Chev Prism - Amsoil Series 2000 0W-30

[Bill]

Here are the two analysis’s on the Prizm with the Amsoil 2000 Series 0W-30.

Vehicle: 1998 Chevrolet Prizm LSI, 1.8L engine, Automatic Trans
Oil analyzed: Amsoil 2000 Series 0w30 for both analysis’s
Sample Interval: 1st Ana - 8 months/13,459 miles 2nd Ana - 9 months/13,584 miles
Oil Filter used: Amsoil SDF for both analysis’s
Total Vehicle Miles (when sample taken): 1st Ana – 47944 / 2nd Ana – 61528
Make-Up Oil: 1st Ana – 0.5 qt / 2nd Ana – 1.0 qt

When I took the first oil sample, I replaced the filter and put new oil in the engine ‘0W-30’.

Vehicle was driven on the freeway to work (typically 65 to 75 mph)
Both analysis’s were performed by OAI [they sent the sample to CTC for testing].

code:

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1st Analysis / 2nd Analysis



IRON 67 / 84

CHROMIUM 6 / 3

LEAD 8 / 6

COPPER 12 / 11

TIN 0 / 0

ALUMINUM 9 / 10

NICKEL 0 / 0

SILVER 0 / 0

SILICON 12 / 15

BORON 1 / 1

SODIUM 13 / 14

MANGANESIUM 321 / 333

CALCIUM 2256 / 2760

BARIUM 0 / 0

PHOSPHORUS 1098 / 718

ZINC 1209 / 1351

MOLYBDENUM 3 / 0

TITANIUM 0 / 0

VANADIUM 0 / 0

POTASSIUM 0 / 0

Fuel (%VOL) < 1 / < 1

VIS @100°C cSt 10.81 / 10.54 [this oil starts out at 11.3]

Water(%VOL) 0 / 0

Soots/Solids (%VOL) 0.1 [first analysis only]

GLYCOL Neg / Neg

TBN 2.59 / 1.80 [this was flagged as abnormal]

OXID 3.0 / 10.0

NITR 2.0 / 8.0

F-Soot 0.16 [first analysis only]

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Sorry I couldn't get the numbers to line up

Analysis Recommendations:
1st Ana - Results of test performed indicate no corrective action required.
2nd Ana – Total base number (TBN) is low. Recommend resample at normal interval.

I did not replace the oil filter at the 6 months as recommended by Amsoil for either of these
Analysis, I was surprised at how little make-up oil was needed for the over 13000 mile runs
but the amount of make-up oil needed did increase with each succeeding analysis,
and the NITR OXID have trended upward. Amsoil Technical recommended that I check/clean and/or replace the EGR & PCV, also, I will be replacing my spark plugs.
I believe there is cleaning going on in the engine, I bought this car used and do not know how the 1st owner took care of the car.

 

[Bill]

I used the Amsoil engine flush prior to using the 1st batch of 0W-30, and I forgot to add to the 2nd 'Analysis Recommendations', for the second analysis they recommended changing the fluid.

Bill

 

[Al]

Obviously the iron is high. Depending on whether they used the "new" or "old" test for TBN could explain the high iron perhaps. If they are using the "old" method your oil is shot. I would highly recommend changing the filter half way. If its the "new" method then your oil held up well.

Hopefully someone will know about the TBN test.

It seems a cleaning of AutoRx might be indicated-especialoly in light of the possible bad PVC valve.

 

[buster]

Bill, just be glad you had this oil sampled before going any further. Your results could be better but realize what Al said in that you might want to run some AutoRx in the engine first. Lead is good but iron is high.

[ September 16, 2003, 05:34 PM: Message edited by: buster ]

 

[pscholte]

For me, this thread and the one on the Blazer argue stongly that if you are going to run XX,XXX mile intervals, you should do some intermediate samplings. I would REALLY like to know if the ppm growth on the wear metals has been linear or if at a certain point they began to increase in non-linear fashion.

 

[Bill]

Thanks for your input guys,
I am waiting to see how the next analysis on the 5w30 oil looks,
to see what the Iron ppm is, if the Iron wear stays on the same trend, I would think that the first two analysis revealed that clean up was going on or the engine does not like the 0w30 oil.

I have thought about using some Auto-X to give the
engine a good cleaning.

buster,
I had asked in my 5w30 thread if you knew if the timing chain in this engine was lubricated by the engine oil, reason for that is, if the timing chain is lubricated with engine oil, maybe the 0w30 does not hold up well in a timing chain environment?

(just a guess)
I would think that the stress of a timing chain against
the sprockets would be hard on any oil and would create the most Iron wear in an engine,
or to put it another way an engine with a timing chain (timing chain lubricated by the engine oil) would have higher Iron PPM in an analysis than an equivalent size engine with a timing belt, this is all a guess.

If anyone else knows if the timing chain in this engine is lubricated by the engine oil,
let me know, thanks.

This is a little off topic but I have been thinking about the idea that engines with timing chains would show more Iron PPM in an analysis,
are there any threads speaking specifically about engines with timing chains showing more
Iron PPM in an analysis?
I have done some searching on here looking for this topic but have not found any.

Al,
These analysis's were done by CTC, have they changed how the TBN testing is performed?
I thought only BlackStone had changed the TBN test type?


pscholte
You are right, I should not have gone so long before doing an analysis, I know better but I did it anyway... I am a stubborn man...

As a matter of fact, the analysis paperwork that comes with the OAI sample bottle
states that an analysis should be done between 2000 & 7500 miles, I don't know if any one else
has noticed this. I knew better than to wait so long, I just let it run out.

Bill

 

[mdv]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill:
If anyone else knows if the timing chain in this engine is lubricated by the engine oil,
let me know, thanks.

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I'm not aware of any engine using a timing chain where the chain is not lubricated by the engine oil. I could be wrong though.

 

[Alan]

No timing chain in a 1.8L Prism/Corolla engine until 2000.I got a 99 Corolla and it has a belt.

 

[Bill]

Hello Alan,
The Corolla/Prizm had a timing belt until 1997,
then a new engine was placed into the
Corolla/Prizm lineup.
Look in your owners manual Alan, you cannot
find a recommendation for when to replace the timing belt because your engine does not have one,
you will see a reference to have your timing chain checked for stretching.
The belt you see on your engine is the accessory belt (which is a serpentine belt), serpentine belts are not used as timing belts.

 

[Alan]

Your right!Now that I think about it there isn't a plastic cover on the side cause there ain't no timing belt!

 

[pscholte]

Sounds like you did a good job in...ahem...timing your purchase!

 

[Bill]

Yes, sort of pscholte,
the only thing I don't like about the timing chain is that you pretty much have to go through
the same process (same amount of work - taking the engine apart, etc.) as if you are replacing your timing chain to check for stretching of the chain to see if replacement is necessary...

Bill