2008 Dodge Ram 5.7L RP 5W20

[NHHEMI]

As much info as I can give...

VEHICLE:
2008 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L HEMI

OIL & FILTER:
RP 5W20 ***
RP Filter # 20-820
*** NOTE - no oil was added between OC's

MILEAGE & TIME:
Oil Sampled Placed In Service = 10/5/2009 @ 9465 miles
Oil Sample Taken = 05/26/2010 @ 14860 miles
In Service Miles = 5395
In Service Time = 7 Months 3 Weeks

SERVICE CONDITIONS:
Winter( Extended Idle & Zero to Sub Zero Temps )
Towing( Oct - Feb = Boat 2-3 times a week+ )
85% City 15% Highway
Conservative Driving( I drive like an old Grandpa these days -

)

PREVIOUS OCI HISTORY:
FF changed @ 1500 miles( used Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 & MOPAR filter )
RP 5W20 & RP Filter @ 4494 Miles
RP 5W20 & RP Filter @ 9465 Miles

MY COMMENTS:

As the resident RP Pimp here(

)I must be honest and say I am disappointed in these results. This is not a very good used oil analysis. Well it is average at best with a cautionary red flag in there. Using an oil I tout as "premium" it should be better even with some hard use during the winter months. I am always straight forward however and have said RP will not do wonders in every instance when the issue comes up. I am also someone who will step up and admit when something does not go right unlike so many who would not post this. Looks like my truck may not care for the RP? I need to do another used oil analysis in approx 5K to see what things look like and decide if I will keep using it or not?

Overall this isn't that bad but the copper concerns me( I hope the Lab is right that it is just extended wear in )and I expected a better TBN to be honest. I did a used oil analysis in my 04 Ram 5.7L using RP( 5W30 )and it was a TON better. Of course I did it at a much later mileage figure so maybe that is part of it? Don't know? I am not going to lose sleep or anything over this but was expecting better. Wanted to post this to show I am not a koolaide drinker who won't admit when a product I like falls short.

THE used oil analysis:

NOTE - all personal info has been removed but this is what the Lab sent me...

Ok - let me have it. Fire away...

 

[badtlc]

Not familiar with the break-in of these engines but I would also assume it is way too early in the life to say. The trending from this point on will tell the story, not this UOA.

 

[addyguy]

Hard to say - break accounts for a chunk of this, but I'm not sure how much. Silicon is fairly low for break in miles, so it all 'should' be break in and not actual abrasive wear....

New GM V-8's throw a ton of copper (like this) at break in, but is the Hemi known for doing the same thing?

Like you, I'd be very disappointed in the TBN retention of this sample.

 

[NHHEMI]

I have heard about the GM copper issue too. Don't recall ever hearing that the 5.7L HEMI does though? That is why I am reserving judgement until I hit 20K and see what it does. If it is better I will keep using it. If it is the same or worse I may stop.

 

[INDYMAC]

I'm not familiar with the break-in wear pattern on these engines or RP engine oils. But at this early stage of the engine's life, I would chalk everything up to wear in.

Did you do a VOA for baseline numbers on this batch of RP? Does the manufacturer call for 0W-20 or 5w30? If the copper is from the bearings, maybe it would do better after break-in with 5w30. You'll know at 20K whether that number comes down or not. If not, I would try the 5w30 RP.

The TBN may seem a little low, but it could stay there for quite awhile. A TAN, nitration and oxydation number would have been nice to see the whole picture on oil condition. But this is a baseline UOA for this truck, so maybe next time?

 

[NHHEMI]

Recommended oil is 5W-20( can't run a 30 weight due to MDS )

No, I did not do a VOA

 

[FL_Rob]

Whats the PAO /ester ratio with RP? I thought it was 80/20 or something.It could be a .....sloooow,easy break in from using these high quality oils(very high a/w addpacks)?and your engine is just not broke in yet.

 

[pcfxer]

Don't lose any sleep, Royal Purple IS a premium oil. Run it to 5k again and get a trend going.

If you consider changing oil, I'd recommend an HDEO. HDEOs deal well with fuel from idling.

