I am very happy with the results I have observed with this engine. I knew it ran good, but seemingly it runs very well. And to think this car didn't sell. Oh well, if my punishment is to drive it, I'll take it.

Let me know what you think of these results.
Tony

Attached Files

C97711.pdf (37.5 KB, 244 views)

You really can't ask for any better. That 2ppm Si is really excellent. Your air filter housing and associated hoses are put together well.

How long is your average trip? If it is long enough that you get the oil hot regularly you might consider running a little longer. You could do so with confidence based on this report.


Tim

__________________
2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

Daily commute is 45 miles one way. I'm going to do a 4k this time. Probably won't go over that. I changed it with Castrol Tection this time, but it'll be going back to Rotella T. Also looking like I'll be getting the 55gal barrel of Rotella T from Sam's, since it's fairly cheap that way, and we have three diesels.

There is absolutely no way you can tell him he can extend his changing interval by reading this report.
If he wants to know if he can extend it he should have sprung for the TBN test.

Danny

__________________
1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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Another data point for extended OCI. Soot in this vehicle is running about 1.33 % per 10kmiles, right in between my data of 1 to 2% per 10kmiles. Even if you were paranoid and went with the 2% soot limit, that's about a 15kmile OCI. Go to synthetics that can handle 4% soot and....oh never mind

240Joe

Look at his additive levels, wear, water, glycol etc Danny.

Knowing that this oil starts out around TBN of 12, and given the additive levels and wear that is present - I can confidently say that his TBN is above 9...I'd bet you lunch on it.

That, and having read thousands of these reports with TBN make me very confident of this.

If he had water/coolant issues or there was a sign of excessive additive depletion for the mileage, I would not be confident.


Now, if this were an 8,000 mile interval with good wear numbers and filtration, I would agree that to take it further would require a TBN. But NOT to go from 3,000 to 4,000. This is robust oil. In the absense of some maintenance issue (which he does not currently have) he is fine.

__________________
2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

You will be very safe with that scenario.

Given the high mileage on the vehicle, just use the normal caution and watch the coolant levels closely. More vehicles end up in the scrap heap due to cooling system issues than lubrication.

Tim

__________________
2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

I once did an analysis after 10K miles in my 617 with Mobil 1, the TBN was still over 6 (the soot was too high). If you use decent oil, TBN should not be the limitation.

Which engine is the 617? It says it is a 3.0 liter 6 cylinder. My 603 is a 3.0 liter 6 cylinder. I thought the 617 was a 5 cylinder.

-Jim

__________________
1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

You're correct, the 617 is a 3L 5 cylinder, the report is incorrect.

I noticed that it said 6 cylinder also. I thought I wrote 5 cyl.
DannyM, the reason I didn't spring for a TBN, is because I don't plan on going over 4k. I just wanted a quick snapshot of what the engine looked like.

I don't want to start a big brew-ha-ha about TBNs, but I would say that he can definitely run that oil longer, without even knowing what the TBN is. We largely base our recommendations on how much metal is in the oil. An engine that produces a lot of metal but still has a high TBN--I'd say don't run it longer. The metal makes the oil too abrasive. But an engine that produces very little metal (like this one) and has a low TBN, I'd tell him to go ahead and run it longer.

It's worth noting that the TBN doesn't drop in a straight line. They follow a curve. Most gas engine TBNs will start out around 8 or 9, diesels at 11 or 12. They tend to drop quickly at first, then they level out a bit and drop much more slowly. The TBN level will also depend on how the driver uses the engine (racing? got a lead foot?) and the conditions you're driving in (desert? frigid cold?).

You don't have to have a TBN for us to give you a recommendation on whether or not you can run the oil longer. If the oil isn't doing its job, it will show up in the analysis in other ways (high wear, poor physical condition of the oil). So I say, the engine looks great. Run a longer oil change next time!

Kristin Huff
Blackstone Labs

I'm would comment again, but it would only lead to censorship. I'm going to the OD forum where truth, justice and the American way....are OK!

240Joe