Mobil 1 MX4T 10W-40, Suzuki V-Strom 650, 1315 Miles

[RiverRat]

UPDATE:

I had another UOA done by Blackstone Labs on my Suzuki DL650 V-Strom and here are the results.

Suzuki V-Strom 650cc. Mobil 1 MX4T 10W-40 and Suzuki OEM filter. Second UOA on this bike.

Testing done by Blackstone Labs on 5/31/06
Mileage on bike - 8,830
Miles on oil - 3,234

INSOLUBLES: 0.2%
WATER: 0.0%
ANTIFREEZE: 0.0%
FUEL: FLASHPOINT IN F: 410
SUS VISCOSITY @ 210 F: 64.3

ALUMINUM 11
CHROMIUM 1
IRON 31
COPPER 3
LEAD 1
TIN 6
MOLYBDENUM 82
NICKEL 0
MANGANESE 0
SILVER 0
TITANIUM 0
POTASSIUM 1
BORON 185
SILICON 14
SODIUM 6
CALCIUM 1919
MAGNESIUM 12
PHOSPHORUS 1294
ZINC 1566
BARIUM 0

I was planning to run the oil for 2k but it ended up going for just over 3k. The first oil report showed high levels of silicon and iron which some of you attributed to a dirty or leaking air filter, so I changed the air filer with a new one and all 3,234 miles were with this new air filter. The silicon did not change. The oil also continued to lose grade.

I changed the oil again using 2 quarts of MX4T 10W-40 and this time I mixed in 1 quart of M1 V-Twin 20W-50. The bike holds 2.9 quarts.

The Iron is also increased this change. I think the air filter gasket on this bike is of a poor design and it's letting dirty air past. I don't believe the filter itself is to blame. When I changed the air filter out, I could see a VERY fine layer of dust in the bottom of the airbox.

I look forward to hearing your expert opinions on this UOA.

 

[RiverRat]

Here is the pdf file of both oil changes...easier to read.

 

[sunruh]

iron is high, copper jumped and tin is way up.
imho, i wouldn't go over 2k on this oil.
and how the heck did moly gain 12?

 

[Mickey_M]

In reading this thread I see a couple of things worth mentioning.

MX4T is formulated on the low end of SAE 40 viscosity. It has almost no VI booster in and is extremely shear stable, so the readings they got on the first testing don't show shearing, they show an oil that's on the low end of SAE 40.

The elemental analysis shows a pretty linear buildup of wear particles. Triple the mileage, triple the wear particles.

Adding the 20W-50 won't hurt anything. It is similar and contains no VI booster at all. On the other hand, I am not sure it helps anything either.

I am not familiar with this engine so I don't know what normal wear looks like.