Redline 10w40 - Subaru WRX

[harrydog]

Miles on this sample: 4,963
Total miles on engine: 49,896
First numbers are current sample.
Second numbers are previous sample also Redline.

aluminum 2/2
chromium 1/1
iron 4/5
copper 6/4
lead 14/6
tin 2/1
moly 521/428
nickel 0/0
manganese 0/0
silver 0/0
titanium 0/0
potassium 0/2
boron 7/5
silicon 8/11
sodium 15/26
calcium 3370/3433
magnesium 5/5
phosphorus 1107/1196
zinc 1308/1215
barium 1/0

sus viscosity @210F = 73.4
flashpoint = 415
fuel = antifreeze = 0
water = 0
insolubles = 0.5

The following note is from Blackstone:

Note lead at 14 ppm. This is the only unusual finding we have to report from with engine,
though it is important because it shows excess wear at the bearings. Universal averages show typical
wear from this type of engine after 4,800 miles on the oil. If this engine is raced, or sees a lot of city
driving and/or idling, then this lead level may be normal. It may also be normal if you use any fuel or
oil additives. Other than that, everything looks great. No fuel dilution or coolant was found.
Insolubles were low, showing good oil filtration. We'll monitor lead next sample.

My notes:
Car was driven fairly hard - same as always. The only difference is that I used a bottle of Redline SI-1 fuel system cleaner, which according to Blackstone might have been a factor with the lead.
I have the sump filled with German Castrol this time and will report those results in about 3 months.

 

[JohnBrowning]

You should run a bottle of Redline SI-1 through the system. If you do not then you have a problem. You will not know if the lead was due to fuel additive or the oil! You should never change two things at a time!

 

[harrydog]

I didn't really change anything other than using the SI-1. I've been using Redline exclusively since 3000 miles. The lead more than doubled on this report.

 

[Bror Jace]

I really think this is a case where Red Line's motor oil chemistry is too aggressive and the esters are acting like a mild solvent on the bearings. Not desireable.

harrydog, have you thought of trying Schaeffer's 10w30 in this beastie? I know I would.

--- Bror Jace

 

[harrydog]

No, but I might give it a try in the future. I've got GC in there now. If that UOA isn't an improvement over the Redline, then I'll move on to something else.

 

[buster]

harrydog, are you still running RL in this car? I'm not so sure BS labs is right about the Pb being wear.

 

[pscholte]

quote:

---

Originally posted by harrydog:
I have the sump filled with German Castrol this time...

---

Yes, harrydog, yes...you have done well...can't wait to see your Utterly Uphoric (the E is silent

) UOA...yup!

 

[harrydog]

Yup, I've been running GC lately. I still really like Redline though. It's a great oil in my opinion, but expensive. I still have 15 quarts of it, but I wanted to experiment with the GC.

 

[Steve S]

all the other numbers seem to be the same,so the lead might not mean anything,changing the oil brand or type makes it hard to trend.

 

[buster]

The pb is nothing. Pb isn't even flagged unless it's above 50ppm and with RL, it's a different reaction going on.

 

[TooSlick]

Send in an unused oil sample with a few drops of SL-1 in the bottle and I'd bet it tests positive for Pb....in small amounts, it's a very effective upper cylinder lubricant and octane booster.

 

[drums57]

If you compare the additive pack this Redline makes the GC look like junk. Looking at additive package only, Redline is superior to GC.

 

[y_p_w]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TooSlick:
Send in an unused oil sample with a few drops of SL-1 in the bottle and I'd bet it tests positive for Pb....in small amounts, it's a very effective upper cylinder lubricant and octane booster.

---

I've run Red Line SI-1 at slightly about 1.5 oz/10 gallons since I got my car (most of the time). The last oil analysis showed 1 PPM of Pb after about 3700 miles.

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