[OhioTech]

Wanted to get y’alls opinion on the results of my Blackstone oil analysis. Potassium is high from an additive I used the oil change before. (arc oil friction modifier) I forgot to mention this to Blackstone. I talked to them since and they said it’s normal.
Not sure how I feel about the metals, I use a docs diesel oil filter not the Mopar oem.

It’s not horrible.
Metals are a bit high given the mileage - and that Blackstone under-reports.
TBN is lower than you should let it be with that oil! (3.5-3.8) You need a shorter interval. Probably 8K ish on your next test. Thinning is significant given the start point, but well within an acceptable range.

Try using Polaris, so you can get accurate dilution information.

 

[Paulie66]

Here is my Blackstone analysis for the last six oil changes. Am I the high aluminum content winner? Should I be concerned?

 

[Brokedownbutgood]

Here is my Blackstone analysis for the last six oil changes. Am I the high aluminum content winner? Should I be concerned? View attachment 93762

How are you pulling the sample?

 

[Paulie66]

How are you pulling the sample?

I attach a tube to my fumoto valve and drain a couple of quarts then stop. Put the sample container up to the tube and fill. And I go on a fifteen minute drive beforehand. Same process every time.

 

[Brokedownbutgood]

I attach a tube to my fumoto valve and drain a couple of quarts then stop. Put the sample container up to the tube and fill. And I go on a fifteen minute drive beforehand. Same process every time.

Okay was just curious different sampling techniques lead to different results. Yours sounds like an accurate and repeatable way. Maybe try switching oils and see what happens.

 

[OhioTech]

Stop using 30 weight!

 

[mat_haas]

^^Amsoil EFM 5w40 FS VOA for reference

^^Motul 8100 X-Cess Gen2 5w40 VOA for reference

^^Motul 8100 X-Clean Gen2 5w40 VOA for reference



just throwing up those reports for peope to reference things like starting viscosity, tbn, and additives to better assess UOA of those oils.

I'll be back in a few weeks/months with some updated reports of my own.
it's been a while.🍻

 

[jent]

I just got my first blackstone report. I changed the oil at 2k miles, and then this report was for the ~7,500 miles that followed that first early change (total miles close to 9,500).

They mention the wear metals may be high due to the engine being new, but I was more curious about how my oil was performing in this first report. I had picked Motul 8100 X-Clean Gen2 5W/40, but I was disappointed in this report seeing the viscosity being below spec.

The second sample will have the same Motul 8100, but I am trying to decide if I should try a different oil for the next oil change. Can anyone who understand these reports help advise me as to what oil may be best? Any other recommendations based off this first report? Thank you!

 

[OhioTech]

I just got my first blackstone report. I changed the oil at 2k miles, and then this report was for the ~7,500 miles that followed that first early change (total miles close to 9,500).

They mention the wear metals may be high due to the engine being new, but I was more curious about how my oil was performing in this first report. I had picked Motul 8100 X-Clean Gen2 5W/40, but I was disappointed in this report seeing the viscosity being below spec.

The second sample will have the same Motul 8100, but I am trying to decide if I should try a different oil for the next oil change. Can anyone who understand these reports help advise me as to what oil may be best? Any other recommendations based off this first report? Thank you!

View attachment 94029

Try another lab!

I suspect some dilution.

The numbers look fair for a relatively new engine.

 

[biodiesel]

@jent, I made my report(s) a little easier to look at for comparison. I'm using 5W-40 Pennzoil Platinum. Just a quick glance, your aluminum numbers are better than my last report (6,786 miles compared to your 7,466 miles). Your Iron numbers are much higher than mine. And your viscosity is low (11.29 compared to my 12.4). The viscosity range for 5W-40 is 12.5 - 16.3.

At this time, I feel pretty comfortable running 6,000-mile drain intervals. Keep in mind, a lot of my miles are towing miles. Outside of high aluminum numbers, I'm fairly content with my reports. Regardless of the oil used, high aluminum numbers seem to be normal for this engine. I wish we could see a few high mileage (100,000+ miles) UOA reports to predict what trends might look like. Eventually, we'll see a high mileage engine torn apart to know where the weak links are in the engine.

