2016 Dodge Charger 3.6L 71,200 total miles 16,200 miles and 36 months on HPL 5w-30 HDEO CJ-4

wwillson

Staff member
Joined
Aug 20, 2003
Messages
7,496
Location
Colorado
This sample was pulled from my 2016 Dodge Charger 3.6L with 71,200 total miles, 16,200 miles on the oil, and 36 months in the sump. The oil consumption was zero. The oil filter was changed at 5,000, 10,000, and checked at 16,200 miles. I saw no carbon in the last filter, which was a Fram Ultra and it had a failed crimp which is no surprise. I shall never use a Fram Ultra again. The oil is HPL 5w-30 CJ-4 HDEO. The lab is Wearcheck.

This car gets short tripped a lot. If I remember correctly, the only road trip during this OCI was from Illinois to Colorado and only one way. The TBN is 3.5, which is ok, but is getting low enough that the oil would have needed to be changed in probably 6 months. Si in the UOA was at a Wearcheck's abnormal level and both Fe and Al have increased. I hate to admit this, but I looked back in my records and have nothing about changing the air cleaner. I removed a Fram air filter today and replaced it with a Fram. The old filter was dirty, but no structural problems. My guess is that I replaced the filter 50k miles ago and dirt was making it's way through the media. I'm going to have to tie a note around my finger reminding me to replace air filters. I've been really good at forgetting. The oil was chemically in good condition and could have run longer, but not with this level of dirt in the oil. The new oil filter is a Fram Endurance, which appears to be a very good quality filter.

I'm very happy with three years from this oil.

Sample Information
Sample Date3/22/20231/1/2024
Machine Age miles66,00071,200
Oil Age miles11,00016,200
Filter Age miles1,0005,200
Oil ChangedNoyes
Filter ChangedNoyes
Make-up oil00
BrandHPLHPL
Viscosity5w-30 CJ-45w-30 CJ-4
Wear Metals
Iron3249
Chromium12
Nickel<1<1
Titanium<1<1
Silver00
Aluminum511
Lead1<1
Copper75108
Tin<1<1
Vanandium<1<1
Additives
Boron2632
Barium00
Molybdenum533542
Manganese34
Magnesium531527
Calcium35293358
Phosphorus725762
Zinc916969
Contaminants
Silicon2033
Sodium812
Potassium32
Fuel %<1.0<1.0
GlycolNEGNEG
Soot%0.10.1
Fluid Condition
TBN6.273.56
Viscosity10.211.2
Oxidation3341.3
 
Last edited:
You're running an Iron wear rate of 3ppm per 1000 miles, which is OK.
The change in viscosity from the previous reading is weird. Which is closer to the expected viscosity?
 
13ppm gain of Si in just 5200 miles is a lot; probably where much of the wear is coming from.
If it continues after this a/f change, you'll want to check for intrusion somewhere in the intake tract downstream of the filter.
 
The change in viscosity from the previous reading is weird. Which is closer to the expected viscosity?
An increase of 1 cSt is expected, as these oils don't shear. I don't know the starting viscosity.
 
13ppm gain of Si in just 5200 miles is a lot; probably where much of the wear is coming from.
If it continues after this a/f change, you'll want to check for intrusion somewhere in the intake tract downstream of the filter.
I agree this engine ingested a lot of dirt. I checked the intake tract and everything was tight. I suspect it's the air filter which was run way too long. Totally my fault. The failed crimp in the oil filter added to the issue, as it allowed some dirt to pass right through the filter.
 
excited to see/hear how you think the endurance does. was it a metal crimp/wire backing for your application?
 
excited to see/hear how you think the endurance does. was it a metal crimp/wire backing for your application?
It appears that the wire backing is also used to form the crimp.
IMG_4062.webp
 
Fram makes a few air filter choices. Maybe use an Ultra; 4 year/40k mil rated. They are hard to find; might have to order one.

Ultra air filters sure seem robust. I mistakenly left one in my 17 Outback for about 50k and it was dirty but still looked acceptable. I posted it up here as a thread. I'm not finding it in my activity, otherwise I'd post a link.
 
Ultra air filters sure seem robust. I mistakenly left one in my 17 Outback for about 50k and it was dirty but still looked acceptable. I posted it up here as a thread. I'm not finding it in my activity, otherwise I'd post a link.
 
This sample was pulled from my 2016 Dodge Charger 3.6L with 71,200 total miles, 16,200 miles on the oil, and 36 months in the sump. The oil consumption was zero. The oil filter was changed at 5,000, 10,000, and checked at 16,200 miles. I saw no carbon in the last filter, which was a Fram Ultra and it had a failed crimp which is no surprise. I shall never use a Fram Ultra again. The oil is HPL 5w-30 CJ-4 HDEO. The lab is Wearcheck.

This car gets short tripped a lot. If I remember correctly, the only road trip during this OCI was from Illinois to Colorado and only one way. The TBN is 3.5, which is ok, but is getting low enough that the oil would have needed to be changed in probably 6 months. Si in the UOA was at a Wearcheck's abnormal level and both Fe and Al have increased. I hate to admit this, but I looked back in my records and have nothing about changing the air cleaner. I removed a Fram air filter today and replaced it with a Fram. The old filter was dirty, but no structural problems. My guess is that I replaced the filter 50k miles ago and dirt was making it's way through the media. I'm going to have to tie a note around my finger reminding me to replace air filters. I've been really good at forgetting. The oil was chemically in good condition and could have run longer, but not with this level of dirt in the oil. The new oil filter is a Fram Endurance, which appears to be a very good quality filter.

I'm very happy with three years from this oil.

Sample Information
Sample Date3/22/20231/1/2024
Machine Age miles66,00071,200
Oil Age miles11,00016,200
Filter Age miles1,0005,200
Oil ChangedNoyes
Filter ChangedNoyes
Make-up oil00
BrandHPLHPL
Viscosity5w-30 CJ-45w-30 CJ-4
Wear Metals
Iron3249
Chromium12
NickelTD]
[TD]TD]
TitaniumTD]
[TD]TD]
Silver00
Aluminum511
Lead1TD]
Copper75108
TinTD]
[TD]TD]
VanandiumTD]
[TD]TD]
Additives
Boron2632
Barium00
Molybdenum533542
Manganese34
Magnesium531527
Calcium35293358
Phosphorus725762
Zinc916969
Contaminants
Silicon2033
Sodium812
Potassium32
Fuel %TD]
[TD]TD]
GlycolNEGNEG
Soot%0.10.1
Fluid Condition
TBN6.273.56
Viscosity10.211.2
Oxidation3341.3
[TD]
[TD]
[TD]
[TD]
[TD]
[TD]
Solid UOA. Glad you’re running a Fram endurance. Nice UOA report sir 👍🍺
 
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