Motor / Model: ‘01 VW 1.8L Turbo / New Beetle (4-sp Auto)
Mods: 1.0 Bar ECU since 50k (stock @ 0.7 Bar)
Engine miles / Oil miles: 87k / 9k
Sump size / Filter type: 4.6 qts / Mann (OEM)
Oil type: Mobil 1 SS 10W-30 (2.6 qts), SS 15W-50 (2.0 qts)
Make-up: 1.5 qts (1 qt 10W-30, 0.5 qt 15W-50)
Length of service: 6 months (11/04 – 04/05)
Maintenance:
M1 SS 5W-30 and then M1 SS 0W-40 were used since 25k with OCI at 7.5k. Decided to settle with SS 10W-30, which has been in service year-round for the last 2 years. This is the first interval for this mixture of 10W-30 and 15W-50. (See "My Comments" section below.) At the 80k tune-up, new plugs, air & oil filters were replaced and all fluids checked. At 85.5k, half a bottle (7.5 oz) of Redline SI-1 was added to a 14.5 gal tank for a long trip at speeds of 70-95 MPH.
Use condition & weather:
Daily beater (60% hwy - 40% rush hour). Long trips includes 2 x 600 mi trips (70-95 MPH with AC) to Death Valley and Las Vegas at cool ambient temps and 2 x 375 mi camping trips at 4 – 6,000 ft. altitude. Weather has been one of the wettest in California history and temperature ranged 40* - 85*F.
Analysis by Blackstone
Element: @ 87k --- Universal @ 5.3k
Aluminum: 2 --- 3
Chromium: 1 --- 1
Iron: 13 --- 13
Copper: 14 --- 7 (Wear rate ppm/1,000 mi: 1.55 --- 1.32)
Lead: 1 --- 6
Tin: 1 --- 0
Moly: 83 --- 49
Nickel: 1 --- 1
Manganese: 0 --- 1
Silver: 0 --- 0
Titanium: 0 --- 0
Potassium: 2 --- 1
Boron: 107 --- 60
Silicon: 7 --- 9
Sodium: 8 --- 5
Calcium: 2838 --- 2454
Magnesium: 18 --- 137
Phosphorus: 954 --- 757
Zinc: 1051 --- 896
Barium: 0 --- 0
Properties: As tested --- Should be
Sus Visc 210*F: 70.4 --- 59-68
Flashpoint *F: 385 --- >365
Fuel %: Antifreeze %: 0.0 --- 0
Water %: 0.0 --- Insolubles %: 0.3 --- TBN: 2.7 --- N/A
Comments by Blackstone:
Universal averages show typical wear from the VW 1.8L Turbo after 5,300 miles. This oil was in place longer, and most wear was around average, though copper, from brass or bronze parts (such as turbo bushing) read high. This level isn’t high enough to call a major problem, but is something we would like to keep an eye on. Other than that, everything looks great. This high viscosity was from the 15W-50 use and not a problem. The TBN was okay at 2.7. Stay at 9,000 miles for now until we know what copper is going to do.
My Comments:
Since the 1.0 Bar ECU, I’ve been curious how a thicker oil would affect engine wear and performance. Instead of M1 SS 0W-40, which has consistently shown a shearing down at 3-5k, I opted for a mixture of 60% 10W-30 and 40% 15W-50 for reasons that they contain very little VII and have proven to be very stable. OCI was increased for the first time from 7.5k to 9.0k and I'm aiming for 10k.
Positive effects:
Quieter engine at freeway speeds and noticeable decrease in valve-train clatter at cold start-ups.
Negative effects:
Engine was noticeably sluggish during cold mornings when oil was new. Gas mileage decreased ~0.5 MPG for about 4k and returned to its average rate at 26-26.5 MPG (mixed driving). However, gas mileage rose to its highest since new (26.5-27.5 MPG)after the Redline treatment.
What do you guys think about the overall result and the slightly high Copper reading?
