Maxlife FULL synthetic 10w-30 - 3,576- '94 Miata

[glennc]

I would also not worry about the TBN. It seems that often there is little TBN drop between short runs and longer runs. I also second the Maxlife blend as an alternative. I haven't been as impressed by the Maxlife synthetic, although your wear numbers are certainly very good.

I ran the blend almost 7500 miles in a VQ30-powered Infiniti and had excellent wear and TBN of 1.9.

 

[JGmazda]

Originally Posted By: glennc
I would also not worry about the TBN. It seems that often there is little TBN drop between short runs and longer runs. I also second the Maxlife blend as an alternative. I haven't been as impressed by the Maxlife synthetic, although your wear numbers are certainly very good.

I ran the blend almost 7500 miles in a VQ30-powered Infiniti and had excellent wear and TBN of 1.9.


Could TBN depletion account for good wear numbers? What good id a high TBN if the wear numbers are bad?

 

[glennc]

There is a theoretical possibility of high volumes of base in the oil competing with anti-wear components, but in reality, I don't think so. I do often notice short runs ending with relatively low TBN while longer runs with the same oil wind up at virtually the same level.

IIRC Blackstone says a level of 1.0 is "too low," so you are just getting closer to depleted at your reading not all the way there.

It seems to me - maybe somebody knows better - that if the wear numbers are still good and the oil is not leaving deposits, then it must still be sufficiently additized to perform to a high standard.

 

[JGmazda]

Hmmm.... So much of this is based on what the oil actually ends up being. Wear numbers look really good to me. Perhaps the Blackstone made a mistake? I'll use my stash up and see about another report. Thanks!

~John

 

[Cutehumor]

wow, TBN 1.7 for 3.5 oci.. I got 15qts of this exact grade in my closet. thought it was good for 10k oci for my vibe. I'll have to rethink that now.

 

[JAG]

Yes the TBN is disappointing to me. The shape of the TBN curve as function of miles, where it levels off somewhat as a function of miles, is no excuse since all oils behave that way and many others would have much more TBN at the same mileage.

TAN would be interesting to know. It is probably still okay since there are no signs of corrosive wear. At only 3.5K miles in a Miata, it better still be okay!

 

[addyguy]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
wow, TBN 1.7 for 3.5 oci.. I got 15qts of this exact grade in my closet. thought it was good for 10k oci for my vibe. I'll have to rethink that now.


Not really - you have plenty of it, so maybe just do slightly shorter intervals - 7-8k miles. 1.8 Toyo's are fairly easy on oil, so yours in your easy, highway driving should last that long, I'd think. Just my 2 cents...

 

[JGmazda]

Yeah... There are worse oils out there... I think if I do another run and have it tested. Maybe another Lab? Can anyone recommend anyone else?