Castrol SLX 0w30 SL/A3, 2000 Camry 2.2L, 3018km

[Ken4]

This is my fifth UOA done on my camry by Dyson Analysis. Oldest on the left, latest on the right. Had to dump this oil out early because I discovered part of my air filter seal was not seating properly. Which probably explains why the silicon was also slightly elevated in the last sample (BP Visco 7000), it was using the same air filter.

Oil
Castrol RS 10w50, Shell Helix Ultra 15w50, Shell Helix Ultra 5w40, BP Visco 7000 0w40, Castrol SLX 0w30

Mileage on car
51898km, 57018km, 62015km, 67229km, 70247km

Mileage on oil
4898km, 5120km, 4997km, 5214km, 3018km

Time on oil
2months, 3.5months, 5months, 6months, 4months

Make-up oil
none, none, none, none, none

IR
Soot (St)
0, 8, 87, 11, 0
Oxidation (Oxi) 83 = 41.5%
22, 34, 0, 27, 83
Nitration (Nit) 105 = 52.5%
37, 24, 10, 34, 105
Sulfation (Sul)
29, 22, 8, 21, 34

Metal
Iron (Fe)
2, 2, 7, 9, 5
Copper (Cu)
2, 4, 7, 8, 5
Chromium (Cr)
0, 0, 1, 0, 0
Aluminum (Al)
1, 1, 2, 2, 1
Lead (Pb)
0, 1, 0, 3, 0
Tin (Sn)
0, 0, 1, 1, 0
Silicon (Si)
3, 4, 8, 10, 9
Sodium (Na)
0, 2, 6, 2, 2
Potassium (K)
0, 0, 2, 4, 0
Molybdenum (Mo)
0, 0, 0, 1, 1
Phosphorus (P)
619, 654, 684, 778, 771
Zinc (Zn)
742, 844, 810, 874, 852
Calcium (Ca)
2110, 1250, 1040, 2446, 3072
Magnesium (Mg)
189, 766, 843, 270, 160

Physical
Water (W)
N, N, N, N, N
Fuel (F)
N, N, N, N, N
Antifreeze (A)
N, N, N, N, N
Total Base Number (Tbn)
8, 6, 8, 7, 8.5
Viscosity At 100 C (V100)
18.4, 15.7, 13.8, 13.6, 12.0

 

[SSDude]

Thanks for posting your analysis. I find it interesting that the 50wt had the lowest iron and cooper wear while GC heald it own with respect to the other wear metals. In fact, overall, the SLX (GC) showed better wear numbers than the 40wt oils.

 

[quadrun1]

Wow, that's a wide variety of viscosities you've tried!

Subjectively, how does the engine feel/sound on the SLX 0W-30 compared to the thicker viscosity oils?

 

[Ken4]

The thinner oils are slightly noiser during WOT. The thicker oils give a slightly louder valve tick during idle (with hood open). Otherwise I cant really tell the difference with normal driving.

 

[quadrun1]

Interesting! Notice any big difference with regard to fuel economy?

 

[sprintman]

The 50W's have less than half the Iron (2) compared to SLX 0W30 (5) but were run for nearly twice the kms.

 

[Shannow]

quote:

---

Originally posted by sprintman:
The 50W's have less than half the Iron (2) compared to SLX 0W30 (5) but were run for nearly twice the kms.

---

sssssshhhh, thick oils wreck stuff remember !!!

Wait 'till Ken tries ATF in his engine, THEN we'll see some low wear numbers.

 

[Ken4]

quadrun: I get around 8km/L for the SLX, better than the 50wts and the BP 0w40. But strangely the Shell 5w40 gave me the best fuel economy ever, >9km/L. Im presently using an even thinner SPC 0w30 averaging 8.2km/L, but still nowhere close to the Shell.

sprintman: Also keep in mind that it took me 4 months to clock 3k km, compared to 2months for 5k km. I do mostly short trip city driving nowadays, less than 2km.

Shannow: In my case, Im now more inclined to believe that viscosity has little effect on wear. Low silicon, mostly highway miles, short OCI (<3months), warm ambient temps, and a healthy motor will most likely give low wear. Of course I have yet to test my theory on cheapo oil yet. I just might pick up a 4 litre bottle of Toyota 10w30 @ S$14 to test. The Castrol SLX cost me S$78.

 

[quadrun1]

Ken: looks like you have a great engine there, always stellar UOAs, just like the Subaru WRX engines.

In my own car, I seem to be getting about the same fuel economy with GC as compared to when I ran M1 0W-40 (after you factor in the crappy "oxygenated" gasoline we still have here now). But with the thinner GC, the engine feels a bit livelier, more willing to rev.

Strangely, when I ran Shell Rotella T 5W-40 in by brother's Mitsubishi (3.0L V6) and he complained of poor fuel economy.

But I'm sure your Shell 5W-40 is an altogether different oil. It's very interesting that your best fuel economy was on that oil!

 

[Ken4]

The Helix Ultra 5w40 here seems to be a completely different kettle of fish compared to the Rotella T 5w40 you get in the US. If you compare the additive package:

Phosphorus (P) 684 --> 874
Zinc (Zn) 810 --> 984
Calcium (Ca) 1040 --> 3562
Magnesium (Mg) 843 --> 17

 

[Dr. T]

Ken, can you try a 5-50 for comparison sake? Any available in Singapore?

 

[Ken4]

There are plenty of 5w50s here. Even M1 SS has a version of 5w50 here. But I dont think I will go back to using 50wts. I have grown fond of thinner oils, esp the improved power & fuel economy.

 

[quadrun1]

What a great BB we have here--people from Los Angeles CA, Long Island NY, Ontario (yes?) Canada, Canberra & Lithgow Australia, discussing an oil analysis report for a Japanese car owned by someone from Singapore!