HPL Premium Plus PCEO 0w-30, 5k Mi.; '24 Ford Bronco, 2.7L, 20k Mi.; 3 lab UOA

[2.7ecoboostFordBronco]

This was a 5,000 mile oil change interval with High Performance Lubricants (HPL) Premium Plus PCEO 0w-30. I had the sample analyzed by Oil Analyzers, SpeeDiagnostix, and WearCheck.

The driving during this interval was mostly just a 25 mile roundtrip daily work commute in a 2024 Ford Bronco with the 2.7L ecoboost engine. There were a few 100-200 mile road trips in the interval. Outside temps varied from 10F to 75F. I only used Shell V-Power 90 octane fuel. I used a Fram FE11955 synthetic endurance cartridge oil filter. I have disabled auto start stop.

I did a short 500 mile OCI with this oil prior to this interval so that there wouldn't be very much leftover M1 AFE for this analysis.


Oil Analyzers: BL is the virgin/unused HPL PP PCEO 0w-30, 1 & 2 are M1 AFE 0w-30, 3 & 4 are HPL PP PCEO 0w-30.

SpeeDiagnostix: I did not send in the 500 mile sample. They are detecting both tin and aluminum but I suspect at least part of the 9 ppm Al is from the additives, as is the Sn. Note the fuel dilution is about 30-50% of the values detected by Oil Analyzers and WearCheck. I don't know why this is, but it is consistent on SpeeDiagnostix reports. Also the Ca is low compared to OA and WC.

WearCheck Analysis below. WearCheck and Oil Analyzers are pretty close on most values except Oxidation and Base Number. On oxidation Oil Analyzers is the outlier.

 

[Hohn]

Impressive low wear metal for such a young engine.

 

[twX]

They are detecting both tin and aluminum but I suspect at least part of the 9 ppm Al is from the additives, as is the Sn.

SpeedDiagnostix reports usually show high tin. There's something wrong with their equipment.

 

[rstcso]

Thank you for providing details such as filter type, weather, etc. Helps building a mental picture.

Oil Analyzers' results perfectly illustrate the importance of running an OCI between changing brands and/or blends of oils. Sample #3 is basically a blend of the HPL virgin sample #1 and the M1 from sample #2. Not until sample #4 do the results start looking like virgin sample #1.

Speediagnostix lab uses RDE spectrometer while I'm pretty sure the other labs use ICP. RDE detects larger particles of molybdenum, so the counts will be higher.

This is the oil about to go into the Pilot at the next OCI. Great data. Again, thank you.

 

[rstcso]

SpeedDiagnostix reports usually show high tin. There's something wrong with their equipment.

Here's a link to more details on why one lab may show different than the others.

 

[dkryan]

Nice write up and thanks for posting, especially with a three-lab comparison!

If you are going through the effort and money to have a UOA performed because the results matter to you, at least use a quality lab!

While I prefer WearCheck, I would have no problem using any of the three cited in the UOAs.

 

[twX]

Here's a link to more details on why one lab may show different than the others.

Okay, it does seem like the high tin is associated with high moly oils. I don't understand the specific explanation about 5 vs 10 micron measurement limit though. 5 to 10 micron particles are plenty large enough to get filtered by an oil filter, so there really shouldn't be 10's of ppm of any additives that size in a used oil sample.

 

[rstcso]

Okay, it does seem like the high tin is associated with high moly oils. I don't understand the specific explanation about 5 vs 10 micron measurement limit though. 5 to 10 micron particles are plenty large enough to get filtered by an oil filter, so there really shouldn't be 10's of ppm of any additives that size in a used oil sample.

A 20 micron filter is capable of capturing particles equal to or larger than 20 microns. Anything smaller could pass through.

ICP can only "see" particles up to 5 microns. Anything larger, it can not see to count. RDE can "see" particles up to 10 microns. There are other ways to measure particles larger than 5 or 10 microns, but are typically not part of a standard UOA.

 

[Glenda W.]

Thanks!

 

[2.7ecoboostFordBronco]

A 20 micron filter is capable of capturing particles equal to or larger than 20 microns. Anything smaller could pass through.

ICP can only "see" particles up to 5 microns. Anything larger, it can not see to count. RDE can "see" particles up to 10 microns. There are other ways to measure particles larger than 5 or 10 microns, but are typically not part of a standard UOA.

Forgot to mention I did get the particle count on the Speediagnostix report.

 

[rstcso]

Forgot to mention I did get the particle count on the Speediagnostix report.

I did on my last two from SD and they are exactly the same values as yours. I won't bother doing that again.

 

[twX]

I did on my last two from SD and they are exactly the same values as yours. I won't bother doing that again.

Which oil filters were used for those tests? I'm keeping a database of particle counts.

Not that I expect these particle counts to be very useful. 4 samples all coming it with the exact same ISO code is a bit suspect. The particle counts are also a lot lower than what Blackstone would typically report for used oil.

 

[rstcso]

Which oil filters were used for those tests? I'm keeping a database of particle counts.

Not that I expect these particle counts to be very useful. 4 samples all coming it with the exact same ISO code is a bit suspect. The particle counts are also a lot lower than what Blackstone would typically report for used oil.

Sample PC-00662 was the OEM filter and OEM oil on our new Honda Pilot and RP-00038 was Amsoil EA15K13 and Amsoil SS 0W-20.

Before getting the Honda, I had a 2022 Audi Q5 requiring 508.00/509.00 spec oil. Samples were sent for VOA including particle counts and their values are different from each other and the more recent UOA samples @2.7ecoboostFordBronco has taken and I took for the Pilot. PC-00372 was VOA for Ravenol VSE 0W-20 and PC-00476 was Motul Specific 508/509 0W-20.

Note the relatively high levels of Calcium and Sodium in the Ravenol VOA sample. Lake suggested this oil not be used in a DI/Turbocharged engine due to potential LSPI issues. Unfortunately, this was right after I'd done an oil change to it, so I changed it out for the Motul. A month later, we traded the Audi in on the Pilot.

 

[2.7ecoboostFordBronco]

I will say that I’m glad HPL was able to stay in grade. It’s why I moved to this oil. With 2% dilution it was only down .2 cSt from VOA. Even at 3.4% on the 500 mile sample and mixed to some extent with the M1 AFE it stayed within .8 of virgin viscosity. I will be interested to see if fuel gets back above 3% and how the HPL deals with it at 5000 miles if so.