PP 5W-30 -- 5,214 miles -- 05 Subaru 2.5RS

[ScottyB]

Long time lurker, first time poster. So, Hi everyone! I had the head gaskets replaced at 88k miles earlier this year due to seeing some seepage between the head and block and wanting to nip it in the bud. Unfortunately a bit of an achilles heel with this engine. This analysis was primarily to see if things were still holding together tight after the replacement job and to make sure there were no internal leaks. As I close in on 100k miles I also just wanted to see how the old girl was doing! Used a little more oil than normal, although I attribute that to some extensive mountain driving during a 1,000 mile road trip that involved some large grades and lots of engine braking. I'll probably change out the PCV anyway and keep an eye on further consumption. I refilled with more PP 5W-30 and will try to run this change out to 7,000 miles. The engine seems to like it, however I'm curious if anyone could speak to whether it looks like the oil sheared the PP down a little this round compared to others in the past? For reference this oil was run during the hottest summer months this year in NC. Merry Christmas!

 

[abycat]

Looks great. Did you autocross the vehicle in the last UOA's? That could acount for the shearing. Isnt this engine the one that does good with the HDEO at a 40wt? Your car looked like it did great with the oil you used. I wonder if the increased reving with you racing the car had anything to do with consumption. While your putting in a new pcv valve I'd check the pcv tubes and passages while your in there. By the way.

 

[SubLGT]

Are all 3 samples in the UOA data sheet PP 5W30?

 

[ScottyB]

Originally Posted By: abycat

Looks great. Did you autocross the vehicle in the last UOA's? That could acount for the shearing. Isnt this engine the one that does good with the HDEO at a 40wt?

thanks - no autocrossing this time around but I have a couple times in the past. I drive the car fairly hard and it was during the summer heat, so i wonder if that had any effect on the shearing. this is just a lowly N/A car...the turbos are the ones that really like the 40 weight! I've tried it actually, and it pulled down my gas mileage and engine response with no other apparent advantages so I haven't run it since.

Originally Posted By: SubLGT

Are all 3 samples in the UOA data sheet PP 5W30?

yes, sorry I forgot to mention. These have all been on Purolator gold filters btw.

 

[chubbs1]

Looks like the guys at the blending plant dumped a little extra good stuff in the previous oil...lol

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

Is there anything stopping you from running this oil even further than 7,000 mi, expecially if you're going to be adding some more make up oil? Report looks nice, especially since you recently had work done. Shear doesn't seem to be hurting anything from my view. Merry Christmas to you too!

 

[Donald]

UOA looks good. Two QTs is a lot in 5K however.

 

[ScottyB]

Originally Posted By: OrdnanceMarine

Is there anything stopping you from running this oil even further than 7,000 mi, expecially if you're going to be adding some more make up oil?

not really - just figured it was a good point to try next and see what i end up with!

Originally Posted By: Donald

UOA looks good. Two QTs is a lot in 5K however.

it is - since i bought the car 5 years ago, its always been 1qt per 5,000 miles. i'm going to be monitoring this and hopefully its just a result of driving conditions.

 

[tig1]

Shearing may be a problem especially since you added 2 qts?

 

[SubLGT]

With the 2 previous runs of PP, the vis was 9.92 and 10.29 because (1) the oil did not shear substantially, or (2) the oil sheared then thickened from oxidation.

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

Originally Posted By: SubLGT

With the 2 previous runs of PP, the vis was 9.92 and 10.29 because (1) the oil did not shear substantially, or (2) the oil sheared then thickened from oxidation.

Making me think that fuel might have something to do with the lower vis in this latest UOA. Flashpoint is significantly lower than previous samples.

 

[Al]

I wouldn't worry about the shearing at all. Its not a problem. Chromium at 3 is high. Check your intake ducting for leakage. High Cr and oil use might be related.

 

[abycat]

Originally Posted By: Al

I wouldn't worry about the shearing at all. Its not a problem. Chromium at 3 is high. Check your intake ducting for leakage. High Cr and oil use might be related.

Good call I didnt even see that connection. To boot the previous changes had the lower cr wear and only 1 qt makeup. definately a good idea to check it out.

 

[ScottyB]

Originally Posted By: Al

Chromium at 3 is high. Check your intake ducting for leakage. High Cr and oil use might be related.

i'm still learning my way around oil reports and what constitutes "high." this does seem higher than normal. maybe that correlates with the high Si? i'll take a look at the intake system for anomolies. thanks for the head's up.

 

[bluesubie]

Originally Posted By: ScottyB

Originally Posted By: Al

Chromium at 3 is high. Check your intake ducting for leakage. High Cr and oil use might be related.

i'm still learning my way around oil reports and what constitutes "high." this does seem higher than normal. maybe that correlates with the high Si? i'll take a look at the intake system for anomolies. thanks for the head's up.

My chromium has never been above zero. Like I believe I mentioned on nasioc, with that consumption I'd be tempted to try PYB and switch to 10W-40 if consumption doesn't improve. Your owner's manual allows it down to -4F and thicker viscosities than 5W-30 are required in high temps. -Dennis

 

[webfors]

Nice report. Above average consumption. I noticed some oil use with PP in mine, about 1 quart every 6-7k. I ran Rotella 15w40 one summer and had no consumption

 

[ScottyB]

checked out my intake tract today and it looks like the shop that did the HG replacement popped a really ill-fitting el cheapo air filter in the airbox. the filter was bowed-in on each end and i can't imagine it was sealing well. of course that's the filter that had to be in there when i was sucking down dust during miles of gravel road travel, argh! i'm hoping that's the culprit for such high Si numbers and hopefully the Chromium wear will drop with a fresh OEM air filter.

 

[bluesubie]

Nice find! -Dennis