I've run 2 used oil analysis on my 01 Escape with a V6 using 5W20 oil. One last year at 10K miles with Motorcraft after 3,200 miles of use, and the lastest this month at 20K miles with Castrol GTX after 3,150 miles of use. The first number is Motorcraft, the 2nd Castrol.

Motorcraft/Castrol
aluminum 3/3
chromium 1/0
iron 12/9
copper 8/5
lead 1/0
tin 0/0
molybdenum 4/110
nickel 0/1
managanese 0/1
silver 0/0
titanium 0/0
potassium 1/1
boron 30/4
silicon 22/17
sodium 3/3
calcium 1064/2472
magnesium 436/5
phosphorus 643/804
zinc 760/925
barium 0/0

SUS Viscosity 51.9/53.5

All in all, I was more pleased with the Castrol than the Motorcraft. It had slightly better wear metal results and did not shear back as much. The Motorcraft had probably 40% city driving on it, while the Castrol reversed with about 80% city driving. But considering how much both oils sheared back to the bottom of the viscosity range, I sure wouldn't use them any longer than I did, not in this engine at least.

I'm running Mobil 1 0W20 in the Escape now. So my search for the Holly Grail of oil goes on........

 

2fords2, I will assume that you used Blackstone for your analysis. The numbers are hopefully skewed. The reason I say this is because the zinc and phos numbers for the Motorcraft are way off. There could still be some additive package asbsorbing going on but not to reduce the numbers that much. The iron number is depends on the time of year that the oil was run. Iron will always be elevated during winter or rainy months as the internals will develop surface rust which comes out in analysis as iron.The one item on your report that concerns me the most is the silicon. I don't like seeing anything over single digit. The first could be charged off as gasket material but the second analysis is also elevated. You may want to make sure that there are no leaks in the intake system and inspect the air filter for clean and the gasket on the filter as well. Otherwise, I would suggest picking an oil and running it thru several changes and build a trend on that oil/engine combo. Analysis is about trending and not what a specific oil did for one fill. The reason for this that the old oil will always leave some contaminants behind and the new oil will most likely clean out the old junk and show up in the following analysis and therefore, you think an oil did a poor job when in fact it did a better job.

 

Flash, yes I had Blackstone do this analysis. The numbers are what they reported. The Z & P numbers are low, but I've seen a few other Motorcraft 5W20 reports close to & lower than these figures, but the vast majority are 100-300 ppm higher.

Both samples were taken over the summer months. I used Motorcraft oil since the vehicle was new and this UOA at 10K was the last time I used Motorcraft. After that I tried Mobil 1 5W30 once and then 2 changes of Castrol 5W20, the last one was the UOA at 20K .

Regarding the silicon, I'm beginning to wonder if the design of the air filter housing is contributing to the high reading. I have 4 vehicles. In 2, the air filter lies horizontally and in the other 2, the filter sets up vertically. I get high silicon readings in the 2 cars where the air filter fits vertically. I being to wonder if I don't get a good seal with the filter inside the air filter housing. They are awkward contraptions to change the filter and don't use gravity to hold the filter like the horizontal housings do. I'm going to try some K&N filter sealant and see if that has any affect. I've cleaned and tightened down every other clamp, hose and gizmo in sight to help the silicon readings that I can find...but not to much good so far.

 

I wuld not worry about 12ppm iron on an engine with only 10k. it is probably still breaking in. So it is hard to blame that on the oil. It is interesting that the GTX has a more robust additive package.

Since it is a Blackstone report, could you please post the flash point numbers? Thanks.

Jim

 

Flashpoint for the Motorcraft was 410 (Blackstone's "should be" values were >370F) and 365 for the Castrol ("should be" >355F). I don't understand why the "should be" values for the two 5W20 oils were not the same.

They did the same thing for SUS Viscosity @ 210F. Motorcraft "should be" values were 54-60, actual 51.9. Castol's "should be" value was 53-62, actual 53.5.

 

The 'should be' values are probably based on averages for that individual brand. The flashpoint really shows the difference in base oil formulations, Motorcraft being a group II & III blend. So, the question remains, is the base oil or additives more important?

Jim

 

I have a new theory on iron numbers from oil analysis. I think the single biggest contibutor to wear is how many engine starts per oil change you have. I don't think any oil no matter how good it is can make a major impact on these numbers. What do you guys think?

 

That sounds logical to me (everything else being equal, of course).

 

Yeah, that's why I have a pre-luber....but I wonder if it does much for cylinder wear, which I assume would be the primary source of iron, at least in summer. I guess I ought to spend the money for an oil analysis!