Rotella 15w40, 5K, 08 Ford F-250

[TXHunter]

2nd ever UOA sample. Owner maintained 5k mile interval using Rotella 15w40. Oil was dumped at time of test and refilled with Amsoil OE 15w40.

Make/Model: Navistar 6.4L V-8 Power Stroke Twin Turbo
Vehicle: 2008 Ford F-250

Code:


OIL Rotella 15w40 Rotella 15w40

MILES IN USE 5049 5935

MILES ON UNIT 57K 52K

SAMPLE TAKEN 2/18/13 9/8/12

MAKE UP OIL 0 0



ALUMINUM 45 28

CHROMIUM 2 2

IRON 49 47

COPPER 1 2

LEAD 1 4

TIN 1 0

MOLYBDENUM 9 17

NICKEL 2 1

MANGANESE 1 1

SILVER 0 0

TITANIUM 0 0

POTASSIUM 10 10

BORON 23 24

SILICON 6 5

SODIUM 4 5

CALCIUM 1837 1531

MAGNESIUM 85 257

PHOSPHORUS 833 805

ZINC 942 912

BARIUM 0 0



SUS @ 210F 64.5 60.0

Visc @ 100C 11.46 10.21

Flashpoint 385 360

Fuel % 2.5 5.5

Antifreeze % 0.0 0.0

Water % 0.0 0.0

Insolubles % 0.3 0.4


Blackstone Comments:
Fuel dilution improved quite a bit this time, dropping from 5.5% to 2.5%. This level is still in the cautionary range, but hopefully it drops again next time. If you had anything fixed in that area, this could be residual fuel from before repairs were made. Aluminum didn't fare quite as well as fuel unfortunately. It increased quite a bit showing more piston wear. The other metals stayed low, which is good. If the engine sees any hard use like idling or towing that might explain some of the wear. Check back in 5,000 miles.

 

[dnewton3]

Looks "normal" overall.

These engines shed metals a bit more than others, and seemingly Al more in particular. (Your other UOAs recently posted as partial examples).

Would like to see some "extended" OCIs and the effects on wear rates, but the fuel issue in these engines (and the "regen" competitors like the 6.7L Cummins and the LMM Dmax) just cannot be ignored. 5k mile OCIs might just be the practical limit for these engines in many applications.

I've seen some engines have lower fuel even with regens, but they are more often attributed to trucks that are actually used like trucks, pulling heavy loads in steady-state conditions where the exhaust systems come up to temp and burn down the DPF as designed, rather than having to use raw fuel as an accelerator. Guys and gals that drive these as "daily commuters" are just going to have more fuel, and that will limit their OCIs. Let's face it; folks that select a King Ranch are not likely using these for a heavy work truck. About the only time a truck like this gets a workout is pulling a 5ver every once in a while. That is a generalization; yes. But because that becomes a "norm" of use, then UOAs then become the predominate form of "normal" results.

 

[Donald]

What about soot & TBN?

I agree with the 5K OCI at least for now.