Castrol Syntec 0w-30 GOLD GC - 7,667 miles on oil - 1997 VW - VR6 (12v)

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Latest analsys of Gold GC on my high mileage VR6 (boxed column). Lead seems to be well under control on my 3rd fill of Gold GC (no anlaysis done on the first fill), even considering the additional miles on the oil compared to the last sample.

code:

1997 Passat VR6

Sump Capacity: 5.8 Quarts



Comments from Blackstone:



Wear changed very little since the last sample from your Volkswagen. This is excellent

considering this oil was run 2,429-miles longer. Everything is still reading well

within the average range for the VR6-12v engine, so we do not think any mechanical

problems are developing. The viscosity a little high, reading up in the light 40W range.

The flashpoint was good, so we don't think a contaminant caused the viscosity shift.

We'll keep and eye on the viscosity next time. Everything else looks normal at 288,896

engine miles. The TBN was 6.7 vs. 7.6 last sample.









__________

Type of oil Lubro Moly Castrol | Castrol | Unit Universal Castrol

Voll Syntec | Syntec | Location AVerages Syntec

Synthese GC-GOLD | GC-GOLD | Averages GC-GOLD

| |

Weight 5w-40 0w-30 | 0w-30 | 0W-30

Date 03/07/04 09/10/05 | 12/16/05 |

Miles on engine 234,074 281,289 | 288,896 |

Miles on oil 7,414 5,238 | 7,667 | 0 - VOA

Makeup Oil 1.5qts 2.0qts | 2.75qts |

| |

Aluminum 4 2 | 3 | 3 4
Chromium 1 1 | 1 | 1 1
Iron 15 10 | 18 | 14 17 3

Copper 2 4 | 2 | 3 5
Lead 12 9 | 2 | 8 4
Tin 1 1 | 0 | 1 1
Molybdenum 4 11 | 3 | 6 40
Nickel 1 0 | 0 | 0 1
Manganese 1 0 | 0 | 0 2
Sliver 0 0 | 0 | 0 0
Titanium 0 0 | 0 | 0 0
Potassium 0 0 | 0 | 5 1 12

Boron 89 12 | 16 | 39 62
Silicon 4 3 | 3 | 3 6 4

Sodium 3 4 | 3 | 3 4 14

Calcium 1938 1752 | 1749 | 1813 2343 1941

Magnesium 383 406 | 481 | 423 202 770

Phosphorus 772 730 | 762 | 755 784 903

Zinc 905 765 | 926 | 865 935 1157

Barium 0 0 | 0 | 0 3

| |

TBN 4.4 7.6 | 6.7 | 9.03

| | Should Be

SUS Visco @210: 70.7 68.9 | 73.7 | 58-65 12.1@100

Flashpoint: 380 390 | 380 | >365

Fuel %: 0.8
Antifreeze %: 0.0 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0

Water %: 0.0 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0

Insolubles %: 0.4 0.3 | 0.3 |
|__________|


I'm not that worried about the viscosity shift as a 40W also works well in this engine (see Lubro Moly Voll Synthese 5W-40 analysis done about 50,000 miles ago). Both the Lubro Moly Voll-Synthese, and the Gold GC do very well in this engine. The residual additive package looks very similar too. Both oils are fairly easy to find locally in my neck of the woods, but at $3.99/qt, Gold-GC is the better value.
 
Looks pretty good, however the oil consumption is pretty high with the Gold. Almost 50% makeup oil of the total sump capacity. I'd move back to a 5w-40, and maybe experiment which one works best to control consumption.
 
quote:

I'd move back to a 5w-40, and maybe experiment which one works best to control consumption.

With 289k miles on the clock, wouldn't there be equal oil consumption with any viscosity oil?

Bowser
 
5W-40 might help with oil consumption, but with an extra 50,000 miles since that UOA, who knows? I'll try the next change with the LM 5W-40 just for kicks. I know it'll perform very well over a 7,500 mile OCI.

Scary thing is that this engine is still within the oil usage tolerance of this vintage VR6 when it was new! My usage, 2,700-2,800 miles per quart - VW allows up to a quart every 1,000 miles and considers that "normal".
 
quote:

With 289k miles on the clock, wouldn't there be equal oil consumption with any viscosity oil?

Thicker oil could help ring control, perhaps, and shouldn't hurt cold wear considering you are in SoCal and you must put a lot of highway miles on.

Perhaps M1EP 15w50? Or if you are uncomfortable with a 50wt, Delo or Delvac 15w40?
 
I'll be trying a fill of Lubro Moly Voll-Synthese 5W-40 (or 0w-40)at next fill. It is as thick as I want to go mid-winter in New England.

My Wife's 1992 SAAB (2.1 16v non-turbo) likes Rotella-T Synthetic 5w-40, and so far has been doing just great using GC.
 
That would certainly do the trick, but as a "control", I'd like to try an oil that was consumed at a rate nearly 50% less than GC, 50k miles ago. That way I'll have a better indication of whether it's the oil, or the condition of my engine.
 
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