Amsoil SS 5w30, 8K, 04 Chevy Tahoe

[TXHunter]

Make/Model: GM 5.3L V-8
Vehicle: 2004 Chevy Tahoe

Mixed in a few quick OCI with the OE line to see if metals and silicon would come down. Still can't find the silicon entry point, but have gotten check engine light 2-3x recently for MAF. Switched from K&N, Wix, and now to Amsoil air filter with no noticeable change in values. Also replaced the air box itself during this last run, check engine light has tripped since then as well.

Blackstone comments:
Silicon is higher yet in this sample, but considering how great wear is we really don't think it's from a harmful source like abrasive dirt. It's not an additive in the oil, since it increased and this is the same oil as last time, so it might just be from a silicone sealer of some sort. We're not sure what to make of the slightly high viscosity, but it's not hurting anything so it's just something to point out. The TBN of 3.1 shows that this oil still had some active additive left. This engine looks to be in good shape as it approaches the big 200K mile-mark, so try 9K miles next time.

Code:


OIL Ams SS Ams SS Ams OE Ams OE Ams SS Ams SS

MILES IN USE 8,124 6,069 3,165 3,008 9,569 7,990

MILES ON UNIT 177,436 175,381 169,312 166,147 163,139 161,560

SAMPLE TAKEN 11/30/14 10/23/14 6/23/14 5/6/14 1/25/14 12/18/13

MAKE UP OIL 0 0 0 0 0 0



ALUMINUM 3 2 2 3 5 5

CHROMIUM 0 0 0 1 1 0

IRON 9 7 3 7 18 15

COPPER 12 10 6 12 14 14

LEAD 7 6 2 5 14 12

TIN 0 0 0 0 0 0

MOLYBDENUM 144 139 68 89 132 132

NICKEL 0 1 0 2 1 1

MANGANESE 0 0 0 0 1 1

SILVER 0 0 0 1 0 0

TITANIUM 0 0 0 0 0 0

POTASSIUM 0 0 0 1 2 2

BORON 45 53 105 147 49 54

SILICON 31 25 14 18 25 25

SODIUM 9 8 3 7 10 10

CALCIUM 3247 3475 1944 2284 3195 3072

MAGNESIUM 12 15 8 10 13 13

PHOSPHORUS 702 658 658 790 644 661

ZINC 801 767 747 875 690 692

BARIUM 0 0 0 0 0 0



SUS @ 210F 64.6 63.8 58.7 58.3 62.9 62.2

Visc @ 100C 11.51 11.29 9.86 9.73 11.04 10.84

Flashpoint 430 435 410 430 445 420

Fuel %
Antifreeze % 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Water % 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Insolubles % 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.3

TBN 3.1 3.4 2.4 2.4 2.8

 

[benjy]

for an oil rated @ 25,000 or one year seems the TBN# may be low. not an oil test specialist for sure, but been an Amsoil user for years. seems their "slipping" in group III base oils in place of PAO's. prices have not dropped for sure, the mobil I extended performance still uses some of their own PAO base oil, rated for 15,000 or one year, its about half price!!!! just ordered some Redline 10-40 as my 2001 TT has been USING more Amsoil lately, even switched to 10-40 premium synthetic from SS 10-30.

 

[donnyj08]

Is this vehicle a highway queen or is it short tripped often? Wear looks great, but i would have expected a higher TBN retention rate from OE and SS.

 

[jk_636]

Im surprised the TBN is so low in all the samples on the chart. I thought Amsoil was supposed to have good TBN retention. Not too impressed at all. Are you considering changing to another oil brand? Your TBN at 3k miles using Amsoil OE was HALF of what mine was using RP API at double that mileage...

Good luck OP!

 

[jk_636]

Originally Posted By: benjy
for an oil rated @ 25,000 or one year seems the TBN# may be low. not an oil test specialist for sure, but been an Amsoil user for years. seems their "slipping" in group III base oils in place of PAO's. prices have not dropped for sure, the mobil I extended performance still uses some of their own PAO base oil, rated for 15,000 or one year, its about half price!!!! just ordered some Redline 10-40 as my 2001 TT has been USING more Amsoil lately, even switched to 10-40 premium synthetic from SS 10-30.


