SuperTech 10W-40, 4247 mi, 92 Toyota Pick-up

[JAYCEE]

Lead was high in this sample.
Oil was is for 15 months.
Fram filter was installed by Lube Express. (Now I change my own oil & use ST filters.)
I make lots of short trips.
Engine is Toyota 3.0L 3VZE with 184476 mi.
I am now in the cleaning stage of Auto-RX, using ST 10W-40.

Oil Report

Blackstone Comments: "Lead was the only element out of line in the spectral examination of this oil. At this level, it is not high enough to show a problem, but does show more bearing wear than we usually see from this Toyota engine. It may be normal if you used any additives, or it may be from a particle streak through the bearings. If so, it will drop in subsequent samples. No fuel dilution, coolant, or moisture was present in this sample. The universal averages show typical wear from this type of engine after 5900 miles on the oil. Check back to monitor."

[ November 19, 2004, 03:11 PM: Message edited by: rugerman1 ]

 

[garyb80]

I had a UOA on an engine with Supertech (5W-30) and it had slightly elevated lead amounts as well. Just like yours, it was used for mainly for short trips.
Some of the folks here told me they thought that going to a higher viscosity oil would bring the lead levels down, but I dissagreed and theorized that bearing wear occurs mostly at startup. I ran Exxon Superflo 5W-20 (there isn't a Supertech 5W-20) to try to minimize startup wear, and it worked! My lead levels dropped to well below average. At the average temps in my area, the 5W-20 is much thinner than the 5W-30 at startup. I wouldn't tow a trailer in the heat with it, but for average kid and grocery hauling, it works great.

 

[JohnBrowning]

15 months is entirely too long to leave a cheap dino oil in this engine!!!!!! You need to change the oil in this engine at least every 6 months reguardless of milage if you are going to use cheap dino oil. The best synthetics in the world seldom recomend more then a year in service. This enigne is really hard on oil!

 

[MustangGT]

Looks good, seems like we've had a few supertech reports come back recently, the moly is higher than I thought was in supertech. I definitely wouldn't hesitate to use it in my cars.

 

[JAYCEE]

quote:

---

Originally posted by JohnBrowning:
15 months is entirely too long to leave a cheap dino oil in this engine!!!!!! You need to change the oil in this engine at least every 6 months reguardless of milage if you are going to use cheap dino oil. The best synthetics in the world seldom recomend more then a year in service. This enigne is really hard on oil!

---

I agree. I never knew about fram filters and Toyota sludge until a few weeks ago when I stumbled across this site.

This engine has lots of varnish near the oil fill opening. I think the Auto-RX is going to help it a good deal.