2006 Mustang GT, M1 5W20 4,800mi, unusual??

[OriginHacker21]

I would not be happy with this report - but then again, I don't think we've seen a ton of UOAs from this engine to know much. I agree with the other posters - try a 30 weight and cut the OCI to 3,000 miles then see how the UOA looks.

I would do at least 2,000 miles for a UOA - I've done several of those myself (though they look like Virgin oil analysis').

 

[unDummy]

Universal averages are meaningless. Sorry, but you need to use your own UOAs to track wear.
There are just too many variables among engines, vehicles, and driving styles. I wish that Blackstone would just lose the uni-averages.

With a TBN of 3.6, I see no reason why your 5k runs should be changed. You need to track your runs. So, keep the mileage similar for ease of comparison. Since wear is excessive, I wouldn't extend the OCI at all until more data is collected.

Since the other GT UOA posted similar wear, I wouldn't worry about it.

If the future 5w30 UOA run shows lower wear, I would even consider stepping up to a 0w or 5w--40wt oil.

 

[SargeGTO]

I ignore their averages. They have mine from two different motors (LS1/408 Stroker)in the same car. I told them I changed motors/drivelines and they still send me reports reflecting averages from two different motors. The problem is Blackstone bases many of their observations and recommendations on these "averages" so that renders their observations and recommendations totally useless. I use Terry Dyson. He gets "it".....

 

[Kristin Huff]

The way our system is set up, the unit/location averages are an average of all the samples you send us from a particular engine. This is left over from back in the day when our main business was fleets, so fleet operators could see how their fleet compared to national averages. So if you have two cars and both have, for example, GM's 3.4L engine in them, then your averages will reflect all the samples you have sent from both engines.

As far as getting the engine type wrong after the guy called, he also emailed us and I am having Billy go back and get it right. Hope this helps. We do "get it"...even if we make mistakes sometimes.

Kristin Huff
Blackstone Labs

 

[ShifterStang]

theedge67: How's your Stang running on the 5w30? Notice anything different?

Craig

 

[theedge67]

Haven't noticed anything different at all actually. Even the mpg's are about the same. maybe a tiny bit lower, like .5mpg, but that is hard to measure really. Smooth engine and oil physically looks clean and good at ~2,500 miles.

 

[buster]

Quote:

---

Thanks for the explanation. The reported 29 ppm of iron is satisfactory.
You seem to be very concerned about these numbers, I just wanted to point
out that 14ppm = 0.0014% while 29 ppm is 0.0029%. These are both very
small numbers and there can be nearly that much variation between
laboratories and retests. The difference of 15 ppm is insignificant and
does not indicate excessive wear, nor does the oil need to be changed based
on the iron results. We just see that your are drawing incorrect
conclusions.

Technical Support Engineer (WJF)

---

What do you engineers make of this claim above?

 

[salesrep]

I'd go 2.5 or 3 with one of the other suggested brands.

 

[PW01]

Quote:

---

My Ford 4.0 SOHC showed much lower iron with Pennzoil Platinum than it did with Mobil 1. I'd say try that next time.

---

What year is yours?

 

[jorton]

"The oil doesn't even look tired but wear is excessive. TBN, visc, fuel, water, antifreeze, insolubles, flashpoint... ALL are excellent. Oil wasn't the problem here!"

The engine isn't the problem here. When the engine is very easy on the oil synthetic isn't necessary.

Viscosity is important to this VCT Ford so stay with 5w-20 or 5w30.

The reason for your high wear numbers is the Mobil 1, and maybe other brand full synthetics too. After the current oil change switch to conventional or syn blend.

My

 

[wgtoys]

High iron numbers when running Mobil-1 ... no suprise there. My next step would be to try any other name brand oil for the same interval and repeat the test.

 

[TR3-2001SE]

I don't think it is the oil at all but I would change the weight like you are doing and do another UOA. Something is causing wear but it could just be a manufacturing defect of some sort.

 

[theedge67]

Only 2K miles to go and we'll know for sure when I do my next UOA at 5K miles. My next fill is going to be PP, but I'm not sure if I'll use 5-20 or 5-30, I have both stockpiled from the Advance Auto sale last month.

 

[Gene K]

All 4.6L 24V show high copper. Its an engine signature like with the GM LS1 Type (although not as severe).

The lowest Iron numbers for any synthetic oil with this engine on this site are 26 ppm. I suspect this may also be a bit of a signature.

The only lower iron numbers for this engine on this site is with conventional Castrol GTX. 10 ppm on a 3,000 + mi change.

The universal average by Blackstone needs to be adjusted to only consider the 2005+ Mustang GT (4.6L 24V). The universal averages for the older 4.6L 12V and 32V should not be used when comparing this engine.

 

[ShifterStang]

theedge67: I heard stories that our 4.6 variable cam timing engine needs thinner 5W-20 oil for the VCT mechanism to function properly. Obviously not in your case.

Is this another urban myth? Has anybody got a link to a definitive article about 5-20 oil, variable cam timing and this 4.6 engine?

Craig

 

[theedge67]

I have heard the same thing about the 5-20, but the 5-30 is working fine for me. I noticed a little rough idle yesterday, but today it was fine. I also just installed a JLT Cold Air Intake and aftermarket computer tune, so that may have had something to do with it.