Do I Have Too Much Aluminum In My SOHC?

[AgExplorer]

Alan,

The high viscocity sounds strange with just 7000 miles on the oil. What were your NOX and OXD percentages? You may want to ask them to retest the sample. I have a friend who got some strange results and when retested everything came back normal.

I have spoken to a couple of the technical dept. guys and they cannot explain what is happening with the 4.0L V6's. This type of anomoly also shows up in Chevy's 350 and some Honda engines. They are trying to figure out what is going on.

Ray,

If you have any questions about the sample kits, please e-mail me and I may be able to save you a couple of bucks.

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AgExplorer
95 XLT 4X2 4.0L OHV
AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants & Filters
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Jacobs Electronics Wires
Monroe Reflex Shocks
PIAA 9007 Headlight Bulbs
Info and Ordering for AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants - Dead Link Removed

 

[Nordic-Al]

AgExplorer,

First let me note that I believe I am using a different lab than yourself and Gerald. My oil was tested by “Oil Analysis Lab Inc.” out of Spokane. The test kits were purchased from my local Amsoil Distributor.

The results breakdown as follows:
Physical Data; Viscosity @ 100 degree C (cSt)=21.3 (equal to SAE 58), Fuel Dilution %=0, Soot=0, Oxidation=13, Nitration=21, Water %=0.00, Antifreeze%=0.00
(I am not sure of the unit of measure for the oxidation nor the nitration)

Metal Concentrations (ppm); Silicon=5, Iron=31, Chromium=1, Aluminum=8, Copper=7, Lead=6, Tin=0, Nickel=0, Silver=0

Additives; Molybdenum=5, Magnesium=477, Sodium=4, Titanium=0, Boron=7, Vanadium=0, Calcium=2187, Zinc=1668, Barium=0, Phosphorus=1336

Many years back I took a quart sample of fuel oil from some Finnish diesel engines we were considering purchasing and split it into numerous smaller samples for testing. I sent 3 smaller bottles to two different labs. One lab sent back results for one of the samples as basically rocket fuel. It turned out to be a record keeping error on the part of the lab. Results got mixed up with someone else’s samples. So labs can make mistakes. You no doubt have much more experience in this stuff than I, wouldn’t you think the vehicle would perform adversely if it was really 58 weight oil?

Thanks for your input.

Alan

 

[AgExplorer]

Alan,

What a fantastic oil analysis report!! Do you normally change your oil every 7000 miles? Have you considered longer drain intervals?

I am a little confused about the 58 weight. My experience has shown the viscocity ratings to be in intervals of 10 (eg. 30, 40, 50, 60). The higher viscocity should have no ill effect given the other info you provided. The high viscocity is still puzzling especially after seeing the other numbers. You may want to consider having them run the analysis again. Normally, they only need just a little of what you send in for testing so there should be more than enough to retest.

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AgExplorer
95 XLT 4X2 4.0L OHV
AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants & Filters
NGK Platinum Plugs
Jacobs Electronics Wires
Monroe Reflex Shocks
PIAA 9007 Headlight Bulbs
Info and Ordering for AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants - Dead Link Removed

 

[Nordic-Al]

AgExplorer,

Thank-you. Your enthusiasm is reassuring. I wasn’t sure what levels some of the numbers should be. A good friend (and ardent Amsoil user) convinced me to run Amsoil when the vehicle was new. I have run Amsoil since the 1,000 mile mark. Normally I change my oil at around 5,000, old habits are hard to break and at 5,000 miles I was giving Amsoil 2,000 miles more than I would normally have done with dino. Once I get the viscosity situation straightened out I will look at longer intervals, maybe 10,000.

I’ll give the lab a call and see about running the test again.

Alan

 

[Nordic-Al]

OK,
I took AgExplorer's advice and called the lab and asked them to retest the viscosity. They did it immediately and called me back. Drum roll please...
The correct viscosity number is 11.4 @100 deg. C which is equal to SAE 36. Right where Amsoil 30W should be.

I guess I will let the next oil change go atleast 7,000 miles again if not 10,000.

Alan

 

[AgExplorer]

Alan,

Very smart of you to have them recheck the viscocity. If the NOX and/or OXD had been elevated, the high viscocity would have made sense. These are the things that will affect viscocity the most.

Go for 10,000 on that next oil change. Should not be a problem based on your latest analysis.

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AgExplorer
95 XLT 4X2 4.0L OHV
AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants & Filters
NGK Platinum Plugs
Jacobs Electronics Wires
Monroe Reflex Shocks
PIAA 9007 Headlight Bulbs
Info and Ordering for AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants - Dead Link Removed