Shell 10W30, 4752 mi., 93 Nissan P/U

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Location
Alabama
Vehicle: 1993 Nissan P/U, 4 cyl.
Oil: Formula Shell 10W30 SL
Oil Filter: Supertech
Miles on oil: 4,752
Miles on truck: 88,552
Makeup oil added: none
Oil usage: 6 to 8 ounces

Element PPM
Aluminum 4
Iron 17
Copper 2
Lead 16
Tin 1
Moly 1
Silicon 7
Sodium 5
Calcium 1921
Magnesium 9
Phosphorus 774
Zinc 886
Barium 1
All others 0
SUS visc @ 210 = 56.9 (59-65)
Flashpoint 425
Fuel Antifreeze 0.0
Water 0.0
Insolubles 0.3
TBN 1.0

Blackstone said all wear metals were normal except for lead. They also flagged the viscosity for being out of range.

I pushed this interval a little far. I normally change the oil at 4000 miles. I used a Supertech filter this time and I suspected that the ADBV started leaking at about 3500 miles. I noticed at that mileage that my oil light would stay on a little longer than normal on the first start in the morning. I later confirmed that the ADBV was leaking when I removed the filter about 10 minutes after stopping the engine and almost no oil leaked out. My previous Wix filters held a large quantity of oil and make quite a mess when changed. I have now installed a remote oil filter on this truck and am using Motorcraft FL1A oil filters.

I have used Shell oil for several years now and have been very pleased with Shell. However, I am dissapointed that this batch sheared down to a 20 weight. The flashpoint did remain high at 425 though. I also know that I used up all of the additives in this oil and it was changed at the right time. The remote oil filter and the oversize filter has increased my sump capacity about 1/2 quart. I have changed to Citgo oil and my goal is to go 5000 miles on a oil and filter change with conventional oil.

Do you think that my higher than normal lead number is due to the oil shearing down to a 20 weight, or my oil filter ADBV started leaking, or is there another factor at play here?
 
Not bad, although I agree that the lead seems high. Why haven't you tried Chevron Supreme or Pennzoil? They are good and Chevron is really cheap at Walt-Mart.

Rick
 
I tend to stick with a brand if I think I am getting good results with it. This my first oil analysis on this truck. I am in the process of testing the oil on my other two cars to try to arrive at the best for them. Hopefully it will be the same brand. Chevron could be a oil that I might try. I want to use the least expensive name brand oil that will do the job. I will probably not use Penzoil because the price is normally higher and my bad experience with it in the past. I have seen a large number of engines run on Penzoil that have been varnished up and sludged up. Granted, this was with older formulations and probably not applicably to the current SL grades, but I have a good memory.
 
Hmmmm. This oil thinned out pretty good and the TBN is shot. This may be the reason for the lead being a bit high. Doesn't look like a good choice.
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ALJAMES, I wouldn't be happy with these results.

Yes, you pushed this oil too far ... but not THAT far. This stuff should have held up a lot better than that.
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Usually, with a little "spike" in wear metal levels we'd be looking for an excuse like a coolant leak, switched brand, cleaner additive, etc ... but you've used this oil for a while and the interval was less than 5,000 miles.

I'd try another brand of dino 10W30.
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--- Bror Jace
 
I personally can't remember seeing Shell oil tested at this site, so this UOA is really interesting to me. But it looks like Chevron Supreme, Pennzoil, or Castrol might be better choices.
 
Nissan's = high lead. Having said that the oil is beyond shot. Get a Blackstone report next time to see if you have potassium (coolant) in the oil. Probably not as the Viscosity is low. I'd also check out either Chevron, Pennzoil, GTX or Motorcraft. Better yet Schaeffer's 10W-30 Supreme Blend.
 
Al,

I don't know if Nissans = high lead. I searched the UOA section for Frontier and the results were mixed.
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johnk had a lead reading of 1 running Chevron Supreme 10w-30 for 3891 miles.

Molakule had a lead reading of 0 running M1 SS 10w-30 w/Schaeffer's #132 for 2307 miles. He also had a reading of 15 using Amsoil ATM 10w-30 for 4935 miles.

I had a measurement of 8 for 5150 miles with GC but I think the climbing and cold weather pushed this reading up.

The Frontier has an updated version of the engine in ALJAMES truck. What UOAs are you refering to?

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it would be nice to have an analysis on how much the winter season UOA affects the wear levels and out of grade thinning. for example, what's the correlation between the # of months posted from the late winter (end of Feb/beg March) and wear levels?

I would wager that winters are at least twice as tough for the typical joe driver (short distances freq startup), in which case the 3000mi rule promoted by the lube service industry doesn't sound as foolish as one might think.

Not to sound like a broken record, I'll state that IMO a bottle of STP or similar additive midway at the OCI would help that thinning.
 
One little comment - the didn't actually shear to a 20w. 56.9 is roughly 9.45 cst. 30w oils are 9.4 and up. Whatever Blackstone range refers to isn't the SAE grades - its always been that way for whatever reason.

In any event, thats about as far as I'd push that oil. A long term trend would make me want to shop for a new brand.
 
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