Virgin & Used Valvoline 5W40 Premium Blue Extreme, 2000 VW TDI, 0, 4700 & 10,000 mi

[Bill Blazek]

FWIW,
Here is an analysis of Valvoline's 5W40 Premium Blue Extreme, Synthetic Diesel Engine Oil.
I have run it in my 2000 VW Golf, 1.9L TDI for the last 10,000 miles.
Used and Virgin Valvoline 5W40 Premium Blue Extreme Blackstone Analysis

Looks like it stood up well and Blackstone suggests running it for 13,000 miles next time.

 

[Camu Mahubah]

Looks good Bill, though I wonder what oil you were using before premium blue? And why didn't the first sample have molybendum?

I wanna try this Valvoline Premium Blue in my tractors when I run out of Rotella...

 

[SSDude]

This looks excellent. I bought some last year. It had a rebate. I'm glad that I bought it now.

 

[Bill Blazek]

Camu:

> Looks good Bill, though I wonder what oil you were using before premium blue?

I just bought the car last fall, 2004,
and it had some unknown brand of 15w40 in it.
I did have that oil analyzed and it showed
similar results despite the fact it 15W40 unstead
of the required 5W40. Makes me wonder why 5W40 is required.

> And why didn't the first sample have molybendum?

Thanks for pointing that out.
I had the wrong data for the virgin analysis.
I have updated the document with the correct data.
I also included the properties from all 3 analysis
and have a question:
Why does "SUS VISCOSITY @ 210 ºF" start out at
77.0, jump to 82.9 at 4700 miles, and drop back to
76.3 at 10000 miles? And does this matter at all?
I will ask Blackstone about this.

SSDude:
> I bought some last year. It had a rebate.

How did you get a rebate?
I can only find it at the Valvoline Instant Oil Change outlet in Boulder for $5/qt.

[ March 06, 2005, 02:21 AM: Message edited by: Bill Blazek ]

 

[SUNRG]

Bill, The analyst wrote "The TBN dropped to 3.7, from 8.2 last time. This is still a
strong reading."

In previous comments he noted 1.0 would be low, however I have never seen a TBN as low as 3.7 after 10k in a VW TDI.

here's a list of 42 TDI UOAs from BITOG

here's another 10 or so from TDIclub

if it were me i would change oils to Mobil 1 Truck and SUV for one OCI, then re-analyze. M1 T&SUV is repackaged Delvac 1 and far and away the most commonly used and analyzed TDI oil. this will provide you with a good baseline with which to compare other oils.

 

[Stinky Peterson]

Can't speak for others, but Cat recommends that the TBN be at least 1/2 the TBN of the new oil. I would not extend the drain period much further as there was a significant drop this last period.

 

[SSDude]

Bill,

It was on sale at Kragen Autoparts. I bought some of the dino for an Auto-rx wash and rinse. In addition, I bought the Premium Blue Synthetic. There was a $5 rebate for buying two gallons. I got around the household limit by having the rebates sent to relatives.

 

[Bill Blazek]

Very interesting info.
SUNRG, thanks for the link to the other TDI reports.
I think I saw that in another posting and was looking for it.
I'll definitely look at them carefully.

I was wondering how low is too low for the TBN and
sent the following email to Blackstone:

---------------------------
Dear Blackstone,

I have 2 questions on my recent UOA reports.

1. In my recent report, C38194, you stated:
"The TBN dropped to 3.7, from 8.2 last time. This is still a strong reading."
How low is it safe to let the TBN get before any damage occurs to the engine?
2.0? 1.0?
I have not seen any discussion of this in any of your newletters or articles.
If there is any, please point me in the right direction.

2. In previous reports, C32662, C35987, and C38194, on this
Valvoline 5W40 Premium Blue Extreme Synthetic Diesel Engine oil,
why does "SUS VISCOSITY @ 210 ºF" start out at 77.0,
jump to 82.9 at 4700 miles, and drop back to 76.3 at 10,000 miles?
Are these measurements correct?
How can it jump up and drop back down?
Does this matter at all?

Thanks much,
Bill Blazek

--------------------------------

Their response:

--------------------------------

Bill,

Oil is oil and oil does most of the work of oil irregardless of the additives.
Those who sell oils, especially oils with high TBNs,
put so much emphasis on this one characteristic that it wouldn't be hard to believe that
were a TBN exhausted the oil wouldn't work any more.
Nothing could be further frm the truth.
About 35% of the oils we analyze are from piston aircraft engines using oils with
little to no discernable additive, and which have a TBN of 0.0 going into use.
These oils do fine in what is probably the most diffucult engine environment any oil serves.
Nothing bad will happen to an engine using an oil that has exhausted its active additive
to the point that the TBN reads 0.0.

In regards to your viscosity question,
I have no idea why the variance in your three samples,
but I can tell you it is of little significance. All those readings are in the SAE 40W range @ 210F, which means they qualify as a 10W/40.
In fact, most 10W/40s read in the upper part of the SAE 30W range.
You are using a quality oil and it appears to be doing a good job for you.

Jim Stark
-----------------------------------

Any comments?
Is all the hype about TBN just that, hype?

[ March 12, 2005, 01:57 AM: Message edited by: Bill Blazek ]

 

[n8wvi]

BTW Bill, our local NAPA (maybe yours?) has this on sale for $15.99/gal.

(They don't normally carry it, but ordered it from a much larger store in GrandRapids, it was here the next day, transport was no cost to me)

Dave