TIA
Niki
Mods: 1.0 Bar ECU since 50k (stock @ 0.7 Bar)
Engine miles / Oil miles: 87k / 9k
Sump size / Filter type: 4.6 qts / Mann (OEM)
Oil type: Mobil 1 SS 10W-30 (2.6 qts), SS 15W-50 (2.0 qts)
Make-up: 1.5 qts (1 qt 10W-30, 0.5 qt 15W-50)
Length of service: 6 months (11/04 – 04/05)
Maintenance:
M1 SS 5W-30 and then M1 SS 0W-40 were used since 25k with OCI at 7.5k. Decided to settle with SS 10W-30, which has been in service year-round for the last 2 years. This is the first interval for this mixture of 10W-30 and 15W-50. (See "My Comments" section below.) At the 80k tune-up, new plugs, air & oil filters were replaced and all fluids checked. At 85.5k, half a bottle (7.5 oz) of Redline SI-1 was added to a 14.5 gal tank for a long trip at speeds of 70-95 MPH.
Use condition & weather:
Daily beater (60% hwy - 40% rush hour). Long trips includes 2 x 600 mi trips (70-95 MPH with AC) to Death Valley and Las Vegas at cool ambient temps and 2 x 375 mi camping trips at 4 – 6,000 ft. altitude. Weather has been one of the wettest in California history and temperature ranged 40* - 85*F.
Analysis by Blackstone
Element: @ 87k --- Universal @ 5.3k
Aluminum: 2 --- 3
Chromium: 1 --- 1
Iron: 13 --- 13
Copper: 14 --- 7 (Wear rate ppm/1,000 mi: 1.55 --- 1.32)
Lead: 1 --- 6
Tin: 1 --- 0
Moly: 83 --- 49
Nickel: 1 --- 1
Manganese: 0 --- 1
Silver: 0 --- 0
Titanium: 0 --- 0
Potassium: 2 --- 1
Boron: 107 --- 60
Silicon: 7 --- 9
Sodium: 8 --- 5
Calcium: 2838 --- 2454
Magnesium: 18 --- 137
Phosphorus: 954 --- 757
Zinc: 1051 --- 896
Barium: 0 --- 0
Properties: As tested --- Should be
Sus Visc 210*F: 70.4 --- 59-68
Flashpoint *F: 385 --- >365
Fuel %: Antifreeze %: 0.0 --- 0
Water %: 0.0 --- Insolubles %: 0.3 --- TBN: 2.7 --- N/A
Comments by Blackstone:
Universal averages show typical wear from the VW 1.8L Turbo after 5,300 miles. This oil was in place longer, and most wear was around average, though copper, from brass or bronze parts (such as turbo bushing) read high. This level isn’t high enough to call a major problem, but is something we would like to keep an eye on. Other than that, everything looks great. This high viscosity was from the 15W-50 use and not a problem. The TBN was okay at 2.7. Stay at 9,000 miles for now until we know what copper is going to do.
My Comments:
Since the 1.0 Bar ECU, I’ve been curious how a thicker oil would affect engine wear and performance. Instead of M1 SS 0W-40, which has consistently shown a shearing down at 3-5k, I opted for a mixture of 60% 10W-30 and 40% 15W-50 for reasons that they contain very little VII and have proven to be very stable. OCI was increased for the first time from 7.5k to 9.0k and I'm aiming for 10k.
Positive effects:
Quieter engine at freeway speeds and noticeable decrease in valve-train clatter at cold start-ups.
Negative effects:
Engine was noticeably sluggish during cold mornings when oil was new. Gas mileage decreased ~0.5 MPG for about 4k and returned to its average rate at 26-26.5 MPG (mixed driving). However, gas mileage rose to its highest since new (26.5-27.5 MPG)after the Redline treatment.
What do you guys think about the overall result and the slightly high Copper reading?
TIA
Niki
