Originally Posted By: Danh
Originally Posted By: 2002 Maxima SE
Originally Posted By: HKPolice
Originally Posted By: 2002 Maxima SE
Here is the report on my 2013 CX-5 with 30k miles (5k mile interval). I drive 15 miles to work (30 miles round trip) per day.
This is a very bad report. The 330F flashpoint indicates much higher fuel dilution than 2.8%. Blackstone labs estimates fuel dilution from the flashpoint which is useless. You need to use another lab that offers GC testing for accurate fuel numbers. Typical motor oil flash point ranges from 420 - 485F so 330F probably means over 5% fuel.
Even with assumed 5% fuel, the rest of the report is stellar. Could you explain why "this is a very bad report"?
I think HKPolice is saying that the primary purpose of a UOA is to determine the condition of the oil, not the engine. Metallic particle counts are interesting and maybe meaningful, but with differences in filtration and particle size should be not be considered an absolute statement of health. But UOAs can show, via TBN, flashpoint, viscosity, and fuel % pretty definitively whether or not the oil is still capable of protecting moving parts.
In your case, there is a lot of fuel in the oil and viscosity is on the low side, but probably not at the point where the engine is at risk. Fuel dilution seems to be the culprit and this is not uncommon with DI engines and time will tell if engineers have made the right compromises balancing fuel economy and durability. HKPolice is correct about Blackstone's fuel dilution figures: if this is of concern to you send a sample to a lab that uses gas chromotography (e.g. Polaris). The DI engine in my Honda has produced similar results; I'd be happier if it didn't.
Got it! Thanks for the additional info. I wonder why Blackstone recommended to try a longer interval next time?