Oil analysis

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#11

01-13-2012 | 07:54 AM

rufushusky

Diesel Enthusiast

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 201

Likes: 12

From: Mass

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heath

As mentioned, total base number. The number indicates the ability of the oil to combate or neutralize acids formed from the combustion process. Diesels are harder on an oil than gassers. Todays's CJ-4 rated oils from the bottle can range from 8 to about 11. The older oils could reach numbers over 12. The higher the better. Once this number falls to about 2, it has lost it's ability neutralize and you start the groundwork for varnish and sludge formation.

Just to play devil's advocate, much of the acidity in the oil comes from the sulfur in the fuel, with sulfur level dropping 500ppm (LSD) to 15ppm (ULSD) the acidity has dropped greatly. So IMHO 1 or 2 mgs of TBN is not really a big deal to me and the advantage of a CI-4 vs CJ-4 on that level is moot at best.

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#12

03-06-2012 | 07:56 PM

Karls03

Thread Starter

Diesel Wrench

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 996

Likes: 49

From: Fallon, NV

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karls03

As promised, here are the results keep in mind that I had 7700 miles on Shell Rotella 15W-40 oil:
Oxidation 3.9 (change recommended at 25) 5.2
Viscosity 14.4 (for 15W-40 12.5 - 16.3) 14.4
Fuel <2.0 SAME
TBN 7.9 (Below 3 oil is no longer servicable) 7.1
Soot 0.3 (problem level of 4) SAME

The red indicates the oil sample I just got today, judging by the numbers I could have continued to run it. For those who believe in the 5K oil change, better look away now, this oil had 10000 miles on it.

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#13

03-07-2012 | 09:38 AM

bkmac

Diesel Enthusiast

Joined: Dec 2011

Posts: 217

Likes: 21

Karl

Just curious - did you have that done at SPEEDCO and did it take this long to get it back - they did mine right at the time of the oil change in their Brunswick, GA shop.

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#14

03-07-2012 | 10:00 AM

Mdub707

BOMBARDIER

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 8,208

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Thanks for sharing Karl!

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#15

03-07-2012 | 01:29 PM

Karls03

Thread Starter

Diesel Wrench

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 996

Likes: 49

From: Fallon, NV

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkmac

Karl

Just curious - did you have that done at SPEEDCO and did it take this long to get it back - they did mine right at the time of the oil change in their Brunswick, GA shop.

The numbers in black represent the OA in Jan with 7700 miles and the red numbers are from March with 10000 miles for comparison. Speedco does them on site, doesn't take long. I only brought a sample because I had changed the oil prior, but I wanted to see how it looked.

Breaking our dependency on foriegn oil starts with maximizing what we are using.

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#16

03-07-2012 | 06:17 PM

Militant83

Diesel Fan

Joined: Feb 2012

Posts: 49

Likes: 3

From: Circleville, OH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karls03

Going to Speedco after work today, the mystery shall be resolved. They will either laugh at me or tell me that I am on track.

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

As promised, here are the results keep in mind that I had 7700 miles on Shell Rotella 15W-40 oil:
Oxidation 3.9 (change recommended at 25)
Viscosity 14.4 (for 15W-40 12.5 - 16.3)
Fuel <2.0
TBN 7.9 (Below 3 oil is no longer servicable)
Soot 0.3 (problem level of 4)

I'd say that was $20 well spent. The technicians told me to go another 2~3k then come back.

Is that standard Shell Rotella Straight Grade or one of the synthetic blends?

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