Wolfs Head 10w-30 2300 miles 6 months Lucerne 3.8L

[lucerne06]

OIL TYPE & GRADE: Wolfs Head 10W/30 from dealership after repairs
OIL USE INTERVAL: 2,300 Miles
Buick Lucerne 2006 3.8L V-6 23,000 miles
AC Delco Filter
11-09 to 06-10 oil in use..Seven months
Oil monitor said 55% life remaining.
OIL ADDED- 0 Qts.-

Since last report:Copper continued to improve in the latest sample from your Buick, but iron increased quite a bit.This
shows excess wear at a steel part, such as the cylinders. Silicon was also high and this may be what caused the spike
in iron. The high silicon could show a problem with your air filtration system so we suggest having a look there. The
air filter is a good place to start. No other harmful contaminants were found. The viscosity of the oil was a little low but this shouldn't be an issue. The TBN read 3.1 so there was still some active additive left in this oil.

Numbers on left are from previous UOA Shell 5w-30 dino,
Numbers in middle are the KENDALL GT-1 syn. blend.
Numbers on right are the Wolfs Head 10w-30 Dino

MI/HR on Oil 2,300
MI/HR on Unit 23,000
Make Up Oil Added 0 QTS.
ALUMINUM 5 3 4
CHROMIUM 2 1 3
IRON 10 8 27
COPPER 59 51 46
LEAD 1 0 0
TIN 0 0 6
MOLYBDENUM 108 42 23
NICKEL 0 0 1
MANGANESE 1 1 1
SILVER 0 0 0
TITANIUM 0 0 0
POTASSIUM 2 1 3
BORON 15 88 21
SILICON 9 11 87
SODIUM 13 6 242
CALCIUM 1917 2146 1828
MAGNESIUM 20 9 8
PHOSPHORUS 646 561 745
ZINC 840 769 935
BARIUM 0 0 0

SUS Viscosity @ 210°F 53.6 56.1 57.2 - - 56-63
cSt Viscosity @ 100°C 8.35 9.09 9.43 - - 9.1-11.3
Flashpoint in °F 395 410 405 - - >365
Fuel % Antifreeze % 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - 0.0
Water % 0.0 0.0 0.0- - Insolubles % 0.3 0.2 0.2- - TBN 2.0 2.5 3.1

well guys what do you think?

 

[lucerne06]

I would also like to add that in November 2009 I took the Lucerne into the dealership to have the Exhaust Valve Stem Seals replaced as well as the Exhaust Valve Intakes. It was work done under warranty because I was using 1 qt of oil per 1200-1500 miles. Since then Oil usage has decreased to approx 10-12 oz per 2300 miles. After they did the repairs the dealership did the new oil change with the wolfs head and told me to use 10w-30 instead of 5w-30. Anyway could these repairs that were done be the reason the Iron and Silicon spiked in this recent sample??

 

[addyguy]

Wear values are high b/c of the repairs. Nothing really to worry about.

I'd do a couple of 1.5-2.5k changes on dino to flush the damage/dirt out, and then go to whatever OCI you want to.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I would Spend money on better oil not UOA though I know you got the wolfs head "free" at the dealer An oil with high % Boron in the add pack may bring down copper numbers. Why the 10w-30 ?? Is there a GM tech bulletin the service center is referencing? If 10w-30 I would run a non ILSAC GF4 HD 10w-30 like JD turfguard or Briggs.

 

[lucerne06]

The service mgr said they feel that the 10w-30 is a better choice in the 3.8L,and that is what they put in all of them that come into the dealership.What they told me is that it holds up better wear and usage wise then the 5w-30.That the main reason of the 5w-30 spec from GM was to get better fuel mileage.Until that they were spec at 10w-30.

I presently put in QS Full Syn. Horsepower 10w-30.

 

[addyguy]

Most years of the 3.8 it spec'd 10W-30. I think it's a good move to use it.

 

[lucerne06]

Has anyone ever seen another Wolfs Head oil sample UOA or VOA here on BITOG? Just wondering what you all think of the stuff? I don't think it's a very common oil, so that's why I sent it in to Blackstone so ya'll can check it out.

 

[addyguy]

There IS a UOA for WH straight-40weight used in a boat in this section...only one I've seen. Add-pack was much stouter.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Originally Posted By: lucerne06
...

I presently put in QS Full Syn. Horsepower 10w-30.
I dont think thats a good move on a engine that is bypassing oil - group III base. All these GF-4 SYN PCMO should be called NO-SYN because thats what they got in them. But ANYTHING DINO should work in a 3.8L, since it used to be the oil certification test std engine.

 

[GMFan]

I'm running this in my vehicle right now. I may use that blackstone kit I've had laying around. I plan on taking it out to 4,500 miles.

 

[lucerne06]

tell me more ARCO...thanks lucerne06...and what do other's think ???

 

[lucerne06]

why would a group III base not be a good idea on an engine that is by passing oil? As Arco suggests?

 

[Gary Allan]

Got me swinging

I don't think one oil has any advantage or disadvantage in terms of whatever effects they may have upon the emissions systems (which is the only thing I can see being impacted too much). The side effects are due to metals in the oil, not the base stock and should be a problem (or not) whether or not they experience the full combustion cycle in getting there ..or so I reason.

Expense, maybe??