Maybe I am missing something...but it seems that some things are being overlooked. To me there are so many other variables at play during an oil change when compared to the "newness" of the add pack as you are discussing...
When I change the oil...these are SOME of the system changes that may or may not impact the wear metals, and explain why they are higher right after an oil change.
-the system has been opened
-drain plug was removed and re-installed
-fill cap has been removed and re-installed
-new oil has been added to the system with un-known wear metal content
-draining of the old oil has caused an oil flow situation which was not encountered during normal operation which may disrupt settled wear metals in the pan
-during the addition of new oil, oil flow patterns were introduced which were not encountered during normal operation which may disrupt settled wear metals
-oil filter removal (metal wear on threads)
-oil filter installation (metal wear on threads)
-oil filter capability has been reduced (old filters filter better)
-new oil filter has unknown amount of contamination and wear metals
-new oil has unknown amount of contamination leading to increased wear
-during start-up after oil change, there is some period of oil starvation not encountered during normal operation***
-There are even more, but I am out of time...
When the argument is over such tiny levels of PPM, ANY of the above may influence the readings that are being taken. I find it odd that so much time is spent discussing the "freshness" of the add pack contributing to the difference in wear metals when so little control can be had over the experimental system during the oil change.
***my opinion is this is the bulk contributor to the slight spike in wear metals
When I change the oil...these are SOME of the system changes that may or may not impact the wear metals, and explain why they are higher right after an oil change.
-the system has been opened
-drain plug was removed and re-installed
-fill cap has been removed and re-installed
-new oil has been added to the system with un-known wear metal content
-draining of the old oil has caused an oil flow situation which was not encountered during normal operation which may disrupt settled wear metals in the pan
-during the addition of new oil, oil flow patterns were introduced which were not encountered during normal operation which may disrupt settled wear metals
-oil filter removal (metal wear on threads)
-oil filter installation (metal wear on threads)
-oil filter capability has been reduced (old filters filter better)
-new oil filter has unknown amount of contamination and wear metals
-new oil has unknown amount of contamination leading to increased wear
-during start-up after oil change, there is some period of oil starvation not encountered during normal operation***
-There are even more, but I am out of time...
When the argument is over such tiny levels of PPM, ANY of the above may influence the readings that are being taken. I find it odd that so much time is spent discussing the "freshness" of the add pack contributing to the difference in wear metals when so little control can be had over the experimental system during the oil change.
***my opinion is this is the bulk contributor to the slight spike in wear metals