Mobil1 5W30&Castrol 5W50, 6,018 mi, '94 GM 3100 V6

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Grand Rapids, MI
Blackstone Report
Engine: GM 3100 V-6
Vehicle: '94 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 4door
Vehicle Mileage: 198,022
Oil Mileage: 6022
Interval Dates: 8/8/06 thru 12/03/06
Oil Type: Mobil 1 5W-30
Make-up Oil Added: 1 Qt of Castrol Syntec 5W-50 at 2000 miles into the interval (partial drain)
No oil additives, Used Gumout Regane fuel system cleaner once
Oil Filter: Wix
Air Filter: Wix
Driving Style: 2/3 Hwy and 1/3 City, mostly 30 mile 1 way driving to work and back.

I initially filled the engine with 4.5 qts of Mobil 1 5W30 but after seeing my UOA results from last time and hearing suggestions of a thicker oil for my older high mileage car I decided to experiment. I wouldn't normally mix like this but this car is approaching disposable due to rust, miles, and general old age so I figured it wouldn't hurt me any even if it did hurt the car. I forgot to write it down at the time but based on my oil purchase receipt of the 5W50 I figure it was right about at 2000 miles into the OCI that I drained about a quart of the Mobil 1 5W30 and added a quart of Castrol Syntec 5W50.

First column is the most recent UOA and the 2nd column is from last time with 100% Mobil 1 5W30. Last UOA was with 6,012 miles on it.
Aluminum: 3, 2
Chromium: 0, 0
Iron: 15, 11
Copper: 6, 4
Lead: 8, 21
Tin: 0, 0
Molybdenum: 82, 75
Nickel: 0, 0
Manganese: 0, 0
Silver: 0, 0
Titanium: 0, 0
Potassium: 0, 2
Boron: 41, 45
Silicon: 13, 14
Sodium: 7, 7
Calcium: 2210, 2241
Magnesium: 17, 19
Phosphorus: 610, 583
Zinc: 737, 708
Barium: 0, 0

SUS Viscosity @ 210 degrees: 66.0, 59.9
Flashpoint: 380, 395 degrees F
Fuel: < 0.5% same
Antifreeze: 0.0% same
Water: 0.0% same
Insolubles: 0.3% same
TNB: 3.5, 2.1

Blackstone thought the mixing was pretty successful and brought my lead down. I can't say it is conclusive since I've only ever had the 1 other UOA however. Who knows what might have happened if I had't of mixed. I certainly can't complain with this report, it looks good to me. Iron went up slightly. My TBN was 3.5 instead of 2.1 and they suggested I go 7k instead of 6k for the next interval. The increase of TBN might be entirely due to the partial drain and refill of 1 quart 2k into the OCI. I'll probably stick to 6,000 for the next OCI. The oil definitely shows that it is thicker, 66.0 versus 59.9 SUS @ 210 F.
 
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Very nice for this engine. I assume you have had the intake mqanifold replaced.




The car overheated on my wife in the fall of '99 and had a blown head gasket. The intake gaskets were redone then of course. No issues since.
 
[quote The intake gaskets were redone then of course. No issues since.




i believe this engine could have been an excellent engine were it not for the intake manifold gaskets. Even though it has the startup knock it doesn't seem to have hurt the long range durability.
 
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I've got the same mix in now as last time. 3.5 qts of Mobil 1 5W-30 and 1 qt of Castrol Syntec 5W-50. How long of an OCI should I do this time?




I'd go 7.5k and sample.
 
Beautiful! I have a 95 version of this engine with 153,000 and going strong!
smile.gif
 
If it were my car I would try Maxlife Synthetic 10W-30 next time. That would already be a little thicker than the Mobil-1 5W-30, cost the same or less and it would be very interesting to see if the lead and iron wear levels could be brought down some.
 
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If it were my car I would try Maxlife Synthetic 10W-30 next time. That would already be a little thicker than the Mobil-1 5W-30, cost the same or less and it would be very interesting to see if the lead and iron wear levels could be brought down some.




I'm willing to try something else as soon as my stock of Mobil 1 is gone. 8 quarts to go. I'll probably use it all up in this car so it will be next fall before I can try something else. Thanks for the input. I've looked occasionally for Maxlife Synth but never saw it. Where do you buy it?
 
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