20,000 miles on Mobil Delvac 1

[rrrrrroger]

I decided to try an experiment and run my car (1987 Plymouth Caravelle) for 20,000 miles on the same oil. Of course I used the best oil I could find: Mobil Delvac 1 (synthetic/5W-40/diesel oil). I then got an oil analysis to see what kind of results I got, and I think it looks good:

4 quarts + 1 quart makeup oil
14 aluminum
4 chromium
45 iron
8 copper
13 lead
4 tin
------
62 molybdenum
2 nickel
1 manganese
0 silver
0 titanium
4 potassium
-------
3193 calcium
312 magnesium
1123 phosphorus
1638 zinc
0 barium
89.0 SUS viscosity (should be 65-78)
<0.5% fuel

 

[Tempest]

Oil moved up to a 50wt but otherwise not bad.

 

[pbm]

How many months did it take to accumulate 20K?

 

[a4tdi]

I did the same thing with my VW TDI.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/mobil-delvac-1-2004-vw-jetta-pd-20-250-miles.68599/

 

[rrrrrroger]

Originally Posted By: pbm
How many months did it take to accumulate 20K?
I don't remember. I guess one year (since my last State inspection).
Originally Posted By: a4tdi
I don't see how one could do better than Delvac 1, especially at $6.00 USD/qt.(in Mobil 1 TDT form)
What is Mobil 1 TDT?

I just purchased a new MD1 case at my local truck stop, and it cost me ~$130 which is $8 a quart. Not cheap.

 

[Bobert]

Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5w-40 is the exact same thing as D1.

 

[OilGuy]

Originally Posted By: Bobert
Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5w-40 is the exact same thing as D1.


True for CI-4 Plus formulations, not for CJ-4.

 

[rrrrrroger]

Since the Plymouth is a gasser, it doesn't really matter what diesel oil I use.

So this Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel is sold where? Pep Boys?
Quote:
Engineered to help extend engine life in modern turbo-charged diesel engines, Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck with SuperSyn meets the latest industry standards, including CJ- 4, and exceeds the requirements for both light duty and heavy duty diesel equipment.
Ahhh, so it does meet CJ-4 according to http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Mobil_1_Turbo_Diesel_Truck_5W-40.aspx

 

[02zx9r]

ive seen it at walmart, most auto parts stores

 

[rrrrrroger]

Here is what the lab said:

"Sometimes we have trouble finding things to talk about. Not so here! Metals read high, and we think that's primarily due to the long oil change. Average for this engine is 3400 miles, so you're going all out at 20,000 miles. Silicon was mildly high. This may show a dirty air filter, which would cause high wear. So check that out. Too early to call yet; use 10,000 miles."

Question about oil filter:

Don't dirty air filters provide *more* filtering than clean ones? So I would expect less dirt. Also, wouldn't I notice if the engine was starving for air due to a dirty filter?

 

[Cutehumor]

how much total miles do you have?

 

[oilyriser]

Which oil filter? I found damage to media in filters used over 10,000 miles, but that includes winter that stays below 20F for a long time.

 

[REDDOG]

What was the silicon number? The wear pattern does suggest dirt ingestion through the intake.

You're right, a dirty filter would filter better, with more restriction. The more likely cause of the ingestion would be a intake leak or a damaged/leaking air filter. You probably wouldn't notice a restricting filter until it got really bad, but you'd probably show increased fuel in the sample (I take open cup fuel #'s with a grain of salt).

Did you get a TBN?

 

[Audi Junkie]

Restricted filter might increase the amount of air coming in through "secondary" sources.

 

[Gary Allan]

Yeah, change the air filter ..check the plumbing for leaks ..including the PCV system.

What engine is this? (I didn't see it mentioned) 3.0?

Anyway, not bad for 20k/1 year with some issues.

 

[addyguy]

If it's an '87 Caravelle (modified K-Car), its only got a 2.2 or 2.5-litre I-4. Tough engine, just noisy! Got my license on an '85 Reliant powered by one of these.....

 

[JohnBrowning]

rrrrrrroger, Fix the source of the air leak and put a new air filter in it. Oh and this time try changeing the oil filter every 6 months and toping up. You might also consider RTS 5W40 since it is $16 a gallon at Walmart and is a Diesel oil as well!

 

[Donald]

Did I miss the Silicon & TBN?

You need to use a fiter that is designed to go the distance if your going to go out to 10K or 20K. So a Mobil 1 or Amsoil EA come to mind.

I am still not a great believer when silicon is high that a dirty air filter can be a cause. Unless it has a tear or a rip. While a dirty filter is certainly more restrictive, I do not think its that much more restrictive. And how many people who might have a dirty air filter ALSO have a secondary air leak causing more air to be pulled through the secondary air leak. I am sure it happens. But how often.

 

[rrrrrroger]

This car is now dead at ~80,000 miles.

The engine seals stopped working, which caused the engine oil leaked into the pistons, and the engine ate its own oil until none was left. At least that's the explanation my mechanic gave me. (He then took the car off my hands & wiped-out the $500 I had owed him.) I knew the engine was running rich but was working 7 days a week, so no time to have it fixed. Kinda disappointing since my previous car with identical engine lasted 360,000 miles but I guess if a car sits in a garage for 25 years, the seals will dry out.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: rrrrrroger
This car is now dead at ~80,000 miles.

The engine seals stopped working, which caused the engine oil leaked into the pistons, and the engine ate its own oil until none was left. At least that's the explanation my mechanic gave me. (He then took the car off my hands & wiped-out the $500 I had owed him.) I knew the engine was running rich but was working 7 days a week, so no time to have it fixed. Kinda disappointing since my previous car with identical engine lasted 360,000 miles but I guess if a car sits in a garage for 25 years, the seals will dry out.



That explanation makes zero sense. "Seals stopped working"? "Leaked oil into the pistons"?

How often did you check the oil level?