2004 Prius oil sample report

[jayman]

A few of you have requested I post my Used Oil Sample report, but I'm currently away from Winnipeg on business. Fortunately I was able to have Toromont SOS labs in Toronto email the report to me.

Overall, the Prius is VERY easy on oil. About the only thing that seemed unusual was an elevated Na (Sodium) level: this could indicate contaminated oil, road salt ingestion (Not applicable this time of the year), a coolant leak, or the use of sodium xylene sulfonate as a motor oil additive.

I’m still waiting to hear back from the lab as I sent off a virgin oil sample of Mobil 1 0W-30. If it also has higher Na levels, then there should be no cause for concern.

As Toromont SOS labs primarily tests HD and fleet vehicles, they will not expect to see elevated sodium levels in a large diesel motor, as most HD diesel motor oils will not use it. Hence the note of caution when they tested my sample. Typically an elevated Na may indicate a leaking o-ring in a cylinder liner.

Here are the details:

2004 Toyota Prius, 24,084km at time of sample, 8,012km on oil. Toyota oil filter and Mobil 1 “SuperSyn” 0W-30. An asterisk indicates the out-of-limit reading.

Fe 6
Cr 0
Mb 70
Al 2
Cu 1
Pb 0
Sn 0
Si 17
*Na 75*
Zn 642
K 3
Ni 0
Ag 0

Fuel residue: 0.0
Glycol residue: 0.0
Moisture residue: 0.0

TBN: 7.5

As you may notice, the “usual” wear metals are very low indeed. I’m sure a lot of this has to do with how Toyota designs motors, as my 2000 GMC Sierra with “Vortec” 5.3 always had very high Fe levels.

Also note the TBN at slightly over 5,000 miles is still higher than most conventional virgin oils. With the exception of the elevated Na level, the oil may be capable of twice or more the service interval.

Once I get the Mobil 1 0W-30 virgin sample, I’ll post it as well. As the glycol test was negative, I’m starting to wonder if Mobil isn’t using C8H9NaO3S to control solubility, as a coupler, or to reduce cold viscosity by a consistent amount. Those are the usual industrial and petrochemical uses of sodium xylene sulfonate.

Also, it can be used as a coupler for a detergent.

[GreenMachine]

Originally posted by jayman@Nov 9 2005, 01:43 PM
A few of you have requested I post my Used Oil Sample report, but I'm currently away from Winnipeg on business. Fortunately I was able to have Toromont SOS labs in Toronto email the report to me.

Overall, the Prius is VERY easy on oil. About the only thing that seemed unusual was an elevated Na (Sodium) level: this could indicate contaminated oil, road salt ingestion (Not applicable this time of the year), a coolant leak, or the use of sodium xylene sulfonate as a motor oil additive.

I’m still waiting to hear back from the lab as I sent off a virgin oil sample of Mobil 1 0W-30. If it also has higher Na levels, then there should be no cause for concern.

As Toromont SOS labs primarily tests HD and fleet vehicles, they will not expect to see elevated sodium levels in a large diesel motor, as most HD diesel motor oils will not use it. Hence the note of caution when they tested my sample. Typically an elevated Na may indicate a leaking o-ring in a cylinder liner.

Here are the details:

2004 Toyota Prius, 24,084km at time of sample, 8,012km on oil. Toyota oil filter and Mobil 1 “SuperSyn” 0W-30. An asterisk indicates the out-of-limit reading.

Fe  6
Cr  0
Mb  70
Al  2
Cu  1
Pb  0
Sn  0
Si  17
*Na 75*
Zn  642
K  3
Ni  0
Ag  0

Fuel residue: 0.0
Glycol residue: 0.0
Moisture residue: 0.0

TBN: 7.5

As you may notice, the “usual” wear metals are very low indeed. I’m sure a lot of this has to do with how Toyota designs motors, as my 2000 GMC Sierra with “Vortec” 5.3 always had very high Fe levels.

Also note the TBN at slightly over 5,000 miles is still higher than most conventional virgin oils. With the exception of the elevated Na level, the oil may be capable of twice or more the service interval.

