94 Camry 4cyl with Amsoil ATF 25K miles

[Donald]

This is the latest UOA from my beater Camry. This is the before test, before I install a Magnefine filter, will do another one in a few hundred miles. This test is worse than I expected on Amsoil ATF with only 25K miles on tha ATF.

Miles on ATF = 25K
Miles on car = 200K
The ATF was flushed via machine.

Iron = 27
Chrome = 0
Nickel = 0
Al = 50
Copper = 107
Lead = 8
Tin = 5
Cad = 0
Silver = 0
Silver = 0
Titan = 0
Vanan = 0
Silicon = 11
Sodium = 7
Potass = 2
Moly = 0
Antim = 0
Manga = 0
Lith = 0
Boron = 0
Magn = 1
Calcium = 129
Barium = 0
Phos = 488
Zinc = 31
Vis 100C cSt = 6.3
Tan 2.4
Oxid = 40
Nitra = 9

Aluminum was flagged as being high (orange), as was Calcium and Zinc (both yellow).

The entire UOA was flagged as the worse of two abnormal severities.

Now I am not sure I should run with this ATF till 50K as planned. Maybe install the Magnefine filter soon and see what that UOA shows.

 

[Pablo]

Looks fairly nominal.

Not sure why they would flag Ca and Zn.

The tranny has 200,000 miles on it. I'm sure bushings and shafts are not perfect after a certain point, and you shouldn't necessarily expect 3K used motor oil analysis single digit numbers. For example go through this very forum and look at the ATF numbers. These are PPM numbers.

 

[Tempest]

Copper is the worst in my mind, Al a little high but not bad. Fe is great.
TAN is the most surprising. Makes me think something odd is going on. Could be the reason for the copper and Al.

 

[Pablo]

I thought condemnation limit on TAN in ATF is a change of 4.5 - 5. I would not say 2.4 is something to worry about.

 

[Tempest]

You are probably right Pablo, but 2.4 is higher than we usually see. Amsoil ATF normally seems to be ~1.5.

 

[Donald]

So what is the verdict? Do I need to exchange all the fluid? Maybe just freshen it with a gallon? (I happen to have a gallon of Amsoil ATF currently). I installed a Magnefine filter over the weekend and will sample shortly for a "after Magnefine" UOA.

 

[Donald]

What makes the TAN go up in ATF?

 

[Pablo]

It's up to you if you want to change it or freshen it up. May as well use that gallon on one hand, or it may skew your Magnefine study. Your choice. Me? I'd do the gallon.

TAN goes up with usage naturally. Contamination, old fluid mixing, heat, time, oxidation, copper build up....all add to an increase in TAN.