Whats going on here?
Lead at 40!!! I'm running Castrol German 0W30
Lead at 40!!! I'm running Castrol German 0W30
German Castrol 0W-30 has let me down!!!
- Thread starter 2002 Maxima SE
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The only thing I can think of is that I may have used a dose of FP-60 in the gas tank.
That's a big number. Are you sure you want to wait 5k miles? I'd want to know if it's a lab errror or a one time event or really is bearing wear. 5k is a long time.
How else can I tell (other than waiting 5k miles and submit a new sample)?
Other threads here suggest this isn't a huge amount since normal is 23 for this engine. The other threads indicated "no sleep" level would be > 60.
Other threads here suggest this isn't a huge amount since normal is 23 for this engine. The other threads indicated "no sleep" level would be > 60.
Man, you're reading that wrong. The universal average for this motor's lead wear is 5, the average of your two UOA's is 23. GC also gave me a high reading on lead. It may be due to the ester's in the oil, or maybe fuel additives. I always fill up with Chevron with techron, so if my current oci with TDT 5w-40 shows high lead, I will be trying a different gas.
I had a similar experience with my '03 G35. I was going along fat, dumb and happy until I popped a 40 ppm Pb with PP 5W30 at 60K. I switched to GC Gold, stopped using Chevron Supreme and Techron fuel cleaner. On my next UOA at 65K, the Pb level dropped by over 50% on both a B/S analysis and a Dyson analysis (sample sent to both). A nice improvement with GC and eliminating Techron, but the best thing that happened was Terry Dyson picked up on 1.29% fuel dilution and a FP of 320F. B/S said I had Send your next sample to Terry Dyson to see what's wrong with your engine, not your oil.
Realise that now.
+1 on doing a "Terry Test". He will definately sniff out any problems your engine has (as a result of a certain oil or not) and give you a good, solid course of action to take.
INDY- I'm sure Terry mentioned the reason for difference in F/P and dilution numbers. Hard to compare the apples and oranges, but I'll take the Dyson analysis all day long over the B/S (no pun intended).
Wow! I can't believe Blackstone was that far off! I guess you get what you pay for, I believe next time I will use Terry !
Did Terry mention anything about Techron being a problem? I've always used their 93 octane which has an extra dose of it.
I'm not quite sure what is proprietary information, so I'll just let you know that I only use Shell V-Power now (93 octane).
2002 Maxima SE, do you ever use Chevron gas or Techron additive?
I believe I used FP60 by Lubecontrol during this 5k run. Also I fill with Shell premium exclusively.
Just an observation, the statement "GC has let me down" is not logical. There is no way to know if the oil caused the problem, had no effect on the problem or even if GC improved a situation that might have been worse.
That's a fair statement. However, from the current data, the only change between that first analysis and today's analyis was going from M1 to GC. I don't have any additives in the oil and I drive the exact same way (no redline, no racing) straight 15 miles all highway and country roads to work and back.
Blackstone's response was that they did not believe FP60 to be the culprit, that perhaps some sludge loosened up from the GC. However, I've been using M1 exclusively from 10k to 55k miles, then switched to GC.
I don't believe the sample to be contaminated as I pulled it the same way as the first and I don't believe the engine to be sludged.
Maxima, your viscosity is 11.42 cst and GC starts out as 12.2 cst. It is a very shear stable oil, so I suspect fuel dilution. You have the same % fuel and flashpoint as what INDYMAC stated he got from Blackstone, and his numbers were waay off per Terry's analysis. With a high percentage of fuel, the fuel cleaning additive may have impacted your bearings. I suggest you send Terry a sample. Keep us up to date!
It's certainly possible that the GC is causing this problem, but it seems so unlikely. It would have to be a seriously bad oil to cause such elevated lead in only 5k miles.
Send your B/S report to Terry. He can work with it and give you an excellent analysis. He still works with B/S and has a good relationship with them. I think it is fuel dilution that has caused the high lead readings, but I'd prefer that he tell you that if it's true. Have you changed your platinum spark plugs yet? Mine were shot at 60K and one of the stacks was full of oil due to a hardened o-ring seal leaking. Terry will tell you where to look and for $20-30, you'll be able to sleep better at night and not have to worry until your next oil change to find out what's wrong. Did you have a TBN done?
I haven't changed the spark plugs yet, expecting to do that this fall. I don't have any more sample to send Terry, would he be able to get that from B/S?
No, no TBN done on this last analysis.
Call Terry and ask him to analyze your current report.
My UOA on a mix of Gold and Green showed high lead as well (2004 Tacoma 2.4l). I don't recalling using any additive during that OCI but who knows. I will be doing another one in the next few weeks and hope to see an improvement. No additives for sure on this one.
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