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

[JGmazda]

Hello all,
This is my first UOA. '94 Mazda Miata. 125K 3,576 miles
on Valvoline Maxlife Full Synthetic 10w-30 (no makeup oil)

I was wondering about the TBN being 1.7? Otherwise, I believe it's a good oil. Any comments are appreciated. Thanks!




JOHN: Yes indeed, we'd say this oil is working very well for you. The universal averages column shows typical wear
from this type of engine after 4000 miles on the oil. This oil was run 3576 miles and wear read lower than averages.
The TBN was on the low side, at 1.7. It probably starts out around 8 or 9 (we haven't run a sample of this oil in its virgin
state, but that's where most oils start out) and when it gets to 1.0 it's too low, at least in our book. You could run this oil
longer. Go to 4500-5000 miles & we'll let you know how wear/TBN look next time. Great engine!


ALUMINUM 1
CHROMIUM 1
IRON 6
COPPER 2
LEAD 0
TIN 0
MOLYBDENUM 265
NICKEL 1
MANGANESE 0
SILVER 0
TITANIUM 0
POTASSIUM 3
BORON 10
SILICON 6
SODIUM 12
CALCIUM 2377
MAGNESIUM 7
PHOSPHORUS 607
ZINC 764
BARIUM 0


cSt Viscosity @ 100°C 64.6
SUS Viscosity @ 210°F 11.50
Flashpoint in °F 415
Fuel % Antifreeze % 0
Water % 0
Insolubles % 0.3
TBN 1.7
TAN
ISO Code

 

[02zx9r]

i think you got your viscosities in the wrong spots.

Report looks awesome,stayed in grade, nice flashpoint.

you gonna stick with it?

 

[daman]

I would hope that TBN is a typo or error,only 3,500 miles and it's down to 1.7?,, wow....

 

[buster]

Great other than the Tbn. Oil is spent.

 

[badtlc]

was it your firt run of Maxlife?

 

[JGmazda]

Originally Posted By: 02zx9r
i think you got your viscosities in the wrong spots.

Report looks awesome,stayed in grade, nice flashpoint.

you gonna stick with it?


Yes... My bad. Viscosities are in the wrong spot. They should be switched around...

As for others comment too... TBN of 1.7 seems really low! I'm worried with Blackstone's recommendation of running this oil to 5,000 miles. This was my 2nd run on this oil.

I like it.... but am a bit confused and worried the oil is getting spent. Thanks for all the comments!

 

[addyguy]

According to Valvoline, virgin TBN is 8, not not 'super high' to begin with. If this was the first run with the oil, added to some 'spirited driving' (It's a Miata)..that could explain the TBN drop.

On the other hand, it is strange, b/c all the other numbers are really good - visc. is spot on (virgin 11.7), and no significant fuel in the oil, so who knows...?

 

[JGmazda]

Yeah.... that makes sense. I really like Maxlife and have used the non-synth also. I just hoped the TBN didn't drop that much...
And yes.... It is a Miata! Lots of spirited driving!

 

[jarvk22]

Excellent report , if you want too save some money try Maxlife blend and get the same results. Dont worry about the TBN , Labs make mistakes on TBN quite often. IMO Maxlife is the best engine lube in it's price range.

 

[JGmazda]

Originally Posted By: jarvk22
Excellent report , if you want too save some money try Maxlife blend and get the same results. Dont worry about the TBN , Labs make mistakes on TBN quite often. IMO Maxlife is the best engine lube in it's price range.


So you think it's good huh? I'm new to this mind you. I'm running
Synpower right now for the summer. Mixed two grades to get a 15w-40 basically. Gets really hot here during slow commutes. Oil pressure drops. Iron = "6" ? Not sure what that means.... I guess from the Blackstone comments... I have a good engine.

I was concerned about TBN. Maybe in the future I'll try SSO or something... I just can't see running 10k OCI's in a 4qt, sump.

 

[BoostFiend]

With a TBN of 1.7 there is no way I would run that oil longer. You could try it again and see if it was a fluke and stays higher next time. But if it was me I would be using something else.

 

[JGmazda]

Thanks. I think I might try another oil. Any suggestions?

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: BoostFiend
With a TBN of 1.7 there is no way I would run that oil longer. You could try it again and see if it was a fluke and stays higher next time. But if it was me I would be using something else.


Keep in mind you have no idea what Maxlife's TBN retention properties are at those levels. There is a site around here somewhere that tested long drains on Mobil 1 and Amsoil, I think. When the TBN's "looked" to be depleted and low, things got crazy. I think there were instances were the TBN actually went up on consecutive UOAs later in the run (above 15,000 miles).

 

[Cory]

Also note that TBN is not linear to miles driven. There's no telling how much longer this oil could have gone. I don't believe it was spent. Just my 2 cents.

 

[JGmazda]

Originally Posted By: Cory
Also note that TBN is not linear to miles driven. There's no telling how much longer this oil could have gone. I don't believe it was spent. Just my 2 cents.


Ahhh... So what you are all saying is that the oil could be doing great and still have a low TBN. Ok... Then TBN is not everything.

5K is the most I would run any oil. I still have some of this oil in my stash... so why not run it. I'll do another UOA and find out if it was a fluke... Thanks all!

 

[pickled]

The degradation of TBN can be quite linear with certain brands of oil. I have no experience with Maxlife, but here's a HDEO in a well monitored fleet of Class 8 diesels.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/reserve-alkalinity-loss-popular-cj-4.88463/

 

[pickled]

The key is to know what TAN is doing at the same time...when they cross bad things happen.

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: JGmazda
Thanks. I think I might try another oil. Any suggestions?

If you like 10w30's try Mobil 1's 10w30 high milage oil,pretty
stout stuff,try a search on it and do some reading,has nice
specs on it..

nice price too at wall-mart in the 5 qt jugs..

 

[JGmazda]

Thanks all for your advice and comments!

 

[ZZman]

Yes 4 qts is not alot. Oil takes a beating. I would think 5,000 is doable however as the rest looks very good.

10,000 miles.....No.