2017 Ford Focus RS, 2.3 EcoBoost, 28k mi; 5w50 Amsoil SS, 4.2k mil

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I’ve decided to start doing maintenance program where I take an oil sample every 4k miles on the oil before I ultimately change it to determine the actual proper OCI. Amsoil 5w50 SS, Amsoil 20 micron filter, supposedly good for 25k miles or 1 year per Amsoil.

Baseline information: Sample is taken through the dipstick tube with a pump. One autocross session during this sample period, otherwise just daily driving and then weekend fun. Over all I’d say I’m a spirited driver, but I let it get up to at least 165 on oil temp gauge before I lean on it. 16 mile work commute each way in the city, but with traffic that can take 45 minutes. Oil temp gets up to ~190-195 without issue after ~20 minutes driving, city or highway. It won’t go higher than that without really pushing it (like at autocross), where the gauge will break 210 easy. KN filter, conservative professional tune based on street testing, stock engine and turbo components. Oil temp gauge is inferred on this car, however.

Events this sample period: Slave cylinder died recently, cooking the clutch and dual mass flywheel. May have been an ongoing issue, as I was fighting a rumble at idle with an intermittent misfire code through half of this sample period, during which I reverted to the stock tune. In retrospect that was probably the flywheel failing, causing the rumble at idle and phantom misfire. All components were replaced and the rumble/misfire codes are gone.

Thoughts: A little surprised at the viscosity loss and fuel dilution, along with the boron depletion. But it is 2.3 DI turbo, and I do a lot of city driving. Curious what you think about their take on the report— they do not seem concerned about the dilution or low TBN. Multiple autocross sessions coming up during the next 4k mile period. Was planning a track session later this summer, but I’ll wait for the next report first.

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The 1.5% fuel dilution wouldn't be enough to drop the viscosity from 16.2 -> 14.8 which means this oil sheared out of grade slightly. That's not uncommon for a 5W-50 oil, but it is uncommon for Amsoil.

The TBN is fine. TBN depletion isn't a linear drop and will vary between DI packs.

I think you're fine for 8k miles. This wouldn't hold me back from any track days.
 
That UOA would be enough for me to give a bit of thought to a 5K OCI. The oil is shearing a bit, the fuel dilution is significant enough and without a particle count, and TBN in the 3's, and knowing that Ford's timing chain, phasers and tensioners are all sensitive to particulates and contaminates... It may be that the oil will hold up fine for a much longer OCI. However, in my experience EB engines last longest when oil is clean and uncontaminated.
 
I will be waiting to see the next analysis.
Good to see one from a company that does an accurate fuel dilution & shows concern for viscosity.
Why was Boron flagged? Did you send a sample of the same virgin oil sample for comparison?
 
The 1.5% fuel dilution wouldn't be enough to drop the viscosity from 16.2 -> 14.8 which means this oil sheared out of grade slightly. That's not uncommon for a 5W-50 oil, but it is uncommon for Amsoil.

The TBN is fine. TBN depletion isn't a linear drop and will vary between DI packs.

I think you're fine for 8k miles. This wouldn't hold me back from any track days.
All 5W-50 motor oils will shear a bit.

I think a continuation of your plan required before a conclusion can be reached
 
I’ve decided to start doing maintenance program where I take an oil sample every 4k miles on the oil before I ultimately change it to determine the actual proper OCI. Amsoil 5w50 SS, Amsoil 20 micron filter, supposedly good for 25k miles or 1 year per Amsoil.

Baseline information: Sample is taken through the dipstick tube with a pump. One autocross session during this sample period, otherwise just daily driving and then weekend fun. Over all I’d say I’m a spirited driver, but I let it get up to at least 165 on oil temp gauge before I lean on it. 16 mile work commute each way in the city, but with traffic that can take 45 minutes. Oil temp gets up to ~190-195 without issue after ~20 minutes driving, city or highway. It won’t go higher than that without really pushing it (like at autocross), where the gauge will break 210 easy. KN filter, conservative professional tune based on street testing, stock engine and turbo components. Oil temp gauge is inferred on this car, however.

Events this sample period: Slave cylinder died recently, cooking the clutch and dual mass flywheel. May have been an ongoing issue, as I was fighting a rumble at idle with an intermittent misfire code through half of this sample period, during which I reverted to the stock tune. In retrospect that was probably the flywheel failing, causing the rumble at idle and phantom misfire. All components were replaced and the rumble/misfire codes are gone.

