Shell Rotella T Syn 5w40, 6132 Miles, '99 F150 4.6L V8

[MNgopher]

The details:

Truck: 1999 Ford F150 Supercab Flareside 4x4
Engine: 4.6L 2V SOHC V8
Oil Filter: Napa Gold 1327
Air Filter: Fram (in use for 30,000 miles). Filter replaced at this change -looked awfully bad.

Driving: 60/40 Highway/City. Couple of light trailer twoing hauls. Fair amount of Gravel Road driving.

Analysis: Blackstone

Rot= Shell Rotella T Synthetic
Hav = Texaco Havoline

code:

---

Oil: Rot Rot Hav Hav Hav Univ.

Avg.

Grade: 5w40 5w40 5w20 5w20 5w20

Date: 1/05 9/04 5/04 1/04 9/03

Mi on Oil: 6132 6027 6134 6004 5033

Mi on Unit:114694 108561 102533 96399 90392

Make Up qt:0.5 0.5 1.5 1.5 1.0

Aluminum 4 3 5 5 3 3

Chromium 1 1 2 1 1 1

Iron 18 16 28 20 12 16

Copper 5 9 3 3 5 7

Lead 0 1 1 0 0 1

Tin 0 0 0 0 0 0

Moly 6 16 173 200 2 45

Nickel 1 1 2 1 1 1

Managnese 0 0 0 0 0 1

Silver 0 0 0 0 0 0

Titanium 0 0 0 0 0 0

Potassium 0 1 2 0 1 1

Boron 1 0 18 23 1 50

Silicon 10 11 17 11 9 16

Sodium 4 5 6 4 3 5

Calcium 3322 3615 2141 2067 2219 2181

Magnesium 10 9 27 33 30 225

Phosphorous808 930 740 770 783 779

Zinc 1022 1068 884 936 1007 945

Barium 1 2 0 0 0 1

Vis 13.7 14.7 8.3 8.3 8.9

TBN 3.1 4.3 1.6 1.9 4.7

Flash 400 400 405 395 425

Fuel 0 1.0 0 0 0

Glycol 0 0 0 0 0

Water 0 0 0 0 0

Insolubles 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3

---

My Comments:
Well, the 5w40 test rolls on. The truck starts and runs fine, even at -20F morning cold starts. No funny or different noises that would worry me.

On a per 1000 mile basis, as of right now, I get the lowest Aluminum, Chromium, and Iron wear rates on 5w40. Copper is the exact opposite, with it tending to run higher than average (though still below the Universal averages). IIRC, the tri-metal bearings in this motor will show up partially in the Copper numbers, so this is a potential item. However, when its all said and done, I feel that for the vast majority of the results, there are close enough to be statistically comparable and much of the variation is noise from sampling error and lab tolerances.

TBN retention is excellent on the Rotella in this application - however, the insolubles level leads me to not want to run any longer, and I'm not going to simply switch filters and run longer.

What is NOT lost in the noise, is my fuel mileage. This interval was over 1% lower fuel mileage than the exact same interval last year on 5w20. Average Hi, Low, and extreme temps were all very similar to the same interval last year. Overall, my fuel mileage is off by 4.5% since switching to 5w40.

For the marginally better results in wear (I will grant that theyy exist, even if just "noise"), I'm not sure the fuel mileage penalty is worth it.

I am thinking I will run a 5w30 oil when the next interval rolls around - seems to be a good compromise between thin and thick with the fuel mileage to go with it. I have not decided on a brand, but Citgo Supergard has peaked my interest, and I can find it on sale for less than a buck over at Fleet Farm...

[ February 09, 2005, 02:52 AM: Message edited by: MNgopher ]

 

[427Z06]

Very nice report. I especially like the multiple runs to avoid anomalies that may lead to false conclusions. However, with some of the BL lab reports we've been seeing lately, I'd be careful with labeling anything statistically etched in stone quite yet, but that's just me, most are perfectly happy to look at data and call it proof.

Switching topics, it was my understanding that Ford has been using Bi-metal Aluminum alloy bearings in their modular V8s for quite some time now. Tri-metal bearings are the "old" style that are steel backed, followed by copper-lead layer, then a final babbitt finish layer.

