Valvoline Synpower 5W-30,2906 mi-1yr, 08 SS Impala

[SSGSTbirdtoyman]

This is my first UOA from my 08 SS. OCI has been 11.7 months and 2906 miles, OLM was reading 24%, 70% city, 30% Hiway, Mobil One oil filter.
This UOA was with 5qts of Synpower (but I forgot it holds 6.1qts) so the kind oil-change tech man added 1qt of 5W-30 Mobil One to the mix for free. Not sure what the mix did if anything to the overall package maybe some Moly.

Bought the SS used at 11K so far its been Synpower 5W-30. Oil had good TBN but sheared to a low 30wt, or high 20wt- must be common with city driving and a 1 yr OCI? I assume the high copper that engine is still wearing-in. The sodium must be an oil additive?
Will be driving the SS on a summer 8-9K plus hiway trip to the Mid-west starting next week. Hoping not to change oil on trip.
Filled it with 5w-30 Royal Purple (found a sale)and a Fram Xtended gard oil filter (the 10k listed filter)
my Blackstone report:

This is the first sample we've seen from the v-8 in your SS, and for the most part seems to be wearing well. Universal averages show typical wear levels for this type of engine after about 6,000 miles on the oil. High copper is not uncommon in GM engines, but your level did catch our attention. Copper comes from brass/bronze parts. We're not reading to say this level is problem yet because its possibly lingering from wear-in. We'll monitor it next time. The TBN was 5.0, lots of active additive left. No fuel/coolant found. Stay at 3K miles on the oil and check back.

Mi on oil 2,906
mi on unit 19,080
sample 7/6/10
make up oil 0 / universal avg

Alu 4 / 3
chr 1 / 1
Iron 11 / 19
copr 118 / 31
lead 7 / 9
tin 0 / 1
moly 28 / 68
nick 1 / 1
mang 2 / 2
sil 0 / 0
titn 0 / 0
potsm 2 / 3
boron 29 / 51
silcn 8 / 12
sodium 258 / 22
calc 1887 / 2225
magsum 12 / 127
phos 699 / 687
zinc 840 / 844
barum 0 / 0

Sus vis 210f 56 / (56-62)
cST vis 100c 9.06 / (9.1-11.1)
flashpt 385f
fuel 0.5%
antifrz 0
water 0
insol 0.3
TBN 5.0

 

[S2500Dog]

Looks good to me except for the Copper levels. Keep a eye on it.

 

[dave1251]

Normal GM V8 it will spit copper for about the first 30K. Nothing I would worry about.

 

[addyguy]

Not bad results for a GM V-8.

Sorry to be blunt, but what is the point of having a really nice car like an Impala SS if you aren't going to drive it?

I'd be driving the wheels off that thing! Are you intending it to be a collectors car?

 

[Steve S]

Last year I ran Valvo syn 5w-20 for a year in my toyota p/u and the uoa came back really good, the Valvo syn is a great oil.

 

[SSGSTbirdtoyman]

Embarking the SS on a 9k trip next week, will be gone for over 3 weeks , visiting relatives and sight-seeing. Yellowstone, Rushmore, Badlands, to MN,Wis.ND, back thru Glacier Park and more. Had the car for 1.5 yrs and put on about 8K so far. I would drive the SS more but have 6 other cars in my fleet.
my 2010 Mazda CX9
wifes 05 Sienna
95 Impala SS (saving for son & seldom driven)
95 T-bird V8 (70K cream puff)
70 Buick GS (95K cream puff)
89 sable -88k loaner car for my sons

cheers

 

[saberz]

I didn't know the 08 SS's were V8...I shoulda waited

 

[addyguy]

Want to hear more about the 1970 Buick GS......sounds nice!

 

[SSGSTbirdtoyman]

My 70 GS is a basic 455 v8 and automatic on a hiway run it will usually give me all of 15 mpg. Using Red Line 0W40. Not driven much its stored in my cousins 12 car garage.

 

[addyguy]

Nice oil choice for it.

Always thought the 370-horse, 510-ft/lb, 455-GS's were one of the best 'sleeper' muscle cars ever made.