Blackstones comments: "If this engine saw any extra idling or sat for a while over the winter, that may explain the minor increase in metals. We don't think it's a problem at all. The viscosity of this oil was on the low side for a 5W30, but the flash point was good and we found no gas in the oil. We suggest going back to 4,000 miles next sample. "
Blackstone nailed it. The car did see reduced highway driving, more short-trip city driving, and it truely did sit around a lot more than normal while this oil was in use. My son uses this car at college, and it did not get a lot of use lately. I have no idea why Blackstone commented that the oil was a 5W30. It WAS Chevron 10W30, NOT 5W30. They said the same thing (i.e.: 5W30) on their report last August when I used Havoline 10W30 (Chev/Tex, not Equilon). I wonder if they just typed over the previous narrative. However I did mistakenly tell them the oil was in use 3K. It was actually in use 4K. My error. The Altima has Amsoil 5W30 in it right now. I'm going to try extended drains and see how that goes.
I wasn't originally going to send this oil in, but changed my mind when I saw the jet black color when I drained it. That black color was REAL unusual for this car. Just goes to show color means nothing I guess.
