Amsoil 10w-30 Extended Drain Analysis

[Budman]

Analysis done by pdma lab. Thanks and plug for pdma first analysis is free

Amsoil 10w30 Synthetic. 12,318 miles on oil; Filter change at 6000 using Amsoil Filter.

Dodge Avenger 1996 v6, 80,000 miles on car. Last oil change was also Amsoil. Various oils before that.

Results
Wear Metals ppm
iron 10
chromium 0
moly 1
alum 0
copper 14
lead 1
tin,silver,nickel,vanadium,titanium,manganese,
cadmium = all 0

Contaminant metals ppm
silicon 5
sodium 8
boron 0

Additive Metals ppm
Magnesium 271
Calcium 1598
Barium 0
Phosphorous 942
Zinc 1244

Non-Metallic %vol
Solids 0.5
water Nil
Fuel
Lube Data
Viscosity@100c -cst- = 12.5 no idea..
Total BASE Number -ml- = 1.12

Infared au
Hydroxy 0.027
Antiwear Loss 1.211
Oxidation 1.039
Nitration 2.121

Comments
Severity = N - Normal
Recommended Action = "Continue Sampling to track/trend data"
Data Interretation = "Based on results...lube appears satisfactory for continued usage"

Can anyone help with deciphering all this?

My observations. The Air-K&N/Oil-Amsoil filter definetly doing great job here. Only 5ppm Silicon!
But what is with that low TBN? And how can they recommend continued use when it looks as if the oil is beyond its useful range? What is that Viscosity Number?
So from the looks of it, Amsoil held up and is ready for more! I live in Dusty Vegas also and do mostly stop/go driving. I recently switched to Havoline after this oil change thinking Amsoil wasn't worth it and dino was just as good. But this and the extended drain interval may make me go back.. Extended was the main reason I even went the Amsoil route. But I should test the Havoline dino I used now in 5000 to make comparitive judgements. It may hold up just as well in this engine. I suspect the Amsoil Oil filter really had a great impact on these excellent results.
Any thoughts, comments?

 

[Patman]

This lab is using some strange system of measurement that i have never seen, but I'm sure George or Terry can help out.

The viscosity shows the oil is right on the line of 30/40wt, so it's a very high 30 or a very low 40wt. Amsoil 10w30 starts out on the high side of a 30wt though, so this is nothing to worry about. The wear numbers look excellent!

 

[Budman]

Yes, I agree, the wear numbers look excellent as does the oil. BUT isn't that TBN number extremly low and in need of a change? How can they recommend "Continued Service"? Unless that TBN is still good.

Thanks

Bud

 

[msparks]

Calcium seems alful low too.
Also the high 30 wt is a concern.

AS far as TBN? If that is a true reading, I would dump that oil immediately.

Are you using a testing company that is familar with extended drains especially Amsoil.

My suggestion would be to drain it now, next sample use a reputable company. I suggest Oil Analyisers. Since they are most familiar with Oil Analysis from Amsoil customers.

 

[msparks]

Also what kind of funky OXD Nox readings are those?

Something that I'm not used to.

Is this the first run on Amsoil? If so, what were you using before. Did you do an engine flush prior?

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

No, it stated the previous oil was also Amsoil.

 

[MolaKule]

The TBN may be in milliliters of Potassium Hydroxide.

The detergents/dispersants and the antiwear
additives appear to be too low for my safety margin.

I run this oil as well, but never past 8-12k.

I think you were wise to dump it when you did.

 

[Budman]

Unfortuanately, I can't take credit for being "wise" here for my timing of dumping. It just had been one year exactly and that is the measurement I was using to determine when to change my Amsoil oil. Less than the cost of an analysis...

I must say that this oil really has impressed me after looking at the analysis and I am glad I got it done as I would never had known. I decided to go back to regular oil as I started to get skeptical of the advertised, better because marketed to be, synthetic oil. Especially For ANY street driven vehicle with intent to get rid of before it falls apart completely. I think 200k is reachable with any good dino oil with proper maintanence and 4-5k oil changes.

But thanks all for replying and all your input.

bud

 

[GeorgeCLS]

Gosh, there is little I can add to this; the comments regarding your oil analysis result have been excellent, IMHO.. However, it is difficult to write a book on just one oil analysis result. Oil analysis is most valuable to monitor trends and multiplicity. Overall, good results..

[ August 08, 2002, 11:08 PM: Message edited by: GeorgeCLS ]

 

[SteveD2]

quote:

---

Originally posted by msparks:

.....
Are you using a testing company that is familar with extended drains especially Amsoil.

My suggestion would be to drain it now, next sample use a reputable company. I suggest Oil Analyisers. Since they are most familiar with Oil Analysis from Amsoil customers.

---

Oil Analyzers Co. is owned by Al Amatuzio, the owner of Amsoil. Objective analysis?

A rep at Oil Analyzers told me that a moderately high nitration number might be due to a leaking EGR valve. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Ken

Ken

 

[Spector]

Although the ownership of a lab can make a diff I tried to find out who owns Blackstone. They refused to reply? Private company, public, who is major stockholder etc? Probably a good bit of knowledge to know of any lab we use
Could affect their interpretation

 

[Joel]

I would call the company as ask about the measurement for the Oxidation and Nitration. Might be straing peak hight measurements. Also ask about the TBN, looks like they made a mistake.

 

[The_Oz]

msparks,

It looks like you're outnumbered 2-1 on the K&N air filter problems

Budman is reporting a low Silicon level of 5ppm, and I am reporting 4ppm. I'm not sure if the AMSOIL did anything to filter the silicon at all though (I personally used a regular Fram product during in my oil sample).

Maybe K&Ns are bad for trucks and good for cars...

Oz

 

[msparks]

OZ,

I think that I have deduced that the K&N does not fit/seal well in the F150 Stock box.

weather its the filtration media or not we will never know.

[ August 10, 2002, 08:00 AM: Message edited by: msparks ]

 

[GeorgeCLS]

In probably 90 to 95% of the K&N equipped car, truck, bus, motorycycle oil analysis results I review, they are alerted for high silicon (dirt) AND corresponding high wear metals.. From the hundreds of oil analysis results I review each day, it is *very* clear. And yes, I have seen spectro analysis reporting single digit silicon, but that is only looking at particles from 0 to 5 microns. Particle counts revealed that the oils in some casesk, due to the inherent dust/dirt size spectrom for that area of the country, were all 5+ microns and that the oil was indeed loaded with contaminants! Just because one has a decent looking spectro result may not yield the 'rest of the story'....
I have no associatoin with any air cleaner company, do not endorse any air filter, but always strive to attain the lowest possible dirt intake level. As a lube engineer one's goal is extension of engine and component life. From my years of experience, I do not see K&N's and other aftermarket air filters achieving this end to the extend paper does. In limited cases, they do, however.. That is why I stress the importance of oil analysis IF one's goals are the same as mine: engine life longevity..
That said, I am trying an Amsoil dual stage on one of trucks that lives in dirt. The truck has a full history of oil analyisis including ferrographies, so it will be interesting to see how it fares. I am always open to the possibility of better filtration.
George Morrison, STLE CLS