VOA: Chevron Delo Trans Fluid ESI & Gear Lube ESI

[pjf]

Yellow-metal friendly GL-4 gear lubes are often specified for the manual transmissions and transfer cases of legacy autos. On the theory that lubricants with boron additives are less corrosive to yellow metals, I decided to submit the following transmission fluid and GL-5 gear oil for virgin oil analysis (VOA):

• Chevron Delo Trans Fluid ESI (SAE 40)
• Chevron Delo Gear Lubricants ESI (SAE 80W-90, API GL-5)

Wear Check performed the content analysis that noted high levels of potassium, boron and sulfur. Chevron Delo's lubricant engineers gave me the results of two ASTM tests:

• Copper Strip Tarnish Test (D-130)
• 4-Ball Wear Test (D-4712)

Code:


TRANS GEAR

ASTM FLUID LUBE



D-130 2A 2A

D-4712 -- 0.66



TRANS GEAR

CONTAMINANT FLUID LUBE



Silicon 1.0 0.6

Potassium 3347 3074

Sodium 26 21

Fuel (%)
Glycol -- --

Water (%)
Soot (%) -- --

Sulfation -- --

Nitration -- --



OIL TRANS GEAR

CONDITION FLUID LUBE



Boron 2408 2208

Barium 0.2 0.0

Calcium 53 62

Magnesium 0.0 0.0

Molybdenum 0.0 0.0

Sodium 26 21

Phosphorus 534 508

Sulfur 4305 12550

Zinc 6.1 0.5

Visc@40C 146.0 142.9

Visc@100C 14.61 14.28

VI 98 97

Oxidation -- --

TAN 0.733 0.412

TBN -- --



TRANS GEAR

WEAR FLUID LUBE



PQ -- --

Iron 0.8 0.8

Nickel 0.0 0.0

Chromium 0.0 0.0

Titanium 0.0 0.0

Copper 0.9 0.0

Aluminum 0.1 0.0

Tin 0.0 0.0

Lead 1.8 0.5

OBSERVATIONS

1. Calcium, phosphorus and zinc levels are low relative to the potassium, boron and sulfur levels.

2. Both Chevron Delo ESI fluids have a "copper strip tarnish test" result of Claret Red (2A). This is more corrosive than the Redline MT-90 (1A) and the Amsoil MTG (1B). In fact, this is more corrosive than 11 of the 14 GL5 gear oils in the Amsoil survey (http://www.synthetic-oil-tech.com/Gear Lube White Paper.pdf, page 17).

3. Despite having only one-third the sulfur content, the Delo Trans Fluid ESI tarnished a copper strip to the same degree as the Delo Gear Lubricant ESI (80W-90).

4. The Delo Gear Lubricant ESI has a "4-ball wear test" scar diameter of 0.66mm. This is worst than all 14 GL5 oils in the Amsoil survey (http://www.synthetic-oil-tech.com/Gear Lube White Paper.pdf, page 15).

 

[Rand]

you would think from that amsoil article that lucas gear oil is total poop... oh wait it is..

RP max gear really bombed too.

 

[m37charlie]

Were the Zn levels ppm or %?
Some transmission fluids rely heavily on ZDDPs for wear protection.

Charlie

 

[pjf]

Originally Posted By: m37charlie
Were the Zn levels ppm or %?
Some transmission fluids rely heavily on ZDDPs for wear protection.

Charlie

The zinc levels are reported as ppm. An example of another WearCheck MOB-II report posted on this website is at URL: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...ue#Post2100590. That report shows 1139 ppm of zinc.

 

[artificialist]

It is interesting to me to see so much potassium. Why would an oil have so much?

 

[pjf]

Originally Posted By: Rand
you would think from that amsoil article that lucas gear oil is total poop... oh wait it is..

RP max gear really bombed too.

You’re right. Page 19 of the Amsoil paper (http://www.synthetic-oil-tech.com/Gear Lube White Paper.pdf) highlights in red the ASTM tests that the Lucas, Royal Purple and other lubricants have failed.