There is no way this oil would have lasted 25,000 miles. The add pack would have been completely wiped out. I hate to say it and I mean no disrespect, but just because a company claims you can go 25k doesnt mean you should. For as much as the OP is paying for SS, I would send these results to Amsoil and demand some free oil or some sort of compensation for their oil's shortcomings.

 

[TXHunter]

Short tripped very often, and wife drives it like she stole it.

 

[donnyj08]

Originally Posted By: dhellman12
Short tripped very often, and wife drives it like she stole it.


That explains the TBN! Thanks!

 

[BrianC]

Originally Posted By: jk_636
Im surprised the TBN is so low in all the samples on the chart. I thought Amsoil was supposed to have good TBN retention. Not too impressed at all. Are you considering changing to another oil brand? Your TBN at 3k miles using Amsoil OE was HALF of what mine was using RP API at double that mileage...

Good luck OP!
Keep in mind every engine treats oil differently, as does driving habits. To compare TBN retention, you must have the same engine and driving habits.

 

[KCJeep]

Short tripping is very hard on the TBN, especially in winter, my wife does the same thing top tier syns are getting tired at 7-8k.

 

[buster]

It's a very good report considering the type of driving. The TBN can stabilize and remain at that level for many more miles.

 

[jk_636]

I have seen a lot of vehicles that are short tripped and driven like a bat out of heck, but that severe drop in TBN over some of those intervals (as low as 3k miles) is unforgiveable! I am surprised you have stuck with Amsoil. Why not go for an oil with better TBN retention??

 

[zpinch]

Most people do not understand what TBN retention is, nor that the TBN number after initial use has little to tell you about what it is actually doing, the chemistry involved.

The acid neutralizing additives in the oil will fight for and react with engine part surfaces, thereby reducing what you can 'see' in the oil... TBN retention is not the same as TBN effectiveness. AS long as the TBN is more than 1.0, the oil is, without looking at other values, serviceable.

 

[zpinch]

Just because a bunch of the TBN 'value' is gone from a report, doesn't mean it's gone, it very well be put to work protect your engine from corrosion. I don't understand the chemistry going on btw, I am still learning.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: jk_636
I have seen a lot of vehicles that are short tripped and driven like a bat out of heck, but that severe drop in TBN over some of those intervals (as low as 3k miles) is unforgiveable! I am surprised you have stuck with Amsoil. Why not go for an oil with better TBN retention??


What a worthless post from someone whom does not understand TBN retention.

 

[jk_636]

What a worthless company that would charge so much $$$ for oil that cant retain its add pack past a couple thousand miles...

 

[ltslimjim]

Even for short-tripping, there is no telling how much longer the TBN would remain usable. I believe time is much more important here then mileage considering the severe service.

EDIT: 5 months and down to 3.1? That's a lot of short-tripping.

 

[TXHunter]

Here is some more detail I recorded at time of the oil change from the Tahoe's computer.

Service: 6/23/14 to 11/30/14
Miles: 8,124.1
Fuel: 602.3 gallons
Avg MPG: 13.5
Avg Speed: 29 MPH

 

[Spector]

No one seems to mind that the lead, copper and silicon seem high for 8,000 miles. The driving type does beat this oil up but the trend in those numbers is interesting. Having been a longtime Amsoil user (left the fold several years ago when less expensive synthetics hit the shelves) I could never ever get close to 25,000 miles using UOA. 12,000-15000 was it but numbers looked a lot better at 12,000 than this sample does at 8,000. I vote to switch to a less expensive synthetic off the shelf and drop the OCI to 5-7,500.

 

[GenesisGuy70]

Everyone, scroll to the bottom of this and read the part about TBN retention. Preferably before you bash Amsoil.

Thanks

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/engine-oil-analysis/

 

[CT8]

Originally Posted By: benjy
for an oil rated @ 25,000 or one year seems the TBN# may be low. not an oil test specialist for sure, but been an Amsoil user for years. seems their "slipping" in group III base oils in place of PAO's. prices have not dropped for sure, the mobil I extended performance still uses some of their own PAO base oil, rated for 15,000 or one year, its about half price!!!! just ordered some Redline 10-40 as my 2001 TT has been USING more Amsoil lately, even switched to 10-40 premium synthetic from SS 10-30.
UP TO 25,000 or 1 year.