Oil Analysis
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Mililani
Oil Analysis
I'm joining some of the mainland S2K guys in sending a sample of my oil to Blackstone Labs for analysis. Doing so is analagous to getting a blood sample drawn to check one's health so why not check the health of our engine from time to time. I'm sending in a sample from my fuelie too. 
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 76
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From: Mililani
smccurry,
I mailed the samples today so I should have results before our 23 Sept picnic. Showing the analysis to a potential buyer of a used S2000 should help make the sale at the desired price.
Based upon that analysis, I may change my thinking about shorter oil change intervals or dino vs synthetic oil.
I mailed the samples today so I should have results before our 23 Sept picnic. Showing the analysis to a potential buyer of a used S2000 should help make the sale at the desired price.
Based upon that analysis, I may change my thinking about shorter oil change intervals or dino vs synthetic oil.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 76
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From: Mililani
I did a copy and paste from Gloffer in Under the Hood to save typing time. I'll bring hard copy to the picnic tomorrow.
Blackstone Labs Oil Analysis Results from my S2000's second oil change at 10,000 miles. This was Penzoil 10W/30 with 1 quart of make-up oil. I changed the break-in oil at 5,000 miles. My driving habits are conservative with only 6 to 8 encounters into VTEC range, including 9,000 rpm.
Physical Tests
SUS Viscosity @210 degrees F: 55.1 Value should be 59-68
Flashpoint 370 Value should be > 365
Fuel %: <0.5
Water %: 0.0
Antifreeze %: 0.0
Insolubles %: 0.4
Insolubles are solid material that is centrifuge out of the oil. They are typically free carbon from the oxidation of the oil itself, along with blow-by past the rings.
Elements in Parts per Million PPM. The first number is my analysis the second number is the universal average provided by Blackstone. The universal numbers are currently based upon the results of 6 or 7 cars that were still breaking in, and are a little different from those posted by Gloffer. These are running averages so they will change over time.
Aluminum: 5, 8- Pistons, bearings, cases (heads & blocks)
Chromium: 1, 1- Rings a trace element in steel
Iron: 6, 13- Cylinders, rotating shafts, valve train and any steel part sharing the oil
Copper: 12, 13- Brass or bronze parts, copper bushings, bearings, oil coolers, also an additive in some oils
Lead: 1, 3- Bearings
Tin: 2, 1- Bearings, bronze parts, piston coatings
Nickel: 0, 1- Trace element in steel
Manganese: 1, 1- Trace element, gasoline additive
Silver: 0, 0- Trace Element
Titanium: 0, 0- Trace Element
Vanadium: 0, 0- Trace Element
Sodium: 2, 11- Anti-freeze inhibitors, oil additive
Silicon: 9, 32- Airborne dirt, sealers, gaskets, anti-freeze inhibitors
The remaining values are related to the additative package and can be used to determine the brand of oil used.
Molybdenum: 48, 318- Anti-wear additive, some types of rings
Boron: 39, 81- Detergent/dispersant additive, anti-freeze inhibitors
Calcium: 1033, 1313- Detergent/dispersant additive
Magnesium: 617, 244- Detergent/dispersant additive
Phosphorus: 783, 715- Anti-wear additive
Zinc: 950, 888- Anti wear additive
Barium: 0, 4- Detergent/dispersant additive
Antimony and Cadmium: Blackstone did not analyze for this. Titan analysis does not include Manganese and Vanadium.
Blackstone's Comments: Universal averages show typical wear metals for an oil from this type engine after 3000-4000 miles on the oil. You ran this oil 5000 miles and all wear (except copper) was below those averages, which is a good indication of normal wearing parts. Copper at this level is probably due to wear-in at 10,000 total miles and should decrease in the next oil. No antifreeze present. The viscosity was a little light for a 10W/30, but the flashpoint was good so we don't suspect you are getting any excessive fuel dilution. The TBN was strong at 8.5.
A good air filter is probably the reason for lower silicone.
The TBN or Total Base Number is a measure of the remaining active additatives. It can be as high as 16-18 for new diesel engine oil to 3-4 for a heavily used oil. I'm trying to find out from Penzoil the TBN for fresh oil. The TBN analysis cost me $10.00.
Based upon the analysis, a 5000 mile oil change interval seems ok.
I also went one step further and had a particle count done. I think such an analysis can show us if the oil filter is doing its job, but Ryan Stark said that I should have a particle count done on fresh oil to provide a baseline. I'm in touch with Penzoil about this also. The analysis was good with an ISO ratio of 18/15. I lost my notes about what is bad and what is excellent.