Thoughts: A little surprised at the viscosity loss and fuel dilution, along with the boron depletion. But it is 2.3 DI turbo, and I do a lot of city driving. Curious what you think about their take on the report— they do not seem concerned about the dilution or low TBN. Multiple autocross sessions coming up during the next 4k mile period. Was planning a track session later this summer, but I’ll wait for the next report first.

View attachment 234820
According to motoroilgeek, oxidation level, not to exceed 35 - 40, and wear metals are the ones to watch. Not TBN. "Geek" oil analysis in this vid...
 
The quality of the comments on this UOA is way higher than I've ever seen on an Oil Analyzers report. I wonder if this is an anomaly or an intentional change on their part. I like it, and hope it continues.
 
The quality of the comments on this UOA is way higher than I've ever seen on an Oil Analyzers report. I wonder if this is an anomaly or an intentional change on their part. I like it, and hope it continues.

Agreed. That's quite a shock, likely the best comment on a UOA I've seen. It's actually concise and professional. Way to go, OA. I hadn't read the comment before seeing your comment. I usually ignore their comments completely.
 
I will be waiting to see the next analysis.
Good to see one from a company that does an accurate fuel dilution & shows concern for viscosity.
Why was Boron flagged? Did you send a sample of the same virgin oil sample for comparison?
I didn’t send a virgin sample, but there was a letter sent via email along with the UOA that had an even longer form of the commentary. It had this for the boron:

Multi Source/Additive Metals:
Boron is flagged low for the AMR product; however, it is considered a sacrificial additive and depletion over time is normal. All other additive levels match that of the AMR product.

I bought this as a 4 pack UOA kit from AMSOIL called the “maintenance improvement program” and the letter referenced the program as well. Perhaps that’s where the extra commentary and customer service comes from? When I get a chance I’ll redact that and upload it as well.
 
As others have mentioned, the TBN isn’t low at all actually and some viscosity loss is typical of 50 grade when seeing fuel dilution as well. Given you are city driving and have a tune, results are superb so far. More samples for trending required. Is this your first run using Amsoil SS? Subsequent runs may yield even better results if so, just a thought.
 
As others have mentioned, the TBN isn’t low at all actually and some viscosity loss is typical of 50 grade when seeing fuel dilution as well. Given you are city driving and have a tune, results are superb so far. More samples for trending required. Is this your first run using Amsoil SS? Subsequent runs may yield even better results if so, just a thought.
I bought the car last year at 16.7k miles. At 19k I swapped out all the fluids (Trans, PTU and RDU, coolant and brake fluid) & went to Ams SS. I changed engine oil again at 24.6k for an ~5K OCI, and that’s the same lube it’s running now.

I was concerned even when I bought it about it being such a low mileage car for the years, and it didn’t come with much in the way of maintenance records. But the price was good, it was stock, and low miles. PPI didn’t show any red flags, and to be honest I’ve always wanted one of these cars. All I know is from what Ford OASIS had on record, and that just says it had the head gasket recall done before it was sold, & the owner had the VCT solenoids replaced at a dealer.

Given that the entire clutch assembly looked like the burnt surface of Jupiter at only 26k miles, I was probably right to be a little concerned.

Figured I’d try to determine the proper OCI and wear rate for this engine scientifically, once I realized the first owner may not have been that fastidious and probably drove it hard and not often. It was probably someone’s weekend track car that didn’t know how to drive a stick as well as they thought they did.
 
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Ah, excellent maintenance since purchase by yourself despite the low mileage. Good to hit reset on some of those items; if not OCD in some ways I totally get it. As it does feel nice knowing exactly the maintenance on it when you’ve done it yourself. I would have done similar for peace of mind.

I’d suspect continued use of a high quality synthetic like Amsoil’s SS will yield a clean running and well protected engine moving forward. :)
 
Enviro5609
This is a Great experiment on your part. The comments on the Forum are excellent as usual, and we'll gain some valuable data. We all recognize that Turbo engines are very tough on Oil. The TBN will not be your problem, but the fuel dilution will shear the Oil so far out of Grade that it will be counterproductive to continue.
I look forward to seeing your continued progress
Thanks for the Data!
 
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