1999 Ford Ranger 3.0 TropArtic 5W-30 SM Synblnd

[LC]

code:

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1999 Ford Ranger 3.0 FFV 2wd

5speed manual.





Brand: TropArtic SM Synblnd



Weight: 5W30



Oil Miles: 4997 Total Miles: 84,248

Run Duration: 2 months 10 days

Oil Filter: Motorcraft FL400

Air Filter: WIX (new at start of run)

(Cleaned and sealed air

box)

Fuel E-85 20%/Reg-Unleaded 80%

O quarts oil consumed… Used

LC 4.5 oz, thence 1oz/1000

Miles. FP60 used 1 oz per

every 5 gallons of fuel.

Every fill up





Blackstone Labs Analysis





-------------+----+----+------+-------



Aluminum 2



Chromium 0



Iron 6



Copper 0



Lead 2



Tin 0



Molybdenum 37



Nickel 1



Manganese 1



Silver 0



Titanium 0



Potassium 0



Boron 165



Silicon 13



Sodium 2



Calcium 1638



Magnesium 7



Phosphorus 557



Zinc 657



Barium 0







vis sus@210 54.9



Flash point 410





TBN 1.9

Fuel
Antifreeze 0.0

Water 0.0

Insolubles 0.3





My Comments:

Terry has seen the results.

Truck is driven >90% Hwy
300 miles round trips to work.(not every day)

60/65 mph.

Avg MPG 25.3 RegUnleaded w/FP60.

Avg MPG 20.01 E-85 w/FP60.

FP60 and LC has increased MPG by 2.0 on Avg.

NoteAvg.taken during this run of oil)

Oil sheared down to a 20 weight.

I changed the oil and refilled with TropArtic 5w-30/Motorcraft filter.

Will run 2500 OCI with LC and FP60.

Then I am going to try Penz Plat. 5w30.

@ 10,000 OCI

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[ May 27, 2006, 08:33 AM: Message edited by: LC ]

 

[LC]

I was also very suprised by the TBN.
I don't feel the E85 had an effect on the oil or at least it did not when I ran E85 and Mobil 1 EP 5W-30 for a full 15,000 miles with out LC or FP60.
This is a Vulcan engine. I will say the gas mileage improved with TA and the engine ran smoother. Results of the oil or the LC and FP60???

 

[Gary Allan]

I'm curious about you TBN number. This is not what I would expect with your service over that short duration. I wonder if it's an effect of the E85 fuel

I would expect at least 4-6 months on just about any oil under those conditions without TBN degradation. At 7500, you would be about tapped in that regard ...while you shoud have what is considered exceptional (as in favorable - in fact ideal) conditions.

Is this a Vulcan or a Duratec? The shearing is something else I would not expect under this short a term in this type of service with a synth blend.

But aside from the stuff I've just whined about ..those are some really nice numbers on the elemental readings.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I think the smoother results came from the FP and LC.

 

[jorton]

Blackstone 2.0 tbn is prefered time to change oil. 5000 miles on an economy oil is fine. Don't know if Tropartic can do it's job in an OLM equipped car though.

 

[TooSlick]

LC,

The improvement in fuel efficiency is directly due to the shearing. I'd recommend a shear stable, 0w-20/5w-20 synthetic for this application.

TS

 

[LC]

Thanks for the comments and advice gentlemen, it is appreciated.