What ARE insolubles??

[Ramblin Fever]

And is a reading of 0.4 after only 2,770 miles on the oil a bad thing?

Everything else on the UOA looks decent; if you'd care to look and comment, I'd appreciate it.

The thread is: 1st UOA - Isuzu 3.2L & Havoline blend

 

[bruce381]

sludge or crap that settles out of the oil.
from old deposits that are loosened or crapy oil that is oxidizing to much.
bruce

 

[Pablo]

I agree with bruce - most all insolubles in PCMO are from the oil itself breaking down or cleaning up old "dirt clods". Of course a nasty intake leak will show higher insolubles as well as much higher wear metals......

 

[Ray H]

"Insolubles", aka, "particulates": oxidation products from incomplete combustion blowby and/or the result of thermal breakdown of the motor oil or its additive content, and/or the result of breakdown of fuel contamination. The oil's detergent package is designed to isolate and hold these particulates in suspension to prevent their further degradation into varnish and sludge formation. The trend toward Group III content, even in conventional oil formulations, has also had a marked impact on reducing oxidation products. A reading of 0.4 insolubles after ~3,000 miles isn't out of line, but lower is always better. Is this a vehicle that sees much low temperature and/or short trip urban driving?

 

[Ramblin Fever]

Somewhat short trips, roughly 35-40 miles daily, with 16 miles each way and a few stops/deters along the day.

 

[Mr Nice]

Does anybody consider Group III.....a 'synthetic' oil ??

 

[bruce381]

Yes
bruce

 

[Big Jim]

"Does anybody consider Group III.....a 'synthetic' oil ??"

Castrol does. After Castrol won the lawsuit filed by Mobil, others have followed.

Since we can't swear in this forum, I can't tell you how I feel about this. *&%#@

 

[Bryanccfshr]

There was no "lawsuit"

Why not get another mound of glue factory feedstock to whip? Poor Poor Mobil one.

On the topic The less insolubles the better.. they are most simplisticly defined as particles that cannot be dissolved in the oil solution That in turn makes them abrasive particles flowing through your engine.

 

[Ray H]

"There was no 'lawsuit'".

That's true; the matter was settled through binding arbitration in lieu of litigation. Mobil lost. (It's been crying all the way to the bank ever since. EM is a major supplier of both Group III base stocks as well as the licensed technology used by other refiners to produce them. Castrol sure "showed" Mobil who's boss!

)

 

[BrianWC]

Insoluables are the things that can cause oil screens to clog, oil passages to clog, and in the case of my car (not mine personally but the model) cause premature wear and failure of the oil pump!

 

[Ramblin Fever]

Ok, how do I lower the Insoluble count??

Should I run shorter OCI's?

Different oil, i.e. maybe go back to the Rotella synthetic?

 

[Gary Allan]

PureOne, WIX/NAPA Gold, M1, bypass filtration

 

[BrianWC]

Of course, if you switch to M1 or some other synth, you may still see insoluables if the synth knocks loose any crud. Course, that's why you have the previously mentioned Wix or PureOne

 

[Ramblin Fever]

Ok, think I'll stay with my oil of choice, Havoline blend right now, and just switch oil filter brands.

I'll try the pureone again - it initially made my engine tap horribly.

 

[SSDude]

Ok, how do I lower the Insoluble count??

Should I run shorter OCI's?

Different oil, i.e. maybe go back to the Rotella synthetic?


If you want to lower insolubles Auto-rx your engine and then use Lube Control.