5W30, 4000 miles, 3.5L Sienna

[Bill_Jay]

I have an '08 Sienna with about 20K miles. I've been experiencing piston-slap for the last 10K or so, but Toyota says its normal. I finally decided to get an oil analysis to determine if any internal damage is ocurring. I'm particularly concerned about the twice normal moly reading.... 160 vs the Blackstone average of 76. My dealer does my free oil changes, so I don't know what brand of oil he uses.

If someone can help me find the "File Manager", I will attach the full report

 

[addyguy]

Moly is an anti-wear additive - it's a GOOD thing to have in oil!

Best thing is to type out the values in the report - no chance of it being lost.

 

[bepperb]

Moly isn't a wear item. How are Iron (FE) and Copper?

 

[YZF_Eric]

n00b...JUST KIDDING!

Moly is good.

 

[Bill_Jay]

Iron is 6 ppm, Copper is 3 ppm, Aluminum is 3 ppm

 

[Bill_Jay]

I feel like a n00b.

The FAQ says use the File Manager link, but I can't find it

 

[tinmanSC]

Make an account and post it to photobucket. It will give you the code to insert it into a board message.

The molybdenum (moly) is not a problem and did not come from your engine. Its an oil additive and reduce wear. some oils use it, some don't. Mobil does, Valvoline doesn't. High mileage oils normally do. This is why the "average" is off. It's no big deal.

 

[bepperb]

Iron is 6 ppm, Copper is 3 ppm, Aluminum is 3 ppm

That's real good, definitely no abnormal wear happening.

 

[Bill_Jay]

The dealer took the sample. I hope he didn't switch samples to keep me happy. I need to take the next sample myself.

Also, the Blackstone site also mentioned some piston rings use a moly coating.

 

[hypervish]

All seems good, from what you posted so far... don't worry it's a Toyota!

 

[bepperb]

"Also, the Blackstone site also mentioned some piston rings use a moly coating."

That may be true, but the cylinder liners are iron and there is certainly less wear than I would expect. If the piston slap were an issue, we should see aluminum and iron in the analysis, which we really don't.

This was definitely run in something, I doubt your dealer is cheating you.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Bill_Jay
The dealer took the sample. I hope he didn't switch samples to keep me happy. I need to take the next sample myself.

Also, the Blackstone site also mentioned some piston rings use a moly coating.


+1 Smart move! I'd take my own sample, nuff said!

 

[Gary Allan]

Ask the dealer for 4oz of their bulk oil that they use/used in your engine. Send that in too.

On the report: Just grab someone's typed in report ..tape and paste ..delete their numbers ..insert yours.

 

[Bill_Jay]

Here's the whole report...
http://cid-63a2ae97a4b3c706.office.live.com/view.aspx/.Public/blackstone1.doc

 

[GMFan]

My best guess is an Exxon/Mobil dino according to the numbers.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
My best guess is an Exxon/Mobil dino according to the numbers.

Nope, there is no sodium.

 

[addyguy]

Sodium in EOM oils seems to be a hit and miss thing - some don't show it.

The PQUI test of these oils didn't show ANY Sodium for BOTH Mobil 5000 and Exxon Superflo:

http://www.pqiamerica.com/testresults3a.html

I'd guess it's an EOM dino as well. Numbers are great - nothing to worry about there!

 

[Bill_Jay]

I'm still curious. At my next oil change I'll try to find out what oil they use. I may skip an oil analysis at 25K. Instead, I hope to get a sample for a VOA to compare with the next UOA at 30K miles.

 

[unDummy]

Some of the 3.5L have cam/vvti issues. There is a TSB on it. It is what makes the initial start up clatter that might be confused for piston knock. You'll need to leave the vehicle overnight at a dealer so that tech can listen for the noise which is exaggerated on 1st cold start of the day.

 

[Bill_Jay]

umDummy...Been there, done that. After a year of Toyota techs and service managers saying "its normal, they all do that", they finally decided its piston slap.

From other forums, it seems like the vvt-i clatter is a constant. It doesn't go away after the engine warms up. Besides, wouldn't that cam/vvt-i show up in my oil analysis? If you know otherwise, I'd like to hear more.