Oil Analysis NEW THINKING ?

[redeye]

I was thinking last night about this analysis & came up with the following conclusion. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

I went 6,926 miles between oil changes. The data base average was 1,390 miles. SO, I had 4.98273381294 times the average miles on my sample. For this problem I rounded up to 5x's the miles on my oil sample compared to average.

I then took the average variables & multiplied by 5 to see where my analysis would fall. I posted the results below;

Oil analysis for this unit:

Aluminum 25
Chromium 2
Iron 88
Copper 25
Lead 4
Molybdenum 9
Silicon 10
Calcium 3191
Magnesium 11
Phosphorus 1110
Zinc 1355

Universal averages:

Aluminum 7 x 5 = 35
Chromium 1 x 5 = 5
Iron 14 x 5 = 70
Copper 7 x 5 = 35
Lead 2 x 5 = 10
Molybdenum 27 x 5 = 135
Silicon 6 x 5 = 30
Calcium 1524 x 5 = 7620
Magnesium 418 x 5 = 740
Phosphorus 992 x 5 = 4960
Zinc 1208 x 5 =6040

As you can see, my numbers are quite lower when you multiply the data base by 5. Am I wrong to assume that the Rotella synthetic did it's job over the life span of 6926 miles?

[schoeney]

I am not familiar with this process Redeye but is this telling us your Nomad runs hot, the result is the oil is breaking down and engine components wearing faster than normal?

Is it also stating the synthetic oil needs replacing at 3000 miles?

[taranis]

Interesting numbers. Next on my shopping list is the fuel controller to bring the heat down. I've never believed that using synthetic will allow more distance between oil changes - just helps the bike to run better with less wear.

[redeye]

This was a one time experiment on my part.

I was thinking the synthetic oil would stand up to extended service intervals, (2x's the miles as recommended) but this does not seem to be the case with the Rotella T.

I will follow the lab's suggestion & change at 3,000 miles then send another sample on the second oil change.

And you do have to take into account the size of their data base for this test. I don't know if it is 1 engine @ 1390 miles or 100. If it is a small number, my sample will surly bump up the averages.

[superduty]

Interesting Redeye...

I've got a lot of experience with Blackstone on my diesel pickup, but didn't think of trying an oil analysis on my bike. They helped me decide also that synthetic rotella wasn't worth the extra cost, which is significant when I'm buying 4 gallons instead of 5 quarts! :) I've settled on 5k oil changes with dino Rotella in my truck and all seems good.

One note about the silicon. When I was hotrodding my P/U, I had a open K&N air filter in place and found my silicon level almost doubled at the next oil analysis. I noticed that your reading was 10 when the average was 6, which is a similar percentage to what I saw with my truck. I switched to an identical-sized paper filter element and the silicon level went back to what I'd seen before. So that convinced me that along with more air coming in via K&N, more grit was coming in as well, which you really want to avoid with a turbo. Don't know if it's such as issue with the motorcycle engines though.

Maybe in the spring, I'll send Blackstone a sample from my bike to add to the database. :)

Thanks for the info.

[redeye]

Originally Posted by superduty

Interesting Redeye...

I've got a lot of experience with Blackstone on my diesel pickup, but didn't think of trying an oil analysis on my bike. They helped me decide also that synthetic rotella wasn't worth the extra cost, which is significant when I'm buying 4 gallons instead of 5 quarts! :) I've settled on 5k oil changes with dino Rotella in my truck and all seems good.

One note about the silicon. When I was hotrodding my P/U, I had a open K&N air filter in place and found my silicon level almost doubled at the next oil analysis. I noticed that your reading was 10 when the average was 6, which is a similar percentage to what I saw with my truck. I switched to an identical-sized paper filter element and the silicon level went back to what I'd seen before. So that convinced me that along with more air coming in via K&N, more grit was coming in as well, which you really want to avoid with a turbo. Don't know if it's such as issue with the motorcycle engines though.

Maybe in the spring, I'll send Blackstone a sample from my bike to add to the database. :)

Thanks for the info.

I've used them for my Ford diesel & most recently for my '08 Dodge Cummings. I try to get a sample analyzed every 3-4 oil changes on my trucks.

[dogdoc]

Good info redeye as always. i have never thought/heard of such a deal. I ran my Rotella last yr for a whole yr but didnt put but about 3,200 miles on so that should have been fine, right?
I just switched to Mobil-1 turbo diesel 5W-40 thinking I would get even more miles per change but it sounds like you have de=bunked my myths. So
If one rides more than 3,000 miles a yr then you need multiple changes and if near 3,000 per yr then just annually?
Should would be cheaper to just go with dino oil and change it often.

[bobzinger]

Which Rotella T are you using?

"Average wear reads quite low for a Kawasaki" does this mean Kawasaki's usually wear more?

My manual says to change oil every year or 7500 miles, whichever comes first.

[waterman]

Redeye,

Actually what you need to do is send in a sample of new oil and have an analysis done on it also. Why? Oil contains certain amounts of each of those elements. What you really need to look at is the increase and not just the total. Multiplying by 5 doesn't work.

[dkdixie]

Rich Lockyer and others, over at Kawasaki Cruiser forum, have run analysis dozens of times on various oils and at different mileage.
There are two brands that consistently came out on top, Amsoil and Mobile V-twin. Mobile Gold cap did well to, but not as good as Amsoil and V-twin. Both retained better viscosity at 3,000 miles change than some other synthetics at 1,000 miles or less.

[redeye]

I modified the orginal post

[redeye]

Originally Posted by bobzinger

Which Rotella T are you using?

"Average wear reads quite low for a Kawasaki" does this mean Kawasaki's usually wear more?

My manual says to change oil every year or 7500 miles, whichever comes first.

I used Rotella T full synthetic 5w-40 Their data base for Kawasaki was 1390 miles between oil changes

[dabull]

aaaaaaaaaack....all those numbers, all that crunching....hurts a fellas head!

:)

[socwkbiker]

Originally Posted by Redeye

I used Rotella T full synthetic 5w-40 Their data base for Kawasaki was 1390 miles between oil changes

So you're saying that Rotella T 5w-40 should be changed after 1390 miles instead of 3000? Am I reading that right?

[macmac]

Odd no sulfer content is mentioned, as it is a major contaminent.