Amsoil OE 5w30 for 4800 miles in a 3.6 Pentastar

[Fabulous50s]

This is in a 2500 RAM Promaster (my work van) with the manual recommending a 4k OCI with 5w20......PFI with fuel dilution at 0.8%. Oil was hot when sampled/changed from a 50 mile trip.

I've been running PP for the 4k OCI until this one. Needed to add something to my Amsoil order to get free shipping....

This has seen several -30F starts and has at least 10 min idle time for warmup each morning. Trips are 10-40 miles.

I'm puy PP 5w30 back in and will go 6500 miles next.

 

[mattd]

There is more fuel in that sample than what is reported. Other than that looks great.

 

[Fabulous50s]

There is more fuel in that sample than what is reported. Other than that looks great.

How do you know? This is my first time doing this. I'm learning.

 

[mattd]

The flashpoint for one. Black stone is notoriously inaccurate for their fuel dilution measurements. You need to use a lab that uses gas chromatography for fuel measurements, Polaris for example.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

In Blackstone’s website, just prior to viewing your sample, there is a box to check that removes your info rather than scribbling on the JPG in Paint.

Thanks for the test, looks good other than flashpoint as the guys have said.

 

[himemsys]

How do you know? This is my first time doing this. I'm learning.

Blackstone infers fuel% from the flashpoint. Values >400F show little to no fuel. Values <400 indicate more fuel. Blackstone is a little too conservative in their inference. People have sent the same sample to Blackstone and Oil Analyzers and typically OA shows 2-3% higher than BS's estimate. However, with a little common sense, you can make the most of this knowledge and add a few percent to BS's number to get much closer to actual. The key thing is the further below 400 the flashpoint value is, the worse the fuel% is.

 

[Fabulous50s]

So, with this knowledge in mine what do you guys recommend I do long term? It is beginning to warm up here in Maine and the engine will see less idle time.

What is the main cause of fuel dilution in a PFI engine? Can't really "run rich".

 

[mattd]

So, with this knowledge in mine what do you guys recommend I do long term? It is beginning to warm up here in Maine and the engine will see less idle time.

What is the main cause of fuel dilution in a PFI engine? Can't really "run rich".

If you’re going to use UOA, use Polaris

 

[OVERKILL]

So, with this knowledge in mine what do you guys recommend I do long term? It is beginning to warm up here in Maine and the engine will see less idle time.

What is the main cause of fuel dilution in a PFI engine? Can't really "run rich".

Yes, a PFI engine can also run rich, and do run rich, in certain conditions. Startup enrichment for cold starts for example, when you have the worst ring seal, is a common source of fuel in the oil.

 

[Fabulous50s]

Yes, a PFI engine can also run rich, and do run rich, in certain conditions. Startup enrichment for cold starts for example, when you have the worst ring seal, is a common source of fuel in the oil.

But I guess there is nothing I can do about it, right?

 

[Nuclear_42]

Looks like a great report! Cutting down the idle warming time in half should help with the fuel dilution. 5k OCI looks achievable.

 

[OVERKILL]

But I guess there is nothing I can do about it, right?

Not really no, it'll go away when the weather warms.

 

[fantastic]

But I guess there is nothing I can do about it, right?

Keep doing what you're doing by sending oil samples in but use a better lab that tests the fuel more accurately like Oil Analyzers. If there is not apparent wear concerns with the fuel delusion or get way high like 10% fuel I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Imp4]

Needed to add something to my Amsoil order to get free shipping....

Lolol, they saw you fall off the turnip truck!!!

 

[Fabulous50s]

I'm definatly not an Amsoil nut, but I do use some of their top shelf stuff in my old car and tractor where stuff only gets changed annually or biannually.

I'll try their oil testing. I though Blackstone was pretty much the only show in town other than OA (Amsoil).

 

[mattd]

I'm definatly not an Amsoil nut, but I do use some of their top shelf stuff in my old car and tractor where stuff only gets changed annually or biannually.

I'll try their oil testing. I though Blackstone was pretty much the only show in town other than OA (Amsoil).

Oil analyzers is Polaris.