Polaris Labs testing questions

[Compression-Ignition]

I just ordered my test kits from Polaris. I'm planning on doing a Virgin analysis on Phillips 66 5w40 Guardol XT. I thought I would do the initial test and ask for the TBN. Then I was planning on asking for the TAN on all the used oil analyses that will follow. For now I only plan on testing for one of my vehicles to try and make sure it is safe to extend the intervals a little bit.

The vehicle is a Jeep Wrangler with a 3.0L Ecodiesel. It is deleted. From what I've seen from others testing these things are super hard on oil. I was going about 5000 miles for an OCI. Then we moved and this last one I think I went almost 8000 miles. It crept up on me. With a delete they seem to be a lot better on fuel dilution and shearing. I am also going to run a remote filter and bypass filtration. Which should take me from around 9 quarts to 13 quarts capacity...ish. The Manual calls for 10,000 mile OCI's but I haven't seen very many analyses that look good at anything much beyond 6k-7k. When the MS-12991 spec is adhered to anyway.

So yeah do I need to do the TBN first and then switch to TAN? Or just do TAN first and then all the way through? I've seen mention that sometimes certain oils show a low TBN as the way they are blended it just works out that way. Maybe it doesn't matter that much in the long run but I figure I can at least try to get it right for the VOA Diesel Oil Database

 

[dnewton3]

The topic of TBN/TAN is overblown most of the time. I say this because the theory has always been that when "crossover" happens (when TAN exceeds TBN), the lube is at a potential to put the engine at risk regarding corrosion. However, what few times we've seen the crossover happen in used oil analysis, there's no assured correlation in the wear metal data. If corrosion is going to happen, it has to show up somewhere (elevated Fe, Cr, Cu typically). And yet often we see no correlation between crossover and elevated metals. So for most used oil analysis of normal OCI duration, I've basically given TBN/TAN no weight. Because without correlation, there can be no causation.

But, in very long, extended OCIs, the TBN/TAN relationship has an opportunity to go "way over" in the crossover effect. Hence, I do see merit in the testing if only for the purpose of experimentation. My recommendations would be to get both TBN and TAN starting at 10k miles into the OCI, and then with each successive extension of the OCI at the next sample interval.

If you see a correlation between the x-over and wear data, then it's of merit. If not then I'd quit spending the extra money.

 

[fantastic]

Oil Analyzers states Normal range max is 65% BN depletion and AN (TAN) 1 X New Oil Baseline. If any one of those parameters are met then it's suggested to change the oil.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I just ordered my test kits from Polaris. I'm planning on doing a Virgin analysis on Phillips 66 5w40 Guardol XT. I thought I would do the initial test and ask for the TBN. Then I was planning on asking for the TAN on all the used oil analyses that will follow. For now I only plan on testing for one of my vehicles to try and make sure it is safe to extend the intervals a little bit.

The vehicle is a Jeep Wrangler with a 3.0L Ecodiesel. It is deleted. From what I've seen from others testing these things are super hard on oil. I was going about 5000 miles for an OCI. Then we moved and this last one I think I went almost 8000 miles. It crept up on me. With a delete they seem to be a lot better on fuel dilution and shearing. I am also going to run a remote filter and bypass filtration. Which should take me from around 9 quarts to 13 quarts capacity...ish. The Manual calls for 10,000 mile OCI's but I haven't seen very many analyses that look good at anything much beyond 6k-7k. When the MS-12991 spec is adhered to anyway.

So yeah do I need to do the TBN first and then switch to TAN? Or just do TAN first and then all the way through? I've seen mention that sometimes certain oils show a low TBN as the way they are blended it just works out that way. Maybe it doesn't matter that much in the long run but I figure I can at least try to get it right for the VOA Diesel Oil Database

Don't forget the test method for TAN between a VOA and UOA differs.

 

[paulri]

Some years ago here I looked at several cases where a user posted multiple used oil analysis, including at least one used oil analysis after a high acid reading was seen in an earlier used oil analysis. I don't ever recall seeing a subsequent used oil analysis that had high wear metals. In other words, there wasn't any evidence at all that high acid levels were causing an increase in engine wear (to the extent that wear is detected in a used oil analysis).

 

[NashNative]

I just ordered my test kits from Polaris. I'm planning on doing a Virgin analysis on Phillips 66 5w40 Guardol XT. I thought I would do the initial test and ask for the TBN. Then I was planning on asking for the TAN on all the used oil analyses that will follow. For now I only plan on testing for one of my vehicles to try and make sure it is safe to extend the intervals a little bit.

The vehicle is a Jeep Wrangler with a 3.0L Ecodiesel. It is deleted. From what I've seen from others testing these things are super hard on oil. I was going about 5000 miles for an OCI. Then we moved and this last one I think I went almost 8000 miles. It crept up on me. With a delete they seem to be a lot better on fuel dilution and shearing. I am also going to run a remote filter and bypass filtration. Which should take me from around 9 quarts to 13 quarts capacity...ish. The Manual calls for 10,000 mile OCI's but I haven't seen very many analyses that look good at anything much beyond 6k-7k. When the MS-12991 spec is adhered to anyway.

So yeah do I need to do the TBN first and then switch to TAN? Or just do TAN first and then all the way through? I've seen mention that sometimes certain oils show a low TBN as the way they are blended it just works out that way. Maybe it doesn't matter that much in the long run but I figure I can at least try to get it right for the VOA Diesel Oil Database

If you need a direct contact with Polaris for questions, feel free to direct message me...I can get you linked up.