long enough to help anyway.

 

[Buffman]

quote:

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Too much dirt getting through that K&N. Put a paper one in there and your wear will drop.

---

Well technically it's a S&B filter like I stated. I've read about and know that paper filters lead to less wear, and would glady switch to one if I could find one in a cone style that would fit my application.

Maybe I should invest in one of those foam pre filters?

 

[04SpecV]

Is it oiled properly? Check the whole intake for leaks.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Replace the air filter with a paper one and put a hotter thermostat in ASAP!!!

 

[Buffman]

quote:

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Is it oiled properly? Check the whole intake for leaks.

---

Yes it's oiled properly and entire intake is leak free. I will look into installing a hotter thermostat.

Matt

 

[DJ]

Anyone read my post?
160 is a little low but not as low as you probably think since this engine had a 180 STOCK.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Your silicone level is too high!!! It is from dirt getting past your airfilter. THe high fuel level in you oil is softening the bearing materials and the silicone is sandblasting the bearing! You need to get the temp up hot enough to burn off the fuel especialy with you driveing style and you need to keep dirt out of the engine.

 

[DJ]

I would agree that some longer trips would help in getting the engine up to temp would be a good thing.

 

[Buffman]

Since I'll prolly drive it the rest of the winter I'll be throwing the 180 degree T-stat back in there. As for switching filters, I have yet to find a paper cone filter that would fit the application I am using.

Matt

 

[Buffman]

I'm wondering if silcone levels would be high due to the fact that the first two months of miles on the oil were during crop harvesting around town and so forth. My work is right next to a lot of fields. It will be intresting to see what the next OA brings.
Matt

 

[Jim 5]

If the engine is running too cool, then the computer will cause the efi to run rich. I'm not sure whether 160 is cool enough to cause this condition, but it's another reason to change out that thermostat. This could be contributing to the fuel dilution issue...the combo of the engine dumping extra fuel, and not being hot enough to burn it off.

 

[nomochevys]

Buffman, what does it do in the 1/4?

 

[Palut]

What are the dimensions of your current air filter? I had a K&N knock off that came with my short ram intake, but I was able to install a paper filter for a '91 Prelude or something like that that fits perfectly.