Blackstone Labs Used Oil Analysis Results
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eggman
When I
changed my oil back in November I changed the oil only and kept the filter. The reasons?
1. Mobil 1 Extended Performance oil is rated for 15,000 miles and the filter is rated for 20,000 miles. I don't really approach those limits.
2. The Mobil 1 M1-110A is larger than the factory stock filter, and I expect greater filtration capacity. It is also supposed to trap smaller particles, outperforming the factory filter again.
3. Why throw out a filter that still has lots of useful life?
4. I bought a 5-quart bottle of Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0W-20. I used the rest of that 5-quart bottle for the refill. This keeps the 6-month oil change requirement.
5. I will submit a sample of the drain to
Blackstone Labs for analysis. I look forward to seeing how this maintenance regimen holds up.
6. If the analysis is favorable, I'm looking at a good quality full synthetic oil change for about $11.
I'm especially eager to see if there is any indication of engine wear due to cold winter temperatures that tend to make my 3A92 noisy & rattly on those cold starts (I didn't get that when I was able to use the block heater.)
The analysis results are in from Blackstone Labs. It turns out I'm not the first and only to re-use a filter.
http://mirageforum.com/forum/attachm...1&d=1528055702
Looks like skipping a filter change works fine. And according to the TBN results, I could stretch out my oil changes even further. I wonder if I could even run a full year on a fill? I'm not sure that I'm ready and willing to find out. But if I do, I'll be able to check the results using another analysis. I don't put down big miles or drive very hard at all - I do mostly city & suburban driving with little time at highway speeds. It is my understanding city miles can be harder (think stop & go driving.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eggman
Regarding the oil change I find the 5W-20 is making my startup valvetrain noise louder and last longer, contradicting what others here have reported. Go figure. It can't be the Mobil 1 oil filter because it is the same model that it replaced. Looks like I'll be using 0W-20 from now on.
I'm not pleased with the 5W-20 fill as I find it makes the cold start valvetrain chatter more than twice as long as the 0W-20 I was running before. I'm not sure I want to run this 5W-20 this winter.