Part. > 15u/mL: 212
GRAV : 3.8mg/L
ISO : 18/15
SAE : 7
NAS 10 I don't know what this means.
Size Distribution:
(Hydralic)
Screen Size 15u
> Size Count
> 2u 5373
> 5u 1986
> 10u 553
> 15u 212
> 25u 51
> 50u 5
>100u 0
Blackstone Labs Oil Analysis Results from my S2000's second oil change at 10,000 miles. This was Penzoil 10W/30 with 1 quart of make-up oil. I changed the break-in oil at 5,000 miles. My driving habits are conservative with only 6 to 8 encounters into VTEC range, including 9,000 rpm.
Physical Tests
SUS Viscosity @210 degrees F: 55.1 Value should be 59-68
Flashpoint 370 Value should be > 365
Fuel %: <0.5
Water %: 0.0
Antifreeze %: 0.0
Insolubles %: 0.4
Insolubles are solid material that is centrifuge out of the oil. They are typically free carbon from the oxidation of the oil itself, along with blow-by past the rings.
Elements in Parts per Million PPM. The first number is my analysis the second number is the universal average provided by Blackstone. The universal numbers are currently based upon the results of 6 or 7 cars that were still breaking in, and are a little different from those posted by Gloffer. These are running averages so they will change over time.
Aluminum: 5, 8- Pistons, bearings, cases (heads & blocks)
Chromium: 1, 1- Rings a trace element in steel
Iron: 6, 13- Cylinders, rotating shafts, valve train and any steel part sharing the oil
Copper: 12, 13- Brass or bronze parts, copper bushings, bearings, oil coolers, also an additive in some oils
Lead: 1, 3- Bearings
Tin: 2, 1- Bearings, bronze parts, piston coatings
Nickel: 0, 1- Trace element in steel
Manganese: 1, 1- Trace element, gasoline additive
Silver: 0, 0- Trace Element
Titanium: 0, 0- Trace Element
Vanadium: 0, 0- Trace Element
Sodium: 2, 11- Anti-freeze inhibitors, oil additive
Silicon: 9, 32- Airborne dirt, sealers, gaskets, anti-freeze inhibitors
The remaining values are related to the additative package and can be used to determine the brand of oil used.
Molybdenum: 48, 318- Anti-wear additive, some types of rings
Boron: 39, 81- Detergent/dispersant additive, anti-freeze inhibitors
Calcium: 1033, 1313- Detergent/dispersant additive
Magnesium: 617, 244- Detergent/dispersant additive
Phosphorus: 783, 715- Anti-wear additive
Zinc: 950, 888- Anti wear additive
Barium: 0, 4- Detergent/dispersant additive
Antimony and Cadmium: Blackstone did not analyze for this. Titan analysis does not include Manganese and Vanadium.
Blackstone's Comments: Universal averages show typical wear metals for an oil from this type engine after 3000-4000 miles on the oil. You ran this oil 5000 miles and all wear (except copper) was below those averages, which is a good indication of normal wearing parts. Copper at this level is probably due to wear-in at 10,000 total miles and should decrease in the next oil. No antifreeze present. The viscosity was a little light for a 10W/30, but the flashpoint was good so we don't suspect you are getting any excessive fuel dilution. The TBN was strong at 8.5.
A good air filter is probably the reason for lower silicone.
The TBN or Total Base Number is a measure of the remaining active additatives. It can be as high as 16-18 for new diesel engine oil to 3-4 for a heavily used oil. I'm trying to find out from Penzoil the TBN for fresh oil. The TBN analysis cost me $10.00.
Based upon the analysis, a 5000 mile oil change interval seems ok.
I also went one step further and had a particle count done. I think such an analysis can show us if the oil filter is doing its job, but Ryan Stark said that I should have a particle count done on fresh oil to provide a baseline. I'm in touch with Penzoil about this also. The analysis was good with an ISO ratio of 18/15. I lost my notes about what is bad and what is excellent.
Part. > 15u/mL: 212
GRAV : 3.8mg/L
ISO : 18/15
SAE : 7
NAS 10 I don't know what this means.
Size Distribution:
(Hydralic)
Screen Size 15u
> Size Count
> 2u 5373
> 5u 1986
> 10u 553
> 15u 212
> 25u 51
> 50u 5
>100u 0
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