At the Maximum-Suzuki forum, there's an oil thread going on (amazingly enough!!), so the question came up about using the manufacturer's branded oil. I scarfed up a quart each of 10-40 dino and 15-50 synthetic to send out for VOA. The oil is branded 'Suzuki', but lists "SOPUS" on each container, so I'm guessing it's Shell.
We'll do the 10-40 Dino first:
RON: This is the virgin sample of Suzuki/Shell 10W/40. The TBN read 9.5, which is a strong reading to start out with. We found no moisture or solids in this sample, and the viscosity was normal for a 10W/40 oil. This oil should serve you well.
VOA #1 (Suzuki/Shell 10-40 Dino)
MI/HR ON OIL:
MI/HR ON UNIT:
DATE: 3-22-09
ALUMINUM: 0
CHROMIUM: 0
IRON: 1
COPPER: 0
LEAD: 0
TIN: 0
MOLY: 0
NICKEL: 0
MANGANESE: 0
SILVER: 0
TITANIUM: 0
POTASSIUM: 0
BORON: 3
SILICON: 3
SODIUM: 2
CALCIUM: 2017
MAGNESIUM: 6
PHOSPHOROUS: 738
ZINC: 923
BARIUM: 0
SUS VISC. @210F: 74.1
Cst Visc. @100C: 14.02
Flashpoint: 410
Fuel %:—
Antifreeze %: —
Water %: 0.0
Insolubles %: 0.0
TBN: 9.5
TAN:
ISO Code:
And, the 15-50, Synthetic:
RON: This sample of 15W/50 oil looks a lot like the 10W/40, only with a higher viscosity (as you'd expect). The additives are about the same, and the TBN starts out about the same too (at 9.8). No moisture or solids found.
VOA #1 (Suzuki/Shell 15-50 Syn.)
MI/HR ON OIL:
MI/HR ON UNIT:
DATE: 3-22-09
ALUMINUM: 0
CHROMIUM: 0
IRON: 1
COPPER: 0
LEAD: 0
TIN: 0
MOLY: 0
NICKEL: 0
MANGANESE: 0
SILVER: 0
TITANIUM: 0
POTASSIUM: 0
BORON: 2
SILICON: 2
SODIUM: 2
CALCIUM: 1936
MAGNESIUM: 5
PHOSPHOROUS: 707
ZINC: 875
BARIUM:
SUS VISC. @210F: 99.6
Cst Visc. @100C: 20.26
Flashpoint: 425
Fuel %:—–
Antifreeze %: —
Water %: 0.0
Insolubles %: 0.0
TBN: 9.8
TAN:
ISO Code:
Both being SH/SJ rated, I was expecting higher zinc/phosphorous numbers. If you are one who likes to see those numbers higher than 1,000, there are a bunch of other oils out there that will fill the bill - just about any 15-40 HDEO, for instance..
OTOH, maybe we make too much of the ZDDP numbers???
We'll do the 10-40 Dino first:
RON: This is the virgin sample of Suzuki/Shell 10W/40. The TBN read 9.5, which is a strong reading to start out with. We found no moisture or solids in this sample, and the viscosity was normal for a 10W/40 oil. This oil should serve you well.
VOA #1 (Suzuki/Shell 10-40 Dino)
MI/HR ON OIL:
MI/HR ON UNIT:
DATE: 3-22-09
ALUMINUM: 0
CHROMIUM: 0
IRON: 1
COPPER: 0
LEAD: 0
TIN: 0
MOLY: 0
NICKEL: 0
MANGANESE: 0
SILVER: 0
TITANIUM: 0
POTASSIUM: 0
BORON: 3
SILICON: 3
SODIUM: 2
CALCIUM: 2017
MAGNESIUM: 6
PHOSPHOROUS: 738
ZINC: 923
BARIUM: 0
SUS VISC. @210F: 74.1
Cst Visc. @100C: 14.02
Flashpoint: 410
Fuel %:—
Antifreeze %: —
Water %: 0.0
Insolubles %: 0.0
TBN: 9.5
TAN:
ISO Code:
And, the 15-50, Synthetic:
RON: This sample of 15W/50 oil looks a lot like the 10W/40, only with a higher viscosity (as you'd expect). The additives are about the same, and the TBN starts out about the same too (at 9.8). No moisture or solids found.
VOA #1 (Suzuki/Shell 15-50 Syn.)
MI/HR ON OIL:
MI/HR ON UNIT:
DATE: 3-22-09
ALUMINUM: 0
CHROMIUM: 0
IRON: 1
COPPER: 0
LEAD: 0
TIN: 0
MOLY: 0
NICKEL: 0
MANGANESE: 0
SILVER: 0
TITANIUM: 0
POTASSIUM: 0
BORON: 2
SILICON: 2
SODIUM: 2
CALCIUM: 1936
MAGNESIUM: 5
PHOSPHOROUS: 707
ZINC: 875
BARIUM:
SUS VISC. @210F: 99.6
Cst Visc. @100C: 20.26
Flashpoint: 425
Fuel %:—–
Antifreeze %: —
Water %: 0.0
Insolubles %: 0.0
TBN: 9.8
TAN:
ISO Code:
Both being SH/SJ rated, I was expecting higher zinc/phosphorous numbers. If you are one who likes to see those numbers higher than 1,000, there are a bunch of other oils out there that will fill the bill - just about any 15-40 HDEO, for instance..
OTOH, maybe we make too much of the ZDDP numbers???