Help Noobie understand UOA

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Jul 8, 2004
Messages
259
Location
Ontario, Canada
I tried the search and came back with thousands of hits.. so I thought this might be a good thing for all noobies. especially me.

When you have all those UOA list of potassium iron and such.. wat does it signify? What are we suppose to look for that shows whether the oil is good or bad??

Help.. or unless this has been asked before.. can someone send me a link so I can look thru it stead of all the hits I have on the search?
 
From Blackstone -

"Averages: The universal averages column is the average of all the samples we have analyzed for the particular equipment make and model. The unit/location averages column is your average wear for that particular type of equipment. They are both running averages and change with the number of samples we analyze.

Elements: Elements are quantified in the oil at part per million levels (PPM). This list shows the most common sources of the elements in a gasoline or diesel engine oil.

* Aluminum: Pistons, bearings, cases (heads & blocks).
* Chromium: Rings, a trace element in steel.
* Iron: Cylinders, rotating shafts, the valve train, and any steel part sharing the oil.
* Copper: Brass or bronze parts, copper bushings, bearings, oil coolers, also an additive in some gasoline engine oils.
* Lead: Bearings.
* Tin: Bearings, bronze parts, piston coatings.
* Molybdenum: Anti-wear additive, some types of rings.
* Nickel: Trace element in steel.
* Manganese: Trace element, additive in gasoline.
* Silver: Trace element.
* Titanium: Trace element.
* Potassium: Antifreeze inhibitor, additive in some oil types.
* Boron: Detergent/dispersant additive, antifreeze inhibitors.
* Silicon: Airborne dirt, sealers, gaskets, antifreeze inhibitors.
* Sodium: Antifreeze inhibitors, additive in some gasoline engine oils.
* Calcium: Detergent/dispersant additive.
* Magnesium: Detergent/dispersant additive.
* Phosphorus: Anti-wear additive.
* Zinc: Anti-wear additive.
* Barium: Detergent/dispersant additive.

Physical properties: Viscosity, flashpoint, % fuel and antifreeze,
% water and insolubles are all measured in gasoline and diesel engine oils. If fuel is present in an oil, the viscosity and flashpoint will often be lower than what was stated in the A Values. Insolubles are solid material that is centrifuged out of the oil. They are typically free carbon from the oxidation of the oil itself, along with blow-by past the rings."
 
The single best resource on here for understanding what each value in a UOA means is our good friend Terry Dyson. If you're planning on getting a used oil analysis done, send the report to him and send him $20 for his interpretation. He'll completely explain what each value means, and answer any questions you might have.
 
Thanx everyone..

One last (hoepefully* question.

I"m assuming all oil Viscocity isn't the same when it's virgin.

So does anyone know what the XD-3 virgin oil viscocity is? 0w-30's and 0w-40's?? I would like to do a UOA after I run it thru the winter ( yes I haven't added it in yet.. and I do know that in winter with salt everywhere and such.. the readings won't be favorable compared to summer.. but I just like to know how well it does in winter in my car and if it does well in winter.. maybe I will run it year round.. is their any ill affects in running 0w's in summer when car is stated for 10w-30 ??
 
quote:

Originally posted by drifter420:
Thanx everyone..

One last (hoepefully* question.

I"m assuming all oil Viscocity isn't the same when it's virgin.

So does anyone know what the XD-3 virgin oil viscocity is? 0w-30's and 0w-40's?? I would like to do a UOA after I run it thru the winter ( yes I haven't added it in yet.. and I do know that in winter with salt everywhere and such.. the readings won't be favorable compared to summer.. but I just like to know how well it does in winter in my car and if it does well in winter.. maybe I will run it year round.. is their any ill affects in running 0w's in summer when car is stated for 10w-30 ??


XD-3 0W30 = 71cST @ 40degC, 12.1cST @ 100degC
XD-3 0W40 = 94.5cST @ 40degC, 15.7cST @ 100degC

As for running 0W30 in the summer, XD-3 0W30 synthetic actually behaves more like a 10W30 dino in terms of high-temperature viscosity So you shouldn't have any problems whatsoever.
 
thanx everyone.. I have bookmarked this page.. so I will look back on it when I have more info to compare and I will run it year round then.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom