My First Oil Analysis- HELP!!!!!

[OILNEWBY]

Hello everyone. This is my first oil analysis, and all these numbers mean nothing too me. Can you please tell me what this all means.

2002 Subaru Impreza WRX
12k miles on car at time of analysis
4700 miles on oil at time of analysis
**This is the first time I put synthetic in the car**
5w30 Amsoil (I think it was the XL-7500?)
SDF-20 oil filter
Amsoil foam air filter
No make up oil**

Most of my driving is on the freeway but since I live in LA alot of it is stop and go. If there is any other information you need let me know and I will supply.

Thanks for the help

water fuel viscosity @ 100C, 10.6

Oil Degradation

oxidation/5.6%
nitration/15.7%
TBN/7.4

Wear Metals

Fe/6
Cr/1
Pb/3
Cu/35
Sn/1
Al/7
Ni/1
Ag/0
Mn/2
Silicon/7

Oil Additives

B/38
Na/3
Mg/338
Ca/3135
P/1279
Zn/1572

 

[OILNEWBY]

I just read my own post. What I meant to ask is if these numbers are good or bad. I know what all abbreviations and what they are. I just don't know what levels they should be at.

 

[Spector]

Fuel dilution kind of high for highway driving. Only other nymber is the copper but engine still breaking in. Wish I had these numbers on several engines.

 

[The_Oz]

quote:

---

Originally posted by OILNEWBY:
Since this oil is a Group III oil and not a Group IV, and group IV is better, should I change to something else? Does Amsoil have a different oil that can be used?

I know this is common knowledge to alot of you guys, so I do appreciate all the info you can provide.

---

OILNEWBY,

Echoing Patman's statement, I recommend staying away from the XL7500 series of AMSOIL's lineup since it has gotten a reformulation. For the price of XL7500, you can certainly get a much better packaged oil such as Mobil, Redline, Schaeffer, or other AMSOIL products. It would be interesting how AMSOIL will market the XL7500 - will they market it like Castrol Syntec or like Petro Canada?

Also, I recommend you stay at least with 10W30. You might experience coking issues (among other things) if you are using 5W30 - and also the fact that you are using dino-based oil. Here is a thread for you to read:

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000433

Generally pertains to turbos in general. Again, I recommend another oil analysis (TooSlick's recommendation of 5000miles sounds good) to check the copper levels.

Regards,

Oz

 

[msparks]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TooSlick:

BTW, this IS the regular 10w30 (ATM), you can tell by the additive chemistry. The XL-7500 has much less ZDDP ....

---

Yes No mistake about it, this is the Full Synthetic stuff. Look at the Ca XL7500 doesn't have this much.

 

[msparks]

quote:

---

Originally posted by The_Oz:
[QB
Echoing Patman's statement, I recommend staying away from the XL7500 series of AMSOIL's lineup since it has gotten a reformulation. For the price of XL7500, you can certainly get a much better packaged oil such as Mobil, Redline, Schaeffer, or other AMSOIL products. It would be interesting how AMSOIL will market the XL7500 - will they market it like Castrol Syntec or like Petro Canada?

Oz[/QB]

---

OZ, there is nothing wrong with Amsoil's XL7500 product. Actually now more than ever as it compares to the other so called synthetics, namely penzoil, and castrol.

It is marketed like a synthetic because according to market Group III's are a synthetic. Amsoil Did not come up with this and neither did Mobil. But the world is about competition and to compete you have to be priced accordingly.

If you look at the numbers Amsoil XL7500 still blows away the rest of the pack. Also note that they still recommend it for 7500 miles or 6 month drain intervals. No other synthetics in that market are doing so including Mobil!

Lastly the XL7500 mile line of oils is targeted towards competiting in the quick lube market, which is dominated by Castrol,Penzoil,Quacker State and Mobil 1. So if all others(except mobil) call their group III's a synthetic then I guess it is a synthetic.

For all others that are in the know and still want one of the top performing synthetic lubricants, stick with the ASL/ATM or the TRO/TSO and HDD. These are still full synthetic (PAO/ESTER/Diester) basestocks.

 

[msparks]

quote:

---

Originally posted by OILNEWBY:
Yes this is a turbocharged engine, and yes it has a factory oil cooler.

I just switched to 5w30 (XL-7500) at my last oil change. Since the base stock is not the best how will this effect the engine. I have another 3500 miles until my next oil change. Will the different make any difference in the next analysis?

---

How will it affect your engine, well compare it to the other so called synthetics and I feel that is will performe better. Though not as good as the full synthetic base oils like ASL/ATM TRO/TSO.

 

[msparks]

quote:

---

Originally posted by msparks:

quote:

---

Originally posted by OILNEWBY:
Yes this is a turbocharged engine, and yes it has a factory oil cooler.

I just switched to 5w30 (XL-7500) at my last oil change. Since the base stock is not the best how will this effect the engine. I have another 3500 miles until my next oil change. Will the different make any difference in the next analysis?

---

How will it affect your engine, well compare it to the other so called synthetics and I feel that is will performe better. Though not as good as the full synthetic base oils like ASL/ATM TRO/TSO.

---

Where is the pic? Is that not allowed anymore??

Anyhow click on this link and scroll down for a comparison.

You were trying ot post an html web page address as a pic.. Images are gif's jpegs, bmp's, if HTML not a pic.. bob

[ September 18, 2002, 08:57 AM: Message edited by: BOBISTHEOILGUY ]

 

[The_Oz]

quote:

---

Originally posted by msparks:
OZ, there is nothing wrong with Amsoil's XL7500 product. Actually now more than ever as it compares to the other so called synthetics, namely penzoil, and castrol.

It is marketed like a synthetic because according to market Group III's are a synthetic. Amsoil Did not come up with this and neither did Mobil. But the world is about competition and to compete you have to be priced accordingly.

If you look at the numbers Amsoil XL7500 still blows away the rest of the pack. Also note that they still recommend it for 7500 miles or 6 month drain intervals. No other synthetics in that market are doing so including Mobil!

Lastly the XL7500 mile line of oils is targeted towards competiting in the quick lube market, which is dominated by Castrol,Penzoil,Quacker State and Mobil 1. So if all others(except mobil) call their group III's a synthetic then I guess it is a synthetic.

For all others that are in the know and still want one of the top performing synthetic lubricants, stick with the ASL/ATM or the TRO/TSO and HDD. These are still full synthetic (PAO/ESTER/Diester) basestocks.

---

msparks,

Where have you been?!? Anyway, I have no problems with XL7500 series oils. I am sure that they are a good choice over brands such as Castrol Syntec, Pennzoil w/ Pennzane, and other "wanna-be" synthetics. I am merely trying to point out that the price does not really justify what the consumer is actually being told. With the price that you have given me, I would rather get the AMSOIL ASL lineup which is only a mere $0.70CDN per quart more (going by suggested retail price) - and guaranteed to be at least Group IV PAO based which earns the label "Synthetic".

Also, I personally do not like to support such marketing-hyped BS. Having said that, I have mistakenly bought a jug of Havoline Synthetic 5W40 "thinking" that it is Group IV based (also because Delvac 1 was not available at the time). If I had known that before purchasing, I would've rather settled with a jug of Mobil 1 Tri-synth. or waited for the Delvac 1 shipment.

Regards,

Oz

 

[msparks]

quote:

---

Originally posted by The_Oz:
[QB
Where have you been?!? Anyway, I have no problems with XL7500 series oils. I am sure that they are a good choice over brands such as Castrol Syntec, Pennzoil w/ Pennzane, and other "wanna-be" synthetics. I am merely trying to point out that the price does not really justify what the consumer is actually being told. With the price that you have given me, I would rather get the AMSOIL ASL lineup which is only a mere $0.70CDN per quart more (going by suggested retail price) - and guaranteed to be at least Group IV PAO based which earns the label "Synthetic".

Also, I personally do not like to support such marketing-hyped BS. Having said that, I have mistakenly bought a jug of Havoline Synthetic 5W40 "thinking" that it is Group IV based (also because Delvac 1 was not available at the time). If I had known that before purchasing, I would've rather settled with a jug of Mobil 1 Tri-synth. or waited for the Delvac 1 shipment.

Regards,

Oz[/QB]

---

I've been around, just didn't want to make too much of a pest of myself.

You're right about the cost your get a lot better oil for mere penny's. Same goes for most Synthetic blends. The full synthetic is just a little more and you get a better oil over all.

As I said, the XL7500 is marketed to quick lubes. I have no problem marketing it as a synthetic in that regard when comparing it to the "other" synthetics.

As personal customers. I will always recommend a full PAO/Ester over the Group III. Unless a customer just doesn't want to go extended drains or won't pay the higher price.

 

[The_Oz]

All in all, the numbers look really good. I just wonder where all that Copper is coming from though. Possibly, the car is still going through the break-in process. I suggest running another analysis again on your next drain interval to see if the copper content has gone down.

Also, with the numbers you have, you can certainly push passed 4700miles. FYI, did you know that the AMSOIL XL7500 has gotten a reformulation to Group III-based rather than the old Group IV-based?

Regards,

Oz

 

[OILNEWBY]

OZ- I don't know the difference in the base stocks, I am very knew to all of this. Which base stock is better?

 

[OILNEWBY]

OOOOPS, I made a mistake.

The oil for this analysis was 10w30, I just switched to 5w30.

Does this make a difference?

 

[Patman]

Group 4 and 5 base stocks are better than group 3. Group 3 is hydrocracked petroleum, while 4 and 5 are true synthetics (PAO and esters respectively)

 

[OILNEWBY]

Since this oil is a Group III oil and not a Group IV, and group IV is better, should I change to something else? Does Amsoil have a different oil that can be used?

I know this is common knowledge to alot of you guys, so I do appreciate all the info you can provide.

 

[Patman]

Amsoil's XL7500 series oils are to be avoided. For just a dollar or two more, you can get their better quality full synthetic oils which perform much better.

 

[TooSlick]

Is this the turbocharged Subaru engine? If so it probably has an oil cooler with a copper core and some of this copper is leaching out. I would not go crazy with drain intervals in a turbo ...I'd say 7500 miles is about it.

BTW, this IS the regular 10w30 (ATM), you can tell by the additive chemistry. The XL-7500 has much less ZDDP ....

 

[OILNEWBY]

Yes this is a turbocharged engine, and yes it has a factory oil cooler.

I just switched to 5w30 (XL-7500) at my last oil change. Since the base stock is not the best how will this effect the engine. I have another 3500 miles until my next oil change. Will the different make any difference in the next analysis?

 

[TooSlick]

With 5000 mile changes, you'll be fine either way. I'd expect the copper levels to be lower the next time around.

Fuel dilution is from the turbo and all the idling in traffic - the solution to that is to leave LA

 

[Jay]

quote:

---

Originally posted by msparks:

If you look at the numbers Amsoil XL7500 still blows away the rest of the pack. Also note that they still recommend it for 7500 miles or 6 month drain intervals. No other synthetics in that market are doing so including Mobil!

---

Actually, that depends on the car. Mobil 1 says you can go the "normal service" interval with M1 recommended by the car manufacturer even if you do "severe service" driving. The normal service interval on my car is 10,000 mi so Mobil 1 has a longer recommended drain interval than Amsoil XL 7500.