2002 Honda SiR Castrol GTX 5w-30 & Havoline Synth. 10w-30....

[Idrinkmotoroil]

Just got my analysis data back today. I just got the elemental analysis info, no TBN or other info, but that is what you get for $14 Cdn, done through my local CAT dealer. Here are the results, pretty similar considering they are vastly different oils.

Info:
Castrol GTX 5w-30 - 5000 kms on oil.
Texaco Havoline Synthetic 10w-30 - 4000 kms on oil, 10,000 kms on vehicle.

Castrol GTX first numbers, Texaco Havoline Second.

Iron - 2 , 3
Cr - 0, 0
Moly - 74 , 4
Al - 5 , 2
Cu - 2 , 2
Pb - 1 , 1
Tin - 0 , 0
Boron - 0, 0
Si - 15 , 7
Na - 3 , 5
Zn - 692 , 928
K - 0 , 1
Ni - 0 , 0
Ag - 0 , 0

No fuel, water, or antifreeze in either sample.

Engine seems to be wearing very nicely from what I can tell, pretty low copper and lead numbers. Seems like the Castrol 5w-30 GTX is working almost as well as the more expensive Havoline synthetic. The drain intervals were pretty short , with the Castrol being used a little longer. Make up oil was .5 litres with Castrol, .75 litres with Havoline Synthetic. I am now running the Synergyn 5w-30, which I may get a more thorough analysis done this time around. The CAT dealer doesn't give you a whole lot of info but for the low cost and ease of testing I found it helpful. I was most interested in the elemental analysis. The Si number was up with the Castrol GTX sample, I stored the oils in baby food jars for a short bit, that may have affected the Si number, plus I played with air filters along the way. I don't find 15 Si all that bad though.

I drive the car pretty hard, probably hit redline 5-10 times per day. City driving to highway driving is about 60-40 mix, with lots of short trips in city driving.
Any opinions welcomed.

Joey

[ December 25, 2002, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: Idrinkmotoroil ]

 

[Patman]

You don't find 15 si bad for only 4500kms? I think it's a recipe for disaster, but luckily you got the si under control on the second interval.

It's nice to see Castrol GTX can do just as well as more expensive oils, but we do need more data to really see how it's doing.

 

[Spector]

I don't find the 15 ppm of SI bad as this is a new engine and breaking in. Plus, I have had 15 + ppm of si on every analysis I have ever had on my Camry (17 now with changes at 7500 mile intervals) (initial analysis had several at 3-5000 miles with similar high si) and still going strong at 150,000 miles. For my engine this is normal, If I got concerned 8 years ago that I was getting 25 ppm of si I guess I would have covered the engine in a vacuum bag of some sort with only an air intake housing. If the analysis companies do not flag silicon at under 32 ppm as abnormal (which is the cut of for Analysts Inc.) why are we so concerned with 15 ppm. The trend here is what really counts. If the Si was going up WOW, be concerned but 15 may be perfectly normal for this engine. It will go 200,000 plus miles.

[ December 24, 2002, 07:01 AM: Message edited by: Spector ]

 

[Al]

I'd say that with that low milage on the vehicle you are doing OK. More evidence that any oil changed at low intervals gives good results. (not that we need any more

)

 

[Bror Jace]

Patman, like Spector I attribute the high Si numbers to a new car with all new gaskets, etc ... and you admit the sample might have gotten contaminated.

As with all these analysis, look for a trend of bad results, not just one number.

I’m actually a little surprised to see that wear numbers for both oils are pretty low with such a new car. But, on a Honda, I expect the breaking in to be more subtle ... as opposed to an OHV V8 stuffed into a truck where high levels or iron and even lead seem to be the norm. Those older designs are very robust and I strongly suspect they skimp a little on the finishing and assembly of the motors ... because they know they can.

If you continue to run the car hard, don’t expect iron and the bearing elements (lead, copper and maybe tin) to stay quite so low. They may approach double digits with just slightly longer drain intervals.

Still, those are clean results we’ve come to expect from Castrol GTX at relatively low drain intervals. Another clean result from Havoline synthetic (Group III, right?) although I suspect it benefited from the film of moly put in place by the Castrol GTX as well as the extremely short interval (3,500kms = 2,170 miles).

Can’t wait to see the Synergen results. Hope you leave it in for at least 5,000-6,000kms so we won’t be able to chalk up a good result to merely a short interval.

--- Bror Jace

 

[Idrinkmotoroil]

yeah the Castrol sample was the second oil change for the car, so it could still have had some gasket leaching and stuff, plus my baby food jars weren't the best place to keep the oil but so it goes.

The Synergyn I will most likely run for 6000 miles, this stuff is pretty expensive though, hate to pull it out too early.

 

[Chris]

Without TBN, oxidation and viscosity info it really does not seem like a deal to use CAT!

 

[Idrinkmotoroil]

quote:

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Originally posted by Chris:
Without TBN, oxidation and viscosity info it really does not seem like a deal to use CAT!

---

well that is what you get for $14 Cdn ( $9 US). I knew going in that it wasn't a cadillac service at that price, I was mostly just interested in the elemental analysis for these two samples. I have spoken to the lab after I receiving the results, and they will give me TBN, Vis, Oxidation, and Nitration on further samples if I ask for them in advance. I have to send them a virgin sample of the oil to get that though, so it will cost twice the price, which is reasonable.

I found the service very efficient though, I bought the kit from the CAT dealer, they couriered the used sample with next day service to the lab for me at no extra cost after buying the kit. I got the results 6-7 days from when the lab received it. not bad really.