Amsoil 20W50 at 25,980 miles

[Don Stevens]

Vehicle 1985 BMW 528e
Total Miles 207,433
Oil Amsoil 10W40, 20W50 mix.
Miles since last oil change 25,980 9/30/01
Miles on Amsoil SDF filter 7,680
Driving conditions 70/30 mix Highway/City. FL
Make up oil 3 Qts since last filter
Lab Oil Analyzers

Results

Gly Neg
% H20 % fuel 2.0
Vis 100C 22.9
% solids Tr
% Oxd 54.4
% Nox 42.9
TBN 10.4

Wear metals / Additives PPM

Fe 13
Cr 1
Pb 11
Cu 7
Sn 1
Al 12
Ni 1
Ag 0
Mn 2
Si 8
B 36
Na 17
Mg 177
Ca 4280
Ba 0
P 1270
Zn 1366
Mo 10
Ti 0
V 0
Cd 0

Comments form Lab Fule Dilution elevated. Oxidation Elevated. Not enough information for accurate recommendation.

My comments. I changed filetrs and had the oil analyzed at 5500, 12,600, 18300, and 25,980. The wear numbers are consistent across all samples. Oxd and Nox did consistenetly creep up through the interval. This car uses about 1 qt per 2000 miles so along with the make up oil with the new filters and the make up oil due to loss, the car had pretty frequent additive replacements. Thus the high TBN retention. The Moly of 10 came from one qt. of Valvoline Max life added when I was out of town and had no Amsoil with me. That same qt was the baseline Maxlife I had analyzed by OAI. The elevated fuel contamination and Mg are somewhat disconcerting. I had been playing around with a couple of fuel injection cleaners ,RxP and Bob's Neutra, do these have Mg in them?

Does this report prove that Amsoil can go 25000 mile between changes? Not neccesarily. Obviously some of the original oil was still there and it did oxidize and gain viscosity. But with all of the make up oil I had to use, I can't say that the 25000 mile drain interval without a bypass filter is a reality on this car.

For the record, I always advise my Amsoil customers that oil analysis is an absolute must for any drain interval over 7500 miles.

I put a new batch of Amsoil with 1 qt of Bob's Schaffers blend in the car on this oil change. I am going to experinmet with using Schaffers as make up oil and watch the moly level and the wear numbers. I'll likely run 7500 miles on filters and change out at 15000. We'll see what happens.

Don

 

[Eric]

At a quart every 2000, you could run probably run a group 1 dino oil through that car without ever needing to drain the pan!! I wouldn't waste good oil like Amsoil or Mobil 1 or Schaffers; I'd rush to K-Mart and buy a couple of jugs of "Motorvator" for $3.77, and save the difference for an engine rebuild.

 

[Spector]

With the very large amount of new oil being added between consumption and filter changes I do not feel this sample shows extended drain capability of the oil. For this vehicle the maintenance appears to work but most drivers would never fall into the category. Plus, mixing the weights skews the results as well with the additive package.

 

[bill99gxe]

Don,

I'll integrate these results into the maxima.org spreadsheet.

Good luck!

Don,

If you don't mind also would you send me all of your oxidation and nitration values for the 10 oil results you have submitted to me when you get the chance? I need to integrate those values into the spreadsheet.

Thanks,

Bill

[ September 11, 2002, 09:35 AM: Message edited by: bill99gxe ]

 

[TooSlick]

Don,

I have reviewed the sheet with all the analyses you have done on this engine. Given the amount of makeup oil, you have a SEVERE fuel dilution problem. I would change out all the injectors ASAP, as one or more are either leaking after shutdown or the nozzle tips are eroded and you are getting a very poor spray pattern and low combustion efficiency. This is also why you are seeing significant oxidation/nitration even though you are adding oil every 2000 miles. It would also be worthwhile to do a compression test and see how good the ring seal is at this point.

 

[BOBISTHEOILGUY]

Don,

You get a chance, please give me a call on my cell.

bob

 

[Patman]

Any updates here Don? I'm curious if the Schaeffer oil mixed in well with the Amsoil, and if the addition of moly changed anything.

 

[Don Stevens]

Patman,

As a matter of fact, Yes I do have a report on the new "blend"...

Sample taken 10/15/2002
Total miles on Vehicle 216,500
Miles on sample 9067
Oil blend: 4 qts Amsoil 10W40, 1 Qt Schaffers 15W40
Make up oil - 2 qts Amsoil 10W40

Gly Neg
% H20 % fuel Visc 17.0 @ 100C
% OXD 23.3
% NOX 24.3
TBN 12.2

Fe 11
Cr 0
Pb 4
Cu 3
Sn 1
Al 10
Ni 0
Ag 0
Mn 0
Si 6
B 31
Na 3
Mg 0
Ca 4364
Ba 0
P 1218
Zn 1377
Mo 12
Ti 0
V 0
Cd 0

OAI Comments:

Viscosity out of indcated grade
Oil is suitable for continued use
Resample at next regular interval.

I did run the oil another 7500 before changing but did not have a sample kit so I did not take a follow up sample. The car is retired to a new owner. I thughht the wear numbers looked pretty good but I am not sure that there is enough evidence to conclude if it was the trace of moly or not that helped. I was a little surpised at the viscosity and I felt the OXd and Nox numbers were a little high for relatively few miles.

Don

 

[Patman]

Looks like that mixture worked well, the wear numbers are good and it didn't harm the ox, nit or TBN. I thought it might have.

 

[TooSlick]

Don,

Run the Amsoil Series 2000, 20w-50 in this engine ...it will give you far and away the best results and will also slow your oil consumption. I have several customers running it in older 3 and 5 series BMW engines and they are very happy with the stuff. I have also had exceptionally good results with it in very worn VW engines ....

Ted