The decrease in gasoline mileage is entirely believable, especially when going from 5w20 to 5w40, and considering the viscosity increase over the whole range of temperatures the engine operates in. A significance test would be enlightening.

Thanks for a great post.

 

[Al]

Interesting informative report.

Since you added an extra quart makeup with the 5W-20 you have to realize that the wear metals would be say 20% higher than they show. But even so look at the bearing numbers. Also obvious that there is more oil consumption with the 5W-20. And of course the TBN us better wwith the Rotella. I think your idea of going to a 30 wt is a good choice.

 

[Whimsey]

I've been a supporter of "thin" oil in these Ford modular engines. But I have to freely admit, and not because of the threats and abuse I get constantly from the "thickerer is betterer" crowd

, that using 5W-40 is not going to destroy these engines. Though it may not prolong their life either. From an UOA wear standpoint it seems to be a toss up. A few ppm either way is hard to use to draw any significant conclusions as to which is better for that engine. One thing we do know is that the mpg is worse with the heavier oil. But with the Havoline you needed more make up oil. Which means it either "burned" or leaked out. Most likely it "burned". Which is not the best either. Though a 1/4 of a quart/1000 miles is not bad at all

. Your idea of going to a 5W-30 is good IF it doesn't shear to a 20 wt rapidly. Then you might as well stick with a 5W-20. As an aside I seem to remember that the Havoline 5W-20 is a lighter viscosity 5W-20 than the Motorcraft 5W-20. Maybe that's one of the reasons you had to add more oil when using the Havoline 5W-20.

Whimsey

[ February 09, 2005, 01:42 PM: Message edited by: Whimsey ]

 

[pmt]

quote:

---

Originally posted by MNgopher:


I am thinking I will run a 5w30 oil when the next interval rolls around - seems to be a good compromise between thin and thick with the fuel mileage to go with it. I have not decided on a brand, but Citgo Supergard has peaked my interest, and I can find it on sale for less than a buck over at Fleet Farm...

---

Just a couple comments;
1) When I ran Shell Rotella T synth 5W-40 last
summer in my GMC 4.3L, the fuel economy did
seem to slip a little.
2) Though you may have already noticed it, down
below in these UOAs are my results with Citgo
on my 4.3L. Unexpectedly low wear rates. I may
even try it in my "pet" - a low mileage 96 T-
Bird w/ 4.6L, though I usually run a 5W-30
synth.
pmt

 

[JohnBrowning]

Looks good!!! Have you considered trying M1 5W40 TSUV or their 0W40? It would interesting to see if their is any type of wear shift from one area to another with a change in brand?

 

[jorton]

Depending on how restricted the old air filter was, your mpg may improve with the new one.

Iron silicon tbn and insolubles looked best in the 5000 mile run. Maybe Motorcraft or Chevron can make it 6000.

 

[MNgopher]

Lets see...

Yes, One benefit of the Rotella 5w40 has been less oil consumption, and I do like that. On the other hand, the oil consumption using 5w20 and 5w30 was not excessive in my book, so I was comforatble there. No leaks on this engine, so yes, the oil is being consumed in the engine.

The TBN retention has also been nice, but if my insolubles are up to the point I won't run further, then I guess it doesn't really matter, as the dino oils can go as far without failing too.

Fuel mileage changes have been interesting. While I have noted a large change on this truck, my Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0l has seen no change in fuel mileage. Go figure...

I'm not going to go to M1 0w40 or Mi T&SUV 5w40. Too expensive for my blood and I believe more than is really necessary. I generally haven't found either for less than 4.79 a quart. I cringed hard enough buying the Rotella at 3.22 a quart! Notice that I'm thinking of going back to a less than a buck a quart oil!

While the 5000 mile run shown here does have some lower values, I'd be a bit careful in comparing to only it, as that was a summer run,and the UOA's in this truck and the Jeep both look different in the winter periods.

 

[Drew99GT]

Hey Gopher, did Rotella give you a noticeable decrease in engine power/performance compared to 5w20?

 

[MNgopher]

At the time I changed over, I did feel that the engine was more sluggish and felt less powerful. Of course, we all know how accurate the butt dyno is! My fuel mileage numbers have seemed to bear my perception out though.

 

[JohnBrowning]

I wanted to bring this back up for general reading!