ASTM results are hard to come by. The oil companies don't often execute the tests and fewer publish the results that they do have. I do thank the Chevron technical representatives for releasing the results of some of their tests.

I remain surprised that despite all of its EP additives (12,550 ppm of sulfur & 2,208 ppm of boron), the Delo Gear Lubricant ESI does not excel in the 4-Ball Wear Test (D-4712). (I guess it is missing AW additives like ZDDP??)

 

[pjf]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
It is interesting to me to see so much potassium. Why would an oil have so much?

My guess is that boron is added with one of many potassium-borate compounds.

You are correct that potassium in oil raises eyebrows. Potassium is common in some radiator fluids and is tested in motor oils to determine if coolant is leaking into the engine.

Did you see that the VOA lists potassium as a contaminant? If this was a UOA of a motor oil, I'd rebuild my engine.

 

[pjf]

Earlier, Chevron Delo's lubricant engineers gave me the results of two ASTM tests performed on the oils plus sulfur content analysis. Later, when the Chevron sulfur content analysis did not match that of Wear Check, Chevron's engineers told me that they had erred. The engineers also corrected the results of the Copper Corrosion (D-130) test from 2A to 1B for the Delo Gear Lubricant and gave me results of the Brookfield Viscosity (D-2983) test. Updated results are below.

Code:


AMERICAN DELO DELO

STANDARD TRANS GEAR

TEST METHOD FLUID LUBE COMMENTS



D-130 2A 1B Copper Corrosion

D-2983 115000 120000 Brookfield Viscosity (cP)

D-4712 -- 0.66 4-Ball Wear (mm)



TRANS GEAR

CONTAMINANT FLUID LUBE



Silicon 1.0 0.6

Potassium 3347 3074

Sodium 26 21

Fuel (%)
Glycol -- --

Water (%)
Soot (%) -- --

Sulfation -- --

Nitration -- --



OIL TRANS GEAR

CONDITION FLUID LUBE



Boron 2408 2208

Barium 0.2 0.0

Calcium 53 62

Magnesium 0.0 0.0

Molybdenum 0.0 0.0

Sodium 26 21

Phosphorus 534 508

Sulfur 4305 12550

Zinc 6.1 0.5

Visc@40C 146.0 142.9

Visc@100C 14.61 14.28

VI 98 97

Oxidation -- --

TAN 0.733 0.412

TBN -- --



TRANS GEAR

WEAR FLUID LUBE



PQ -- --

Iron 0.8 0.8

Nickel 0.0 0.0

Chromium 0.0 0.0

Titanium 0.0 0.0

Copper 0.9 0.0

Aluminum 0.1 0.0

Tin 0.0 0.0

Lead 1.8 0.5


NEW OBSERVATIONS

1. Per Chevron's revised Copper Corrosion Test information, the Delo Trans Fluid ESI with 4,305 ppm of sulfur is more corrosive to yellow metals than the Delo Gear Lubricant ESI (80W-90) with 12,550 ppm of sulfur. This is counter-intuitive as copper corrosiveness is thought to rise with sulfur content.

2. By tarnishing a copper strip to a "Claret Red (2A)" color, the Chevron Delo Trans Fluid ESI is more corrosive than 11 of the 14 GL5 gear oils in the Amsoil survey (http://www.synthetic-oil-tech.com/Gear Lube White Paper.pdf, page 17). If yellow-metal friendliness is what you want, there many other choices.

3. The Delo Gear Lubricant ESI (80W-90) has a "4-ball wear test" scar diameter of 0.66mm, which is a larger scar than that of all 14 GL5 oils in the Amsoil survey (page 15). If wear protection is what you want, there are many other choices.

4. Brookfield Viscosity is measured at low temperatures. The Delo Trans Fluid ESI had a higher low-temperature viscosity than 9 of 14 oils in the Amsoil survey. The Delo Gear Lubricant ESI (80W-90) had a higher low-temperature viscosity than 10 of 14 oils in the Amsoil survey. If low-temperature performance is what you want, there are many other choices.

5. The Chevron Delo ESI oils are non-synthetic oils and are relatively inexpensive. I purchased a case of 12 quarts of Delo Gear Lubricant ESI (80W-90) for $5.77 per quart including taxes. If you want to save money on lubricants, this is definitely a low-budget choice.

