Virgin oil sample question

[Truckedup]

i'm going to send a sample of unused oil to Blackstone Labs....They ask if I need a TBN for $10 extra...Do I need one? Thanks

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Do you want to extend your OCI past the OLM? If so, then yes. You generally do not want to run an oil past when it reads 1.0 on TBN; some people ascribe to not running it past 2.0. It is a measure of the acid-neutralizing properties of the oil, and below your comfort zone means the oil will start to allow acids to cause harm to the engine.

If you run by the OLM and/or stick to 5K OCIs, then save your money. TBN on almost any syn oil will make it 6k without blinking.

 

[Truckedup]

OK, I should have mentioned this is a motorcycle oil...

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Ok so no OLM, but are you running it within manufacturer's recommended interval or outside of it? The question still holds true.

 

[Linctex]

I've never seen a motorcycle oil in my life that was run for so long that TBN was any concern at all.

 

[Truckedup]

This would be a virgin sample of Maxima Pro Plus to be used in one of my vintage performance Triumphs. It's been shown that high ZDDP oils like Mobil 1 V twin eliminate cam and rockerarm scuffing on these engines. Maxima is a less expensive ester oil but they don't mention ZDDP level other than to say it's "higher"...The bike is ridden at most 1000 miles a year...