M1 5W-30/SL, 7500 mi., 96 Mitsu Montero 3.0

[marco246]

Here's the first UOA on my 96 Montero with 67,500 mi. on the clock and 7,500 on the oil. Make-up oil=2 quarts. Filter was a Fram TG. Mostly highway miles but with occasional rough off-road work and climbing steep grades.

Aluminum 8
Chromium 1
Iron 8
Copper 5
Lead 3
Tin 0
Molybdenum 86
Nickel 0
Manganese 0
Silver 0
Titanium 0
Potassium 2
Boron 109
Silicon 6
Sodium 6
Calcium 3564
Magnesium 29
Phosphorus 847
Zinc 1090
Barium 0

SUS Vis @210 F=61.7
Flashpoint in F=395
Fuel= Antifreeze=0.0%
Water=0.0%
Insolubles=0.3%

Blackstone Comments: Universal averages show typical wear for this type of engine after a routine oil use of 3,300 miles. Your oil was in use for 7,500 miles and your wear was very close to these averages, with the exception of aluminum, which read mildly high. Aluminum normally comes from the pistons, and while this level doesn't necessarily indicate a problem, it should be monitored. No fuel, coolant, or water was found. Viscosity in cSt was 10.694. Suggest resam;ling after another 5,000-6,000 miles to check aluminum.

My comments: I'm reasonably happy with this report, and in any case I've already re-filled with the last of my M1 5W-30/SL. In the future I plan to use the new M1 5W-30/SM, which is a little more robust. The engine seems noisy, but I'm not sure I'd have noticed it if I hadn't read here that M1 is noisy in some engines. When it comes time to add a quart, I may throw in M1 0W-40 to bring the viscosity up to 11 cSt @ 100 C. Guess I'll need another UOA to see if the aluminum ppm is a real concern.

I welcome your observations and suggestions.

Cheers, Mark

 

[benjamming]

Did you get a TBN?
What is the prior history such as what oil was used prior to this?
What air filter are you using?
That's a lot of make-up oil. Is it leaking anywhere?
What kind of timeframe was this oil in use?
Did you just get this vehicle? You are putting highway miles on it now, but it has only averaged about 7k miles per year.

 

[TooSlick]

Run the M1, 5w-40 and this excessive oil consumption will be significantly reduced.

Consumption at this level will markedly reduce the life of very expensive, emission systems components.

 

[marco246]

benjamming: Didn't get a TBN. Bought the truck new. Have been using various (M1, Castrol, QS, Pennzoil) 5W-30 synthetics since 22,500 miles. Before that I used Castrol GTX 15W-40 in India. Have settled on M1 since I can get it at Costco cheap. Has a CarQuest air filter. I estimate the truck "burns" one quart and leaks one quart. Timeframe was 11 months for 7500 miles. I live on an island without interstate type highways, so most highway miles are at 40-60 mph.

tooslick: Have thought about M1 5W-40 but have concerns over fuel mileage (now getting 20 mpg) and wear on the engine before it gets to operating temperature. If I do go to a 40 weight, I might first experiment with 0W-40 (which I already have on the shelf) or try to find the new EP 10W-40 (not yet available here). But I want to stay at 30 weight if I can do so without worrying about accelerated piston wear. Also, based on what I've learned here, I'm now buying Napa Gold oil filters (Wix) in lieu of Frams.

Just noticed this morning that I have 45 quarts of various oils on the shelf. I do not have a problem. Really. I will use it. Eventually.

Cheers, Mark

 

[TooSlick]

You need to replace the valve stem seals with a better material and this problem will go away. Mitsu made a number of these bad engines....

The cheap fix (given the hot climate) is to run an inexpensive, 15w-40 HDEO. Chevron Delo 400 would be my choice, but Delvac 1300 or Rotella T are fine too. If nothing else, the thicker lube will leak less, internally and externally.

 

[marco246]

TooSlick: Thank you for the advice. I expect over the long haul you will be proved right, but there's no smoke yet and the plugs had no fouling at 60,000. So I'll probably continue to use synthetics and enjoy the 7500 mi. OCIs for as long as it makes sense. The tipping point will be higher oil consumption, but I don't know to what extent. So far a two quart add over 7500 miles is no strain. I share your appreciation for Delo 400--a great oil--but am not ready to go there yet. I can, however, see a synthetic 5W-40, as you recommended earlier, in my near future.

Cheers, Mark

 

[Winston]

quote:

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From TS, You need to replace the valve stem seals with a better material and this problem will go away. Mitsu made a number of these bad engines....

The cheap fix (given the hot climate) is to run an inexpensive, 15w-40 HDEO. Chevron Delo 400 would be my choice, but Delvac 1300 or Rotella T are fine too. If nothing else, the thicker lube will leak less, internally and externally.

---

I just saw this and was confused. First of all, bad engine because it burned 1 or 2 quarts of oil in 7500 miles? I know the seals are weak in these engines, but suggesting replacement when it only burned 1-2 quarts is silly. The owner stated that it has an oil leak.

Secondly, recommending a HDEO in an oil burner? That will accellerate the damage to the emission components. No? Thicker oil will reduce consumption, but not by much. I know you love HDEO, but this recommendation seems wrong.

I don't know much, but I don't understand these recommendations.