Lube Time: 4,133 miles
Unit Time: 4,133 miles

Lube Time: 3,551 miles
Unit Time: 7,684 miles

Lube Time: 5,123 miles
Unit Time: 12,807 miles

Lube Time: 6,786 miles
Unit Time: 19,593 miles

Wear Metals
IRON: 19, 21, 26, 26
CHROMIUM: 1, 1, 1, 1
NICKEL: 0, 0, 0, 0
ALUMINUM: 13, 13, 25, 26
COPPER: 14, 7, 5, 3
LEAD: 0, 0, 0, 0
TIN: 0, 1, 1, 0
CADMIUM: 0, 0, 0, 0
SILVER: 0, 0, 0, 0
VANADIUM: 0, 0, 0, 0

Contaminant Metals
SILICON: 36, 13, 12, 13
SODIUM: 4, 3, 1, 4
POTASSIUM: 24, 14, 26, 13

Multi-Source Metals
TITANIUM: 0, 0, 0, 0
MOLYBDENUM: 47, 84, 60, 94
ANTIMONY: 0, 0, 3, 0
MANGANESE: 5, 2, 1, 1
LITHIUM: 1, 0, 1, 0
BORON: 72, 169, 78, 169

Additive Metals
MAGNESIUM: 21, 877, 177, 1054
CALCIUM: 2505, 1703, 2772, 1738
BARIUM: 0, 0, 0, 0
PHOSPHOROUS: 803, 888, 977, 943
ZINC: 920, 1046, 1141, 1088

Contaminants
FUEL DILUTION: 0.6%, 0.1%, 0.6%, 0.5%
SOOT: <.1, <1, <1, <1
WATER: <.1, <1, <1, <1

Fluid Properties
VISCOSITY 100 *C: 13.0, 12.6, 12.9, 12.4
BASE NUMBER: 8.32, 9.52, 6.84, 8.09
OXIDATION: 9, 10, 10, 10
NITRATION: 10, 10, 10, 11

 

[OhioTech]

@jent
Several things stand out quickly to me:

First - this is not XClean Gen2. Assuming Blackstone has samples of XClean Gen2, they should have called that out.

We know this, because typically XClean, XClean Gen2, and most other C3 oils (not all) fall into the 1800-2000 ppm range in calcium. This is because calcium produces Sulfated Ash.

Lower SAPS oils have less metals that produce Sulfated Ash, Phosphorus, and Sulfur.

Second - We know Blackstone estimates dilution based in flash point. We know this to be wildly inaccurate. Simply put, significant dilution may not have the same affect on flash point depending on the oil composition. This specifically is why we use Polaris - or the like - Gas Chromatography measurement of dilution.

Third - it’s thin. Assuming it’s Motul - it starts on the thin side - but Xclean Gen2, specifically, has one of the smaller doses of VII for a 5W-40. We are seeing shear in the 10-15% range on some oils, but with 1/2 the amount of VII to shear - and less miles, I have significant doubts that Xclean Gen2 would lose 20% of it’s viscosity. Even assuming this is Xcess Gen2 or Pennzoil, that’s a stretch. Xcess, maybe. This goes back to 2, I seriously believe there’s at least 2-4% dilution.

Fourth - I have seen a few samples of original Xclean - they nearly all have iron accumulations at similar rates to what you show. I take Blackstone’s wear metals with a large grain of salt. They have a history of not flushing the machines properly when in a hurry - so you easily could be seeing iron from the prior sample. They have a history of under-reporting aluminum, (sometimes as much as 50% off, sometimes spot on.)

I am also taking into account the viscosity readings are a touch thin at Blackstone - but overall, given the sample, vehicle mileage, and where it was sent, it doesn’t look horrible.

Is it possible this is Xcess Gen2? As opposed to XClean? Or potentially original Xcess?

And looking at the insolubles (usually soot), I would say your fuel is not burning very cleanly - it may be worth trying a (different) fuel additive!

 

[jent]

Is it possible this is Xcess Gen2? As opposed to XClean?

Whoops, you're right, this was X-Cess Gen2. Sorry about that confusion.

What analysis lab do you recommend? Any thoughts on the oils performance now knowing the correct starting oil? Thank you so much for your detailed reply!

 

[OhioTech]

Whoops, you're right, this was X-Cess Gen2. Sorry about that confusion.

What analysis lab do you recommend? Any thoughts on the oils performance now knowing the correct starting oil? Thank you so much for your detailed reply!

The iron is high - not unheard of levels. The aluminum is unbelievably low at the same time. I feel like that’s a sampling error. Im fairly sure the actual viscosity is around 11.6-11.7. To thin - probably 2% fuel dilution.

It’s not bad. I’ve seen worse!

At the same time, it’s not great!

Polaris (AMSOIL Oil Analyzers, Fleetguard, PAACAR, several others resell Polaris). It’s a hair cheaper, includes TBN and GC Dilution!