Oil analysis, follow up to thread 69981
Submitted: Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 11:44
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Dave B ( BHQ NSW)
Well I bit the bullet and got an oil analysis done on my Dello 400 oil.
The recommended oil change intervals from Toyota for my model is 5000 kms, but I thought with the advances in various technologies and the need to develop better oils for the high tech engines nowadays, I would do a few more K’s and then get the oil analysis done.
I did 8000 K’s before I got the analysis done, and all looks good on the report.
Thankfully, all the stats on the wear metals were quite low, and also the silicon and sodium levels were low as
well, indicating the air cleaner was working effectively.
Soot, oxidation and sulphation levels also came out very low and the end result, it was recommended to get another test done after another 100 hours. So, at an average speed of about 50 Kph, that’s about another 5000 k’s in my book.
After this report, I feel I can fairly safely double my oil change intervals without any dramas in my normal operating situation. I also feel confident about the condition of my injector pump and injectors, as
well as the air filtration.
I suggest it is a good idea to get an analysis done if you have any doubts about the condition of your oil and engine.
Cost for the test was about $45, a bit less than 1 oil change in my case, but another benefit is peace of mind.
A phone call to one of the people in the
Caltex lab, and he went through the report with me. I am going to get another test done after another 5000 K’s on this same oil, and see where we go from there.
Dave
Reply By: Bushtrek - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 12:13
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 12:13
Dave,
What was the Oil Nitration result??
Cheers
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 12:24
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 12:24
Nitration was 8 and the caution level according to the testing company is 24. Their high level is listed as 40.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Bushtrek - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 13:55
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 13:55
That's a good result.
The critical analytical tests to look at are:
Kinematic Viscosity at 40C.....compare new oil with used to check for excessive fuel dilution which lowers the Vis,
Oil Nitration.....increased Nitration above limits also shows up as increased Viscosity partially masking KV at 40,
Soot level......Soot is abrasive and high levels (above 2% mass) lead to ring and liner wear over time,
Glycol/
water....although some moisture <100 ppm is always present,
Wear metals above trend.......note Silicone is present in some formulations as a foam inhibitor, not to be confused with Silicon,
When you have a number of results sets (around 10) over time you can then start to see some trends in wear metal patterns for your engine. What is also useful is to look at wear metal particle size distribution when an abnormal result is seen. The shape and size of wear particles can be useful to identify what part is wearing and the type of wear failure occuring.
Cheers
FollowupID:
641400
Follow Up By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 17:47
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 17:47
Thanks for that Bushtrek, the bloke at
Caltex said that I wouldn't get a better result than that given the type of vehicle and it's mileage.
The tests for the Soot level showed 8, caution 21, high 70, and Glycol was 0.
I will have to look up Silicone, didn't know about that one.
I am going to get another test done, so the comparison will be interesting.
Dave
FollowupID:
641435
Reply By: travelguy62 - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 12:54
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 12:54
Oils aint Oils,
Been using the Dello 400 in my engine for the last 4 years.I origanally checked some of the fleet operators forums and heavy industry reports on this oil and found nothing but praise for it.Older engines were using less oil and coming out cleaner on there service intervals.I was using another
well known brand and using about 1 litre of oil between changes(5000Ks) and now it uses nothing. Great Oil.
Cheers
AnswerID:
374185
Follow Up By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:34
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:34
I haven't had any problems with needing a bit of a top up between changes either.
Dave
FollowupID:
641491
Reply By: guzzi - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 14:53
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 14:53
Dave,
Good to hear as I'm also running Delo 400 in a 1 HZ.
Are you running a bypass filtration system as
well or just the standard setup?
If just the std setup which make of filter?
Cheers
Pete
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 17:30
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 17:30
No bypass filtration system Pete, everything is standard.
I use Ryco filters.
I also use a Unifilter which I check very regularly.
I don't usually go by K's travelled for that because sometimes you get into some real dusty conditions, which in my opinion, dictates checking or cleaning the element.
If your air cleaner elememt is clean, that also helps eliminate possible contamination of the oil.
Dave
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Austravel - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 16:04
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 16:04
Also using Delo and have had oil tests done. Also save $$$$ by using Z9's in a Patrol. Cost saving is substantial for filters and yes have checked into the filter medium, etc, etc. Oil tests show filters ok and using Delo can easily go out to 7k or 10k oil changes. Many will say yes but it's safer to do what manufacturer states and some go to 2.5k oil changes for the patrol. Seems like that's just wasting money based on oil tests. Most engineering outcomes have big safety factors. Since oil changes aren't really life threatening situations you'd have to assume a safety factor or at least 2-3. So Nissan's 5k service is really the worst case scenario and for the engine to last
well over 500k.
Most if not all general owners will never 500k in their primary vehicle. So I'm with you extend the oil changes, save some/lots of dollars, and do some good for the environment.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:32
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:32
Oil tests aren't all that expensive, and if they come back with an OK result, as you say Austravel, why waste money on unnecessary oil changes.
Dave
FollowupID:
641489
Reply By: Max - Sydney - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 18:20
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 18:20
This discussion is interesting, as its the first I have read that actually looks at the results stretching oil change intervals using synthetics. Thank you.
Price wise - how does say 10,000 km using Delo 400 stack up against two lots of normal oil (I usually use Valvoline Super Diesel 15W/40) and two oil filters which I use in my 1HZ motor in 10,000 km?
Max
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:48
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:48
20 litres Dello cost $130 locally. For me, it's cheaper buying it that way.
You would have to compare that with what you may be able to buy it where you are, and your normal Valvoline price.
Dello Gold is just slightly lower spec, and maybe more comparable to the Valvoline, and is a bit cheaper than 400.
The Dello isn't a synthetic Max, have a look at the specs here.
Caltex Dello 400 multigrade
Dave
FollowupID:
641497
Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Thoughtfully- Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:19
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:19
Great result Dave, that 5000km should get you to Pyrenees this year and we can do the test there.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:27
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:27
St. George is just up the road from
the Pyrenees, so we are going there on the way Bonz.
See you there.
Dave
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:59
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 22:59
How do you get the oil tested ?
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 23:10
Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 23:10
Mike, this is the company that did
mine.
Singlteton Laboratory
There is a local mining supplies and engineering company where I live who are the agents, and they sent it away for me.
Dave
FollowupID:
641501
Reply By: Flywest - Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 01:43
Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 01:43
Good results Dave.
Keep testing regularly and develop a trend so you know how it holds up at 10,000 kms then 15000kms.
You'll soon know how far you can push the one oil change, and that's good peace of mind when away traveling and you want to know how far you can push an oil change and whats likely happening to the oil in the meantime.
I'd post up a copy of your Oil Analysis for you but its a pdf format and my web photo host program doesn't recognize pdf format as a photo format, and I have no way to convert it to jpg etc
Cheers
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 10:18
Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 10:18
Can you take a photo of it with a digital
camera ?
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 11:03
Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 11:03
Here is a copy of the report for those of you who are interested.
Hope this answers a few questions.
Dave
Image Could Not Be Found
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Reply By: Members Paul and Melissa (VIC) - Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 19:20
Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 19:20
I also use Delo 400, the last drum i bought was $92 and i bought 10 filters(OEM) toyotas for $250. i change
mine every 5k without fail. so for $70 i can change the oil and filter without messing around with oil testing.if you were using super expensive oil(like $200 a service) i would use oil analysis to determine the oils service life(like Amsoil) otherwise just changinig it every 5k is cheap insurance.
AnswerID:
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