Pennzoil Platinum 5w-30, 2009 4 cyl Malibu,

[orcar]

Based on the results Blackstone recommended reducing the milege by 400 miles. I am going to reduce by another 1,000 miles just for a little insurance. This means I'll be changing oil at 13,000. The reduction of 1,500 miles will onlly add one additional oil change in the next 130,000 miles and will be well worth the cost. Especially considering the cost of an engine.

The OLM was at 25% on the first analysis and at 9% on the second analysis. So next time the OLM should be around 20%.

First analysis
OIL Pen Plat 5w-30
MILES IN USE 11,985
MILES 63,125
SAMPLE TAKEN 8-22-11
OLM 25%

Second Analysis
Oil Penn Plat 5w-30
Miles in use 14,444
Mileage 77,569
Sample taken 3-17-12
OLM 9%

ALUMINUM 3 8
CHROMIUM 1 1
IRON 20 37
COPPER 2 4
LEAD 0 0
TIN 0 2
MOLYBDENUM 55 47
NICKEL 0 0
MANGANESE 1 2
SILVER 0 0
TITANIUM 0 0
POTASSIUM 0 3
BORON 31 7
SILICON 6 5
SODIUM 4 11
CALCIUM 3234 2416
MAGNESIUM 12 17
PHOSPHORUS 638 597
ZINC 738 704
BARIUM 0 0

INSOLUBLES TR Tr
WATER 0 o
FLASHPOINT ºF 400 380
SUS VIS 210ºF 62.6 64.1
cSt @ 212ºF 10.96 11.39
TNB 2.3 1.7

SECOND ANALYSIS Blackstone comments:
You noted the oil life monitor said 9% remaining and we agree that this oil was right at the end of its useful life. In fact, the accumulated iron (from steel parts) was enough that we suggest sticking with about 14,000 miles on the next oil to see what develops from here. It’s important to note that about 20% of the oil remains in use between oil changes, so the next oil is actually starting off with a touch more metal than this oil change did. The slightly high viscosity isn’t a concern. The TBN of 1.7 is still strong. No problems found at 77,569 engine miles.

 

[addyguy]

I'm suprised the OLM let you go that long....though technically, it's dead on - for the second sample, another '9%' would have taken you right to around a TBN of 1.

I agree with your plan - the second set of results are getting a bit ragged!

 

[HTSS_TR]

The OLM seems to be a little too aggressive, I think around 15-20% will be good. Wear metals per thousand miles aren't bad at all.

 

[Rand]

you also have to consider you will generally get more wear from cold starting in winter than summer.

so if you sample at 9 month and its good but your wear doubles in the last 3 monthes.. it could be seasonal as well.

 

[gathermewool]

"The TBN of 1.7 is still strong", huh?

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
"The TBN of 1.7 is still strong", huh?


Cause it could take another 2,000 miles for the 0.7 TBN to get depleted.

Blackstone deems a TBN of 1.0 to be too low for continued use.

I do agree that their comment of calling 1.7 "still strong" is silly. I wish they would get their head on straight and start writing better comments but i guess it's too much to ask from a $25 analysis.

 

[cp3]

No test for fuel?

Doesn't look too bad but these are the ones that make me wonder about the Ecotec OLM. This is a lot different than BigTallV's reports however they are also with less mileage.

 

[Donald]

The Blackstone comments are useless for the most part. The silicon is one of the lowest I have seen. What about fuel dilution and oxidation and nitration?