PERSONAL CONCLUSIONS

I believe that it is important to ask for American Standard Test Method (ASTM) results when evaluating lubricants for your car. If you are concerned with yellow-metal friendliness, ask for results of the Copper Corrosion Test (ASTM D-130). If you are concerned with cold-temperature performance, ask for results of the Brookfield Viscosity Test (ASTM D-2983). If you are concerned with wear protection, ask for results of wear tests, such as the 4-Ball Wear Test (ASTM D-4712).

 

[pjf]

Chevron released the results of the Four-Ball Wear Test (ASTM D-4712) for its Delo Trans Fluid. I've updated the table below with the results.
Code:


AMERICAN DELO DELO AMSOIL

STANDARD TRANS GEAR MTG

TEST METHOD FLUID LUBE 75W-90 COMMENTS



D-130 2A 1B 1B Copper Corrosion

D-2983 115000 120000 46005 Brookfield Viscosity (cP)

D-4712 0.554 0.66 0.45 4-Ball Wear (mm)

For comparison, I've taken the liberty of adding to the table the ASTM test results for the Amsoil Manual Transmission & Transaxle Gear Lube (MTG) 75W-90 (http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/mtg.aspx). The results show that the Amsoil MTG has superior low temperature performance and superior wear protection.

 

[pjf]

After seeing conflicting claims from Chevron about the amount of sulfur added to its Delo Gear Lube ESI (80W-90) and the lubricant’s performance in the Copper Corrosion test (ASTM D-130), I decided to change the lubricant after 1,000 miles and submit a sample for UOA.

Below is the comparison between the VOA and the UOA after 1000 miles. The UOA sample came from my manual transmission that contains components made from copper alloys.
Code:


AMERICAN DELO

STANDARD GEAR

TEST METHOD LUBE COMMENTS



D-130 1B Copper Corrosion

D-2983 120000 Brookfield Viscosity (cP)

D-4712 0.66 4-Ball Wear (mm)



VOA UOA (1000 miles)

GEAR GEAR

CONTAMINANT LUBE LUBE



Silicon 0.6 9.2

Potassium 3074 2284

Sodium 21 21

Fuel (%)
Glycol -- --

Water (%)
Soot (%) -- --

Sulfation -- --

Nitration -- --



VOA UOA (1000 miles)

OIL GEAR GEAR

CONDITION LUBE LUBE



Boron 2208 1704

Barium 0.0 0.5

Calcium 62 47

Magnesium 0.0 0.0

Molybdenum 0.0 0.0

Sodium 21 21

Phosphorus 508 546

Sulfur 12550 11200

Zinc 0.5 14

Visc@40C 142.9 144.3

Visc@100C 14.28 --

VI 97 --

Oxidation -- --

TAN 0.412 0.280

TBN -- --



VOA UOA (1000 miles)

GEAR GEAR

WEAR LUBE LUBE



PQ -- --

Iron 0.8 22

Nickel 0.0 0.2

Chromium 0.0 0.6

Titanium 0.0 0.1

Copper 0.0 8.4

Aluminum 0.0 4.6

Tin 0.0 0.0

Lead 0.5 0.0

In the UOA, note the increased presence of iron, copper and aluminum wear particles after only 1,000 miles. The lubricant’s performance in the 4-Ball Wear Test (ASTM D-4712) and in the Brookfield Viscosity test (D-2983) was mediocre compared to that of other gear lubricants (see white paper links above).

 

[revvedup]

There seems to be an inference here that Chevron Gear ESI rep's were trying to pull a fasty. In fact, it appears the fasty is being pulled on Delo Gear Esi (gear oil).

The ASTM D-130 copper corrosion test does not show the Delo Gear being bad on copper, rather quite the contrary. 2a on the test is near perfection. Yes, 1a and 1b are better, but 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, and 4c are worse.

So it was the worst in some Amsoil survey of 14 GL5 gear oils? Big deal! How difficult would it be to create a survey showing the Delo Gear ESI rated number one?