Mobil 1 5W-30, 12,000km (~7500 mi), '12 Cruze 1.4T

[Blue_Angel]

Here goes, my first ever UOA. Mobil 1 5W-30 SN in a 2012 Cruze Eco manual transmission, 1.4L Turbo, from April to December 2013 Eastern Ontario, Canada, climate. 12,000 km (~7,500 mi) on the oil, in service from 16,800 km to 28,800 km (~17,900 mi) at time of change. OLM read 35% oil life remaining, suggesting a change interval of ~18,500 km (~11,500 mi).

This oil gets treated gently as the majority of my driving is at relatively low speeds. Coolant temps in this engine are high (225-240F) and it has an oil/water heat exchanger to warm the oil and then help maintain its temperature.

It would appear that the starting oil condition values used by WearCheck are not correct? Mobil advertises M1 5W-30 SN viscosity as 11.0 @ 100C and 61.7 @ 40C, with a VI of 172, which doesn't corelate to their data in the report?

Code:


Time on Unit 28848 kms

Time on Oil 12009 kms

Time on Filter 12009 kms



CONTAMINATION CURRENT ABN

Silicon 8.5 30

Potassium 3.0 20

Sodium 0.7 80

Fuel (%)
Glycol --- 0.06

Water (%)
Soot (%) 0 ---

Sulfation (%) 67 100

Nitration (%) 71 100



WEAR CURRENT ABN

Iron 19 150

Nickel 0.2 5

Chromium 0.3 20

Titanium 0.0 ---

Copper 4.3 155

Aluminum 7.8 40

Tin 0.1 10

Lead 0.1 50

Silver 0.0 2



OIL CONDITION CURRENT BASE

Boron 32 94

Barium 0.1 0.0

Calcium 1171 820

Magnesium 613 1388

Molybdenum 75 0.0

Sodium 0.7 0.0

Phosphorus 621 720

Sulfur 1817 2240

Zinc 733 780

Visc 40C (cst) 53.3 64.8

Visc 100C (cst) 9.7 11.3

Viscosity Index 169 169

Oxidation (%) 69

 

[k24a4]

Looks great given your mileage. My guess would be that Wearcheck is using an "average" for the 5w30 base numbers. Thanks for posting.

 

[badtlc]

without knowing the starting number, it is impossible to say, but the oxidation seems a bit high.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Blue_Angel
It would appear that the starting oil condition values used by WearCheck are not correct?

I would agree, assuming that's what WearCheck's column actually means. I'm pretty sure that magnesium number in the second column is off, too, if it's supposed to represent virgin M1 5w-30 numbers.

 

[Blue_Angel]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Blue_Angel
It would appear that the starting oil condition values used by WearCheck are not correct?

I would agree, assuming that's what WearCheck's column actually means. I'm pretty sure that magnesium number in the second column is off, too, if it's supposed to represent virgin M1 5w-30 numbers.


From the report:

"Base - Represents the test result values from a sample of the new unused oil"

Could it be that their records are not up to date and they're using the values for the SM version? I have an oil spreadsheet I downloaded that contains the same viscosity values for M1 5W-30 as WC used in my report, maybe the spreadsheet has the SM data on it as well?

 

[Blue_Angel]

400+ views and so few comments? Would be nice to get as much feedback as possible on the wear and contamination numbers.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
Blue_Angel - A very good report!

I'm using the same lubricant in a Cruze 1.8 manual I have in my fleet. It seems to be a great application

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Blue_Angel
Could it be that their records are not up to date and they're using the values for the SM version?

It's possible. Perhaps send in a VOA sample, if you're up to spending the money. As for lack of feedback, that's a good thing. Nothing is glaringly ominous!

 

[CATERHAM]

A good report.

BTW I am surprised that GM wants the coolant temp's to run that high. So 225F-240F is the actual spec' for the 1.4L turbo engine?That's the highest normal operating temp's I've ever heard of (excluding high coolant temp's during some extreme usage).

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
CATERHAM - Perhaps the OP's temperature range is wrong. My understanding is that the range is 210-220F. This is still a "hot" range but perhaps typical of many newer engine families

I'll do some Raytek checking on mine over the next few days

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
CATERHAM & OP - My Raytek tester showed a bulk oil temperature of around 80C (176F)after a trip of about 100km (60 miles). The ambient was (32C (92F) and the speed around 70mph

Individual temps around the engine varied with the highest point being prior to the thermostat, this being 101C (214F). This is all very normal stuff IMO

 

[Blue_Angel]

Doug H., I'm not sure if the 1.8 runs different coolant temps than the 1.4T or not, and/or if the Aussie 1.8 is different than the N/A version?

The opening temp on the 1.4T thermostat is 221F, full open at ~240F if I remember correctly. It has a heated wax pellet controlled by the ECU; under load the wax pellet is heated which lowers the thermostat's opening temperature into the low 180s.

In 2012 GM removed the digital coolant temp readout from the DIC, but owners of 2011 cars can watch the thermostat drop the coolant temp as necessary to keep it from boiling in the head when the engine is under load, such as climbing a hill, then watch it climb again afterwards back into the 220's. All in the search of efficiency and lower emissions.