I was thinking the same thing. How can this be a good thing? As you said, sulfuric acid is no bueno...
HPL PCMO 5w-30 (Base) VOA
- Thread starter MVAR
- Start date
MolaKule
Staff member
Good question!
Sulfur levels are rarely shown because for a sulfur reading, it usually costs extra so when you DO see sulfur levels, many are surprised.
That sulfur level is not unexpected for an analyst since the sulfur level will vary depending on the type of compounds incorporated into the additive package.
One also has to be aware that various other chemistry contained in the additive package do three things:
1) Metal inhibitors to keep metal ions from reacting with other chemistry in the oil from attacking aluminum, copper, and ferrous parts, and to keep them from catalyzing into carbonaceous deposits,
2) Rust inhibitors to keep ferrous metals from being corroded in the presence of moisture,
3) The calcium, magnesium, and other compunds provide TBN uplift and offset any acidic components that may form.
See also:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/additives-xii-multifunctional-additives.41173/
The sulfur in those sulfonates described in post #14 are mostly inactive in terms of interacting with other compounds.
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Received an email back from Wear Check. They are running the oxidation test on the VOA so there is a baseline. They stated that their normal policy for a VOA is oxidation has to be requested but there is no additional charge for the test.Added to the VOA Database. I'm disappointed that Wearcheck does not test for starting Oxidation on virgin oil. I saw your Used Analysis of this oil and they list Oxidation there. Why not on virgin oil?
I also noticed they use D2896 TBN for both new and used samples. This method is only supposed to be used on virgin oil, never on used oil.
View attachment 225045
The person I'm corresponding with wasn't sure about the D4739 vs D2896 reasoning but did state he should have an answer by the time the oxidation test is completed on the VOA.
Will update when I receive results.
Nice! Also good to know if I ever use WearCheck that oxidation must be requested on virgin samples.
I posted the email response in the UOA thread (as you've already responded to) but I haven't received the test results of the oxidation run yet.
I'll be away from a computer for the next couple weeks (vacation
) but can post the value from my phone when I receive the email of test completion.
So instead of all that, they just list the item in "sulphur" I suppose?
I inquired back to Wear Check about the sample rerun for oxidation. The manager had stated he had requested his team to run it but never received the results. When he requested again, they seem to have misplaced the sample. I have 4 more sample bottles I purchased from HPL. Informed Wear Check I’ll resend a PCMO 5/30 when my next vehicle is due for a UOA.
I’ll also be sending in a VOA for the PCMO 5/40. Probably still a few months or so away when that’ll be due though. I’d like to just send in everything at once.
So I had sent in a couple more VOA's as well as a UOA. Decided it was perfect opportunity to have Wear Check run the oxidation value. Unfortunately this isn't the same bottle/jug but was purchased at the same time.
Wear Check decided to rerun the entire VOA and include the oxidation value instead of just providing the oxidation value:
Wear Check decided to rerun the entire VOA and include the oxidation value instead of just providing the oxidation value:
A nice side by side comparison on two different batches.
I've added it to the VOA Database. It's right next to your previous submission, so they are easy to compare. Very similar, other than TBN is about 2 points lower.
