UOA Used Oil Analysis

[ScottY]

My friend call me up one day and tell me that he's getting "SuperTech full synthetic" oil at Walmart for real cheap, around $3/qt. Since Mobil 1 switch to group III formula (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_oil) and at close to $6/qt., what the heck, I'll give this a try.

I have 1.5 qts of Mobil 1 left, added the extra 2 qt of SuperTech for the oil change at 55k miles. Then I read on the internet ( ) that mixing synthetic oil isn't a good idea. After a week of driving, I sent the sample in for testing just in case. Turns out to be ok. Will sample again in 5k miles.

[dmckinstry]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dmckinstry @ Jul 1 2007, 06:37 AM) [snapback]470982[/snapback]</div>

Here's he result of the analysis taken after driving from Cheney, WA to Winnemucca,NV. 1750 miles on that oild at time of testing. No dilution flagged, but viscosity is apparently down to 20. I'll wait until my normal oil change around 55k miles and use Mobil 1 then, just to see if the viscosity is higher after 5000 miles on it.
Dave M.
[attachmentid=9339]
[/b]

An update: After about 2300 miles with Mobil 1, there seems to be no fuel dilution or decrease in viscosity.
This is the first analysis I've had done that didn't show a decrease in viscosity (even with only 1000 miles on the oil sample). I'm hoping (I'll maybe confirm at my next change at about 60000 miles) that whatever has been causing the dilution problem has been cleaned up by the Mobil 1. Contamination on the rings, intake valves, or whatever.

There weren't even any really long trips on this sample.

Any ideas?

Here's the report.

[attachmentid=11265]


In any case, I'll never go back to dino oil.

Dave M.

[dmckinstry]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dmckinstry @ Sep 7 2007, 10:12 AM) [snapback]508629[/snapback]</div>

An update: After about 2300 miles with Mobil 1, there seems to be no fuel dilution or decrease in viscosity.
This is the first analysis I've had done that didn't show a decrease in viscosity (even with only 1000 miles on the oil sample). I'm hoping (I'll maybe confirm at my next change at about 60000 miles) that whatever has been causing the dilution problem has been cleaned up by the Mobil 1. Contamination on the rings, intake valves, or whatever.

There weren't even any really long trips on this sample.

Any ideas?

Here's the report.

[attachmentid=11265]
In any case, I'll never go back to dino oil.

Dave M.
[/b]

Another piece of information. Here are the results of the analysis of Mobil 1 5W-30 right out of the bottle.
It is 5W-30, not 15W-40 as indicated on the report.
[attachmentid=11475]

I don't know whether or not I can really trust Western States viscosity information, since the new oil is indicated to have a viscosity of 20c and the prevoius sample with 2300 miles on it shows a viscosity of 40C.

Dave M.

[hobbit]

somehow, buying the cheapest oil and filters at wally world and then
worrying about UOAs seems like the height of irony.
.
_H*

[brick]

Depends on what "cheap" oil really is. Could be decent stuff but without the branding, or it could be brewed from low-grade robusto beans and left on the warming plate for a few days too many. Either way I figure it's better that he analyze it than not.

[ScottY]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Sep 15 2007, 11:10 PM) [snapback]513184[/snapback]</div>

somehow, buying the cheapest oil and filters at wally world and then
worrying about UOAs seems like the height of irony.
.
_H*
[/b]

Life is full of irony isn't it?

If the cheap wally world oil show the same/comparable result as the expensive Mobil 1, I don't see why not.

Oh, I'm using the OEM Toyota filter by the way.

[Winston]

First and second oil change results.

Note that I put in 5W20 Motorcraft oil. My engine seems to like the 5W20.

[tochatihu]

Thanks Winston, I hope you have the opportunity to post more UOAs later. The Cu and Si should continue to decrease.

[Winston]

BTW. The oil filter is a Walmart Supertech filter. They are innexpensive, ($2.18) but are supposed to be very good filters. I have almost 4k miles on my latest oil(been putting in a lot of miles lately) and it looks brand new on the dipstick.

[ScottY]

This is the UOA of the Walmart SuperTech synthetic 5W-30 mentioned above at 5k miles. Very nice wear results. Only negative is the viscosity is a bit lower than 5W30 grade. If I'm going to get the same brand, I might go with a lighter grade.

[attachmentid=12080]