Recent VOAs of Mobil 1 show any changes?

[Corvette Owner]

Do recent Virgin Oil Analysis (VOAs) of Mobil 1 5W-30 show any differences from old VOAs ?

The reason I am asking is that my UOAs have shown some increase in wear (lead) lately. I am wondering whether this is due to Mobil 1 changing their oil formulation. I have heard rumors of this.

I have a 1998 Coupe, I have been getting some high readings lately (note I do not do an analysis every oil change):

Miles / Lead

64,168 / 7

95,517 / 11

107,315 / 20

113,499 / 18

 

[lazaro]

nothing really out of charachter for Mobil1, try another brand of Synthetic if you are looking for lower wear numbers over time instead of increased.

 

[Corvette Owner]

I have already decided to use Castrol Edge at my next oil change. I will then do a UOA, that should see if the 8 times better wear is true for me.

 

[lazaro]

Buying new types of oil for us MEN is like a WOMAN at a retail upscale clothing store, What will people think now?
LOL!

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: lazaro
Buying new types of oil for us MEN is like a WOMAN at a retail upscale clothing store, What will people think now?
LOL!


Autozone,O`Reilly,etc is our version of Dillard`s

 

[BuickGN]

Just keep in mind that UOAs didn't mean a thing compared to teardowns of my engine. They only show small particle wear, can't read the large stuff. A better oil can show more wear due to less large particles and more small stuff.

 

[lazaro]

Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Just keep in mind that UOAs didn't mean a thing compared to teardowns of my engine. They only show small particle wear, can't read the large stuff. A better oil can show more wear due to less large particles and more small stuff.

UHHH? could you shed somore info on that theory?

 

[WishIhadatruck]

What do you mean by recent? What is the date of each of the above UOA samples?

 

[JAG]

Originally Posted By: lazaro
Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Just keep in mind that UOAs didn't mean a thing compared to teardowns of my engine. They only show small particle wear, can't read the large stuff. A better oil can show more wear due to less large particles and more small stuff.

UHHH? could you shed somore info on that theory?

It's a well established fact but not widely known by most people (maybe even most people on BITOG). The spectroscopy method of measuring wear metals concentrations is limited to, at most, particles smaller than 10 microns in size. As the wear metal sizes decrease from the limit of the particular machinery used, they are partially detected and then at some size they become fully detected. So a larger mass of larger wear metals can be measured as less concentration than a smaller mass of small particles. This is why other methods of measuring wear have been created like Ferrography, PQ Index, and others, as well as the ultimate: tear-downs and weighing/dimensioning.

 

[odessit]

Here is a business idea to compete with Blackstone....
UEA - tear-down and weighing/dimensioning after each oil change

 

[demarpaint]

The more I read into these UOA's I feel I would only use them to see if: 1. I have a coolant leak. 2. If I have an air leak. 3. To see if something suddenly spikes. 4. If I can extend an OCI.

As far as detecting wear, they're hit or miss at best. If we see high iron, it could mean nothing, it could mean small particles that mean nothing, or it could mean big particles that are destroying the engine, but are not being detected, and mean SOMETHING. Or it could be some additive reaction that shows higher metal counts that actually mean nothing. Seems a lot of people think that's the case with the higher Iron and Mobil 1. Tearing down an engine is still the best way, and beyond the means of most people. JMO

 

[Corvette Owner]

Originally Posted By: WishIhadatruck
What do you mean by recent? What is the date of each of the above UOA samples?


Date / Miles / Lead

5/17/03 / 64,168 / 7

4/17/06 / 95,517 / 11

9/4/07 / 107,315 / 20

6/21/08 / 113,499 / 18