2023 3.0 Duramax 29k miles; Mobil 1 ESP x2 0W-20 3.6k mile UOA

[fueldelusion]

Here’s another UOA of my 3.0 Duramax. I like this lab but every single sample I’ve sent them has transcription errors. 7 qt sump and unit time should be 28,584 miles. Doesn’t really get short tripped so not exactly sure why I get the fuel dilution but it doesn’t appear to be hurting anything. I wanted a couple samples for some data as I was considering stepping up in viscosity and seeing how they looked, but I’m pretty happy with these results considering what other people show for wear rates. Please share your thoughts.

I have bugged Lake Speed via a few YouTube comments to make a video on 0W-20 vs xW-30 in this motor and he responded implying he’s actually working on gathering data so that should be cool. I’ll be pretending he made the video just because of me.

 

[DirectRejection]

Lots of diesel nuggets in the LSJ/Sprinter Fix vid I posted in the Mechanical Forum.

7 quart sump...that's a big help !

 

[FreedomOne]

Your wear is better than most using 20wt.

 

[MurkyAsparagus]

Your wear is better than most using 20wt.

I was just about to say this same thing.

 

[Oliveoil2]

Here’s another UOA of my 3.0 Duramax. I like this lab but every single sample I’ve sent them has transcription errors. 7 qt sump and unit time should be 28,584 miles. Doesn’t really get short tripped so not exactly sure why I get the fuel dilution but it doesn’t appear to be hurting anything. I wanted a couple samples for some data as I was considering stepping up in viscosity and seeing how they looked, but I’m pretty happy with these results considering what other people show for wear rates. Please share your thoughts.

I have bugged Lake Speed via a few YouTube comments to make a video on 0W-20 vs xW-30 in this motor and he responded implying he’s actually working on gathering data so that should be cool. I’ll be pretending he made the video just because of me.

View attachment 283951

I’d double your OCI. Such great numbers and this oil has lots of miles left! Really good UOA.

 

[Dr_Dr3i]

As an owner of the 3rd gen EcoDiesel, I'm jealous of your Aluminum wear numbers.

And the fact you can use 0w20 M1 ESP oil! I'm required to stick to 5w40...

Great report IMO!

 

[Klutch9]

That iron seems high for the OCI. I doubt it’s still breaking in at that mileage.

 

[Dr_Dr3i]

I doubt it’s still breaking in at that mileage.

Pretty sure it is, and will continue to until about 50-60K miles.

Diesels take quite a bit longer to really, truly be broken in.

 

[Klutch9]

Pretty sure it is, and will continue to until about 50-60K miles.

Diesels take quite a bit longer to really, truly be broken in.

Really? Why? Not doubting you, I just have never heard that.

 

[Dr_Dr3i]

Diesels typically have much higher compression and require tougher engine components. They also run much lower revs compared to the typical gasser, so the break-in period is usually longer. I've experienced this with both small displacement modern diesels such as TDIs and MB's as well as class 8 semis.

That's also part of the reason they can typically run hundreds of thousands of miles while your average gasser gives up the ghost around 150-200K tops (on average).

 

[MurkyAsparagus]

That iron seems high for the OCI. I doubt it’s still breaking in at that mileage.

For whatever reasons, these 3.0 Babymax engines seem to have really high iron wear numbers in UOAs with the 0w20. Those who have switched to a 5w30 always seem to have much lower wear numbers.

I don’t think it’s break-in, much like what you also probably believe.

 

[YZJB]

Oil dilution will be from DPF regenerations. I wouldn’t run 0W-20 in this engine if it were my vehicle.

 

[fueldelusion]

Oil dilution will be from DPF regenerations. I wouldn’t run 0W-20 in this engine if it were my vehicle.

You’re probably right. As for 0w-20, I’m just concerned about my warranty.

As an owner of the 3rd gen EcoDiesel, I'm jealous of your Aluminum wear numbers.

And the fact you can use 0w20 M1 ESP oil! I'm required to stick to 5w40...

Great report IMO!

How have you liked your EcoDiesel? How many miles? Any Issues? I had a Ram before, after living with both, I prefer Ram over GM. Oh well.

For whatever reasons, these 3.0 Babymax engines seem to have really high iron wear numbers in UOAs with the 0w20. Those who have switched to a 5w30 always seem to have much lower wear numbers.

I don’t think it’s break-in, much like what you also probably believe.

Not trying to blow up BITOG but every vehicle I have UOAs on calling for 0W-16 or 0W-20 shows lower wear with 5W-30. Sometimes dramatically. I know this isn’t always the case.

That iron seems high for the OCI. I doubt it’s still breaking in at that mileage.

If you look around for some UOAs on this motor you’ll probably find these to be pretty good iron numbers compared to the rest.

 

[Klutch9]

If you look around for some UOAs on this motor you’ll probably find these to be pretty good iron numbers compared to the rest.

That is true. I’ve seen some reports with the iron being about 4x higher. Given that, this report actually is quite good comparatively. What are the wear metals usually on a 30 grade?

 

[fueldelusion]

That is true. I’ve seen some reports with the iron being about 4x higher. Given that, this report actually is quite good comparatively. What are the wear metals usually on a 30 grade?

For my particular truck I’ve never tried but I just saw one with almost identical wear metals at almost exactly the same mileage using Pennzoil Euro L, a C3 oil.

 

[Jetronic]

Pretty sure it is, and will continue to until about 50-60K miles.

Diesels take quite a bit longer to really, truly be broken in.

Agree, that's about how long it took my 2.0 fiat.

 

[SureshR]

I'd say the 0w20 is perfectly adequate .. if you don't try for long drain intervals and change it out at 5000 miles.

 

[BrendanC]

warranty purposes: buy the 0w-20, take a copy of the receipt for records, return and refill with M1 0w-30 or 0w-40 IMO. dealer won’t do a UOA all they care about is if it’s clean under the valve covers.

 

[Dr_Dr3i]

How have you liked your EcoDiesel? How many miles? Any Issues? I had a Ram before, after living with both, I prefer Ram over GM. Oh well.

So far, this 3rd gen EcoD has been great. I did get it tuned by the awesome guys at GDE (who also have tunes for your Duramax btw...) and I'm enjoying the vastly improved drivability in all areas that matter: power, gear shifts, regen frequency, fuel economy, etc.

I just completed another OCI and the truck runs great, only at 35K miles. We use it for cross-country road trips to/from FL several times a year and also for towing our 5k lbs jet boat to/from the local lakes. It also does delivery duty for the wife's gardening ventures (mulch, compost, top soil, etc.) and other home improvement projects. Basically, it gets used like a truck but I don't abuse it.

Before settling on the Ram, I test drove F150s, Sierra/Silverado twins, Titans, and Tundras. The overall packages is just better in the Ram and the deals available at the time (Summer of 2022) favored the Ram, so that's what I went with. I did love the inline 6 in the Sierra, very smooth and quiet. I just couldn't swing the $73K sticker price and no deals offered.

Hope you're enjoying your Duramax, and from the looks of that report, it's operating as designed/expected.

 

[TailDrag]

Oil dilution will be from DPF regenerations. I wouldn’t run 0W-20 in this engine if it were my vehicle.

I've had the Banks iDash in my '24 3.0L for most of it's life to track regens and the only thing I did to reduce the fuel dilution from my first UOA was let it idle a lot less. Mainly I quit using the remote start to cool off/warm up the cab and my fuel dilution has fallen to below 2.0% since. My regen frequency has stayed consistent of low 300 miles in spring/summer/fall. I need another winter to see if the high 400/low 500 miles I got between regens with the cold ambient temps will return.