Windstar-Mobil 1 5w30

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quote:



1995 Ford Windstar

110K (2.5K oil) -- 115.1 (2.6K oil)
Castrol GTX 5w-30 -- Mobil 1 5w30

element in ppm
Copper-----2-----34
Iron-------5-----20
Chrome-----0-----0
Lead-------5-----15
aluminum---3-----16
silicon----7-----8
tin--------1-----
moly-------63----81
sodium-----119---
magnesium--52----116
Zinc-------867---964
potassium--65----
calcium----1730--2764

water------neg---0
fuel-------neg---neg
Antifrz----POS---0
soot-------0-----
oxidation--20(10%)--0%
nitration--48(24%)--14%
sulfur-----18----89%
TBN--------9-----
VIs @100c--11.4--9.98


The first analysis showed a coolant leak and the second is after prestone stopleak. Blanks on the second set of numbers were blank on the form. I wish sodium and potassium had been measured.

second numbers are with a Bosch premium filter
and mixed city/highway driving

Schaeffer oil sample number:319085
Schaeffer's Labs comments:
Contamination and additive depletion levels normal. Maintain current oil drain interval.

I am disappointed with the overall wear and sulfur. I used techron and later B-12 chemtool after a suspected bout with bad gas. Hesitation and poor idle were the symptoms. Since then I have only bought gas at Shell, Chevron, Exxon, Conoco or Amoco stations. No more problems.

Also, after I thought the coolant leak was plugged, I waited another 800 miles and changed the oil. After draining the pre-coolant fix oil I filled with supertech oil for a 1 minute idle and drained again, then the new filter and mobil 1 were put on/in.

Something I thought was odd was how thin the mobil 1 was during this interval. I've used mobil 1 often and this is the thinnest I've seen it. When I pulled the dipstick out oil instantly started to drip off the end.

[ December 08, 2002, 09:13 PM: Message edited by: jjbula ]
 
This was the first analysis synopsis and first post on this engine.

quote:

Looks like I have a coolant leak. Disappointing since I had a new head gasket installed per recall about 2 years ago. Will probably wait until next month to have it looked at. Also, this was first oil after treating with Auto-Rx for 1,000 miles (106.5K to 107.5K) Since Auto-Rx the windstar feels like it has more power from 3K to 5K RPM. I have original plugs and need new spark plug wires on the back three cylinders (can't reach them).

1995 Ford Windstar 110K miles (2.5K oil) with Castrol GTX 5w-30

element in ppm / comment

Copper-----2-----low ,good

Iron-------5-----low ,good

Chrome-----0-----excellent

Lead-------5-----low ,good

aluminum---3-----low,good

silicon----7-----very low,excellent

tin--------1-----low,good

moly-------63----normal additive for castrol

sodium-----119---elevated, secondary indication of a coolant leak. Can
also be used as an additive but it would be much lower.

magnesium----52---normal can be wear or additive

Zinc-------867----normal additive

potassium--65-----elevated,directly attributed to a coolant leak.

calcium----1730---normal additive

water------negative, if you in fact have a coolant leak this may show
negative because it evaporates before we can see it.

fuel-------negative, no excess dilution

Antifreeze---POSITIVE, may be small but its a problem to check out. Could
get worse at any time.

soot---------0-----for diesels but I run it anyway

oxidation----20----excellent, clean engine scale 0-199

Nitration----48----normal, could possibly need new plugs and wires to
bring this down. Directly reflects combustion efficiency. 0- 199

Sulfur-------18----for diesels not really meaningful but its free

TBN----------9-----excellent retention of acid nuetralizing capability,
higher level indicates to me soolant leak is small.

VIs @100c 11.4 30w oil at operating temp. Slightly elevated and this
oil
usually thins to nearly 20w so this is a indication also of a coolant leak,
glycol thickens oil. 9.3 to 12.5 = 30 weight oil.

Thats what I see. Hopefully it is not serious but I'd rater err on the safe
side. Any questions please let me know. Let me know what you find out.
Just
a little glycol will spin a bearing sometimes even before the oil totally
gels up. Aside from the coolant issue the engine and oil are holding up
well.

 
What about the phosphorus numbers?

Am I reading this right? Castrol was run first, and even with a coolant leak it far outperformed the Mobil 1 that was run right after it? How is this possible?
 
Terry thinks the coolant leak thickened up the Castrol and I'm not convinced the second sample didn't have issues. Maybe the Mobil 1 was cleaning out some coolant sludge. I may try a 10w30 or 5w40 next time to check it out.
 
No phosphorus on Dyson test (its usually in a fixed ratio with zinc anyway)

Schaeffer (Mobil 1) test--phosphorus--916
 
He did an auto-RX treatment right before the GTX. Is the Castrol going to sludge up the motor in 2.5K miles? I'd be more suspect of the coolant problem skewing the results.
wink.gif
 
Jjbula,

If you haven't run synthetic before in this high mileage engine, you can't make much of this Mobil 1 data - you could be loosening up all sorts of sludge/varnish deposits w/ incapsulated wear metal particles. I go to an Auto RX cleanout for 1000 miles, then back to the Mobil 1.

I think the wear rates will be significantly better if you go this route ....

TS
 
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