 

[UNC017]

NHHemi, I hate to tell you this but I also am sitting on a pretty ugly RP used oil analysis from one of my 440s :-(

I haven't posted it here because I'm going to do a 2000-mile follow-up run on RT6 to see if it was an oil or engine problem, and I certainly don't want to malign RP for something that is inherent to the engine. This engine is the one with really bad piston slap, but I'm seeing elevated iron, not aluminum as I'd expect if it were the cussed short-skirt KB pistons wearing excessively. I can only assume its the cam/lifter interface throwing the iron.

Back to your case- I haven't heard of Hemis throwing a lot of copper the way GM v8s are known to, and frankly I can't think of where copper would come from in there. AFAIK Chrysler is still using an aluminum/steel bearing like they did in the Magnum versions of the 318 and 360, so even a severe main or rod bearing problem wouldn't show copper (or lead anymore, for that matter). Oil cooler? A new oil cooler and its associated plumbing might throw a lot of copper into a used oil analysis. Just tossing out ideas.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Ouch, those are bad numbers for sure.

Puzzling.

 

[FL_Rob]

Wait,read the comments from blackstone, 'silicon is from silicone sealants'???Either I am totally misinformed that silicon is basically the reading for sand (I know,not beach sand )or this is hogwash.Someone educate me on this.

 

[scurvy]

Only 15k miles on the truck? Check back in another 15k miles.

That's not a stellar UOA by any stretch of the imagination but without further ones to corroborate you've no idea if this is a one-time occurrence, a waning trend or a waxing trend. Pour in whatever silly-colored oil

you like & motor on.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
Whats the PAO /ester ratio with RP? I thought it was 80/20 or something.It could be a .....sloooow,easy break in from using these high quality oils(very high a/w addpacks)?and your engine is just not broke in yet.


RP 5w20 is all PAO except for the small amount of grp I carrier from the additive package.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
Wait,read the comments from blackstone, 'silicon is from silicone sealants'???Either I am totally misinformed that silicon is basically the reading for sand (I know,not beach sand )or this is hogwash.Someone educate me on this.

New or repaired engines that have had silicone sealants used will show silicon on used oil analysis. The machine is just looking for silicon molecules. It cannot tell silicon from sealants, or dirt, apart. Another source is some oils use an antifoam agent that shows up as silicon.

 

[02zx9r]

RP still = [censored]

 

[Jim Allen]

I'm in the camp that says wait for the next UOA before running around in circles and tearing at hair.

My one RP 5W20 report was as stellar as yours was so-so.... but it was in a Ford Modular, so it's not comparable. What surprises me most is the TBN drop. Mine stayed at 10 after nearly 7.5K, but then the additive package will be used up faster with more metal in the oil, especially copper. Blackstone always reads a little lower on TBN than other labs, tho, and that test was another lab.

Anyway, it is what it is... but not the worst report we've seen. The only damage is to your ego as the "Purple Guy" (should we call you Barney?? ( : < ) , but good on you for posting it. I'll bet it clears up a lot next time around.

BTW, what the heck are you doing pulling a boat around from Oct to Feb while living in the frozen north of "Nahampsha?"

 

[NHHEMI]

Waterfowl hunting

 

[INDYMAC]

Does the boat have a sail with skiis on it? Hopefully you're not shooting a 10 gauge with a lot of recoil!

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
Wait,read the comments from blackstone, 'silicon is from silicone sealants'???Either I am totally misinformed that silicon is basically the reading for sand (I know,not beach sand )or this is hogwash.Someone educate me on this.


Silicon is just an element, and that's all the used oil analysis can tell. Silicon is found in 3 common sources when it comes to engine oil: 1) dirt (yes, sand or silicon dioxide is the usual culprit, but almost all dirt has some SiO2 content. It is the most common mineral on earth, after all). 2) Silicone rubber sealants, which gradually stop releasing silicon as they cure. 3) Antifreeze, such as conventional inorganic formula or some of the newer HOAT formulas like G-05.

So when a used oil analysis shows silicon, 2 out of the 3 most common sources are bad (dirt and antifreeze) because the silicon is in a form that is abrasive and causes high wear. But high silicon from silicone rubber sealants is harmless. Some silicon compounds are actually lubricants, so high Si is not always harmful.

 

[chambers]

It's a disappointing report, but I'm leaning towards the copper being from break in. The aluminum and silicon aren't that high, I had a report w/ that much silicon but my copper and aluminum numbers were fine on my 3.7 Ram. If it was me I'd use a cheaper oil for the next 5k or so then give RP another shot.