Once I get the Mobil 1 0W-30 virgin sample, I’ll post it as well. As the glycol test was negative, I’m starting to wonder if Mobil isn’t using C8H9NaO3S to control solubility, as a coupler, or to reduce cold viscosity by a consistent amount. Those are the usual industrial and petrochemical uses of sodium xylene sulfonate.

Also, it can be used as a coupler for a detergent.

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Wow -- impressive. How much does that test cost, if i may ask?

[jayman]

Originally posted by GreenMachine@Nov 9 2005, 01:52 PM
Wow -- impressive.  How much does that test cost, if i may ask?

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No secret needed for the cost, please ask as that's a good way to learn.

With 7% PST (Provincial Sales Tax) and 7% GST (Federal Goods & Services Tax) it was $20.27 Canadian.

It probably isn't necessary to run a used oil analysis every time you change the oil, but it certainly is a good way to see what is going on with your motor.

A good example is the mysterious Na level: if it was the middle of winter, driving on dry but salt-encrusted roads, I'd just write it off to salt dust ingestion. At the level involved, this isn't a coolant "leak" but more like a light seepage.

As I hinted in my OP, the Na could be from an additive already in the oil. In this case, it could be used as a coupler for an anti-wear additive, as a coupler/carrier for a surfactant (Detergent), to control cold temperature viscosity, many possibilities. Yes, I called Mobil and they claim they can't discuss things like that.

You certainly wouldn't notice any change in level in the coolant tank. So in the meantime I'll wait to hear back from Toromont SOS labs about the virgin sample. I'll still probably sample the oil with 4,000km on it, just to satisfy myself.

[popoff]

Originally posted by jayman@Nov 9 2005, 05:47 PM
Yes, I called Mobil and they claim they can't discuss things like that.

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Do you think a MSDS might give you a clue?

[jayman]

Originally posted by popoff@Nov 9 2005, 06:56 PM
Do you think a MSDS might give you a clue?

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That's a good tip. Unfortunately, as Mobil 1 is considered "non toxic," they don't have to list ingredients. They are "available upon request" so you know how far I'll get with that: proprietary information.

However I did find some surprises: the pour point is only -49 F. I would have thought the pour point would have been much lower for a "0" rated motor oil. At one time Mobil 1 0W-30 used to have a pour of -65 F.

The only thing mentioned on the MSDS provided at mobil.com is "This material is not considered to be hazardous according to regulatory guidelines (see MSDS Section 15)."

The only chemical mentioned is CAS # 122-39-4 or Diphenylamine (N-Phenylbenzeneamine or C12H11N). If I recall Diphenylamine can be used in a lab setting as titration for detecting things like nitrates (Changes color). It can also be used as an antioxidant, and as a pesticide.

Well, that wasn't very helpful, was it?

[hdrygas]

I hate to say this but call them or a poison control center and tell them your kid drank a half quart of mobile 1 you might well get data.

[jayman]

Originally posted by hdrygas@Nov 9 2005, 09:45 PM
I hate to say this but call them or a poison control center and tell them your kid drank a half quart of mobile 1 you might well get data.

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Wow can you see me stooping to that level?



Yeah, I guess you can!

[Jerry P]

Jayman - would you consider posting your oil analysis on www.bobistheoilguy.com to get some good feedback from the great people there? These guys really know their stuff and might be able to comment on the Na level.

[tochatihu]

Over time, I have snagged virgin oil analyses for Mobil 1 synthetic 5W30, and their sodium levels were reported as 5,6, and 7 ppm.

Along the lines of an earlier suggestion here, it is likely that a VOA for the Mobil 1 0W30 has been posted at the "Bob is the oil guy" web site.

[jayman]

Originally posted by tochatihu@Nov 10 2005, 01:47 PM
Over time, I have snagged virgin oil analyses for Mobil 1 synthetic 5W30, and their sodium levels were reported as 5,6, and 7 ppm.

Along the lines of an earlier suggestion here, it is likely that a VOA for the Mobil 1 0W30 has been posted at the "Bob is the oil guy" web site.

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Oh boy I didn't want to hear that. At the level of Na involved, and the negative report on glycol, it's doubtful Toyota will do anything.