'04 Acura TL Red LIne 5W-20 4,000 miles Ugh!

[Craig]

Not sure if I'm happy with this analysis result and may change back to
Amsoil 0w30 after I use the Red Line up. I change the oil every 6 months
no matter what milage. This sample is after Red Line 5W-20 has been
used in the car for 1.5 yrs. This particular sample is from oil 6 months in
the car and about 4K miles. Doesn't look that great to me so what
do you guys think? The car has 18K on her.
Iron 30
Chromium 2
Lead 3
Copper 94
Tin 5
Aluminum 5
Nickel 0
Silver 0
Silicon 26
Boron 3
Sodium 19
Magnesium 45
Calcium 2607
Barium 4
Phosphorus 1509
Zinc 1691
Molybdemum 332
Titanium 0
Vanadium 0
Potassium 0
Vis@100C 9.0
Water 0
Coolant No
TBN 4.55

Oil Analysers says no action required.
I drained the oil but did not change the filter (EaO with 4k).

Craig

 

[Gary Allan]

Is this the only UOA you've done on this engine?

 

[LargeCarManX2]

I am confused by this statement?

"I change the oil every 6 months no matter what milage. This sample is after Red Line 5W-20 has been used in the car for 1.5 yrs."

Anyway Copper is spiked into the abnormal range. Hope it is additive not any engine metal wear! TBN is good, viscosity is consistant with 20wt. Can you give anymore information like Gary Allan asks? And a bit more?

 

[Gary Allan]

I believe that he's saying that RL has been used over the last 1.5 years ..not that this is a 1.5 year OCI. That is, approximately for the last 5-6 OCIs ...he's not switch hitting and any "disruption" due to RL's aggressive (Ogressif -crock hunter RIP) add pack should be long gone ..or so one might reason.

 

[Craig]

Gary Allen,
Correct. I mentioned the 1.5 years of using RL because I've read here that
initial UOA's with RL were a little alarming in some wear departments.
This is my first UOA with this engine. The RL was SL rated.
I'm a little upset at the Fe of 30, and of course the copper at 94.
I'm going to change the air filter tommorrow.
Craig

 

[simple_gifts]

I though hondas shed copper for 20-25K miles. Anybody?

 

[benjamming]

What kind of driving conditions, warm-up, etc.? What air filter were you using & what are you installing? Any oil or fuel additives? Was there any oil consumption?

 

[Craig]

Stock air filter, car driven at least 20 minutes usually to work at speeds up to
55. No oil additives, but do use FP 60 once every couple of months.
When starting from cold I usually wait until the nav system boots up
which is about 45 seconds to a minute before moving the car. I am a pretty
conservative driver and don't "get on it" very often.

Funny thing is I was getting over 1mpg better using the Amsoil 0W-30.
The engine at idle is a quiet as a tomb and runs quite well with either oil.
Craig

 

[Pablo]

Cu elevated is normal - but that's pretty elevated. It's worth checking your intake system for leaks. I don't like the bearing and Fe wear.

If you get better MPG with the Amsoil 0w30 - I would run a 2-3K interval of conventional oil and switch back.

 

[goodvibes]

It looks like Redline was used since about 6k mi. I think that any results that you got before that should be taken witha grain of salt. You should definitely try the Amsoil again but I'd be surprised if it actually gave you better mileage. You may like its results better regardless.

 

[unDummy]

Yuck, I'm a big redline fan and can't defend it here.
Since your engine has a bunch of miles(broken in), and has had redline before(no rinse cleaning effect here), the numbers are excessive!

Maybe your engine just likes thicker oil. Try the Redline 5w30 for comparison. Or, abandon that brand for something else.

 

[Patman]

I'd say to get Terry Dyson's input into this. There is more to a good UOA than just picking the right oil. Driving habits and mechanical condition of the engine are just as important, if not more important than your choice in oils. Terry can certainly suggest things to improve on this report.

 

[bruce381]

1 UOA is only a snap shot of whats going on this maybe BETTER or WORSE than before trying RL, UOA's are only good when trended as in more than 1 test over the same time/mileage period. That said it look like high metals for whatever reason (brakein or ??) I would re sample and test again in 6 months then you will at least have 2 tests to validate any problems if any.

bruce

 

[benjamming]

A 2nd UOA would definitely nail down if this was an anomaly or a true reading. However, I would 2nd Patman's suggestion to give Terry a few bucks & find out for sure what's going on. These metals seem pretty high to be satisfied with and to leave to chance that everything might come back down on the 2nd UOA b/c without corrections it probably won't.

 

[Craig]

Ok, will get Mr. Dysons input. Am thinking about what else to do.
You guys are great.
Craig

 

[LargeCarManX2]

Quote:

---

Cu elevated is normal - but that's pretty elevated. It's worth checking your intake system for leaks. I don't like the bearing and Fe wear.

If you get better MPG with the Amsoil 0w30 - I would run a 2-3K interval of conventional oil and switch back.

---

Pablo, just wondering why you suggest a 2K dino before switching back from Redline to Amsoil

 

[Pablo]

Nothing but a flush.

 

[slider]

Quote:

---

Ok, will get Mr. Dysons input. Am thinking about what else to do.


My guess: dirt.

 

[Craig]

Dirt? Hmmm, am changing the air filter ASAP. I drive in an urban area
and would be suprised if dirt was the cause of this analysis but hey
that's why I asked the question in the first place and certainly appreciate
and will consider every opinion.

My first reaction is to change it back immediately to Amsoil and wait for
6 months to get another sample.
Thanks,
Craig

 

[Palut]

I don't know why high copper still surprises people. Almost every single UOA on late model Honda V-6 engines (and LS1s for that matter) show high copper for at least the first twenty thousand miles.