I just got my report from Blackstone labs. The cost was $18.50, plus $1.29 postage to send the sample. I did not get the TBN test because it is a $10 option. This is not from the truck, but I think is still of interest to this group. Purolator air and oil filters were used.

Make: BMW
Model: 6-cyl
Fuel: Unleaded Gasoline
Oil use interval: 5000 miles
Oil type and grade: Chevron Delo 400 15W/40
Make-up oil added: 0 qts
Miles on engine: 108,000

Elements in parts per million

aluminum 3
chromium 0
iron 6
copper 10
lead 2
tin 1
molybdenum 0
nickel 1
manganese 0
silver 0
titanium 0
potassiuum 0
boron 4
silicon 3
sodium 3
calcium 3130
magnesium 15
phosphorus 1076
zinc 1267
barium 0

Properites = were / should be

SUS viscosity @ 210F = 72.3 / 69-82
flashpoint = 430 / >405
% fuel = <0.5 / <2.0
% antifreeze = 0.0 / 0
% water = 0.0 / <0.05
% insolubles = 0.3 / <0.7

Please feel free to comment. I will add their comments and mine later.

Jim

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Sep-02 AT 02:19&nbsp;PM (EST)]Well, looks pretty good to me, and 5,000 miles eh? Sort of goes along with the belief (by some of us) that, on average, 3,000 miles is pouring good oil "down the drain".
Calcium level is high, presumably because it is a diesel oil - no harm there!
All-in-all I'd say keep on using it!
I am about 4,000 miles into my run of 5,000 miles with the Shell 10W-30. I'll post the results when I get done.
Brian A

edited to add: It looks like the Purolator filters worked very well.

 

Even after 5K miles, looks like the flash point was actually higher than called for. I have heard good things on Chevron oil and I'm thinking about making a switch.

 

Added comments from Blackstone Labs: "Your oil was in use 5,000 miles, just above an average oil use run for the type, and we found all wear from your engine at better than average levels and in the correct balance to show normal mechanical parts inside. Copper was mildly high in balance, but not high enough to be an issue. Air and oil filtration look okay."

My comments: The slightly elevated copper is a mystery. Other wear metals almost nil after 5000 miles.

The hot viscosity was still in grade and the flashpoint was high. No signs of oil breakdown. This engine runs hot and I rev it high.

Inslolubles and silcon low. Purolator filters are doing a good job. This particular engine uses an insert, rather than spin-on oil filter.

Calcium, phosphorus and zinc readings are high because Delo has a high TBN and anti-wear additive package.

Conclusions: I'll stick with Chevron Delo and Purolator. Six months or 6000 miles service interval is more than safe for this engine under our driving conditions.

Jim

 

Jim,
Great to hear about your excellent results with the Delo 15W-40. I was new to the FTE column last month and shared info that a tribologist (certified lubrication specialist) had shared with me regarding his recommended use of a CH-4/SL rated 15W-40 oil to maximize engine life. Your work helps to reinforce my confidence in the use of this type of oil. Thanks!
Eric

 

The Delo is a heavy duty dino right? How would a light duty dino compare in the area of calcium and Zinc/phosphorous? Incidently I`ve heard about the difficulty in balancing Zinc/phosphorous in additive packages to protect both the engine and catalytic converter.

 

Jim, thanks for sharing the results with us.
I've used Delo 400 in several vehicles and was always confident it gave more than edequate protection. The only vehicle I sampled for oil analysis was a 4 cyl tubocharged diesel, because I put 3,000 miles a month on it. The results were always so boringly good, I started sampling at increasingly longer intervals. When I finaly sold it, the lab analysis records were a good selling point.

 

Some of the heavy duty diesel-rated 15W-40 oils such as Mobil Delvac 1300, LE 8800, and the new Shell Rimula have pour points of -27 degrees F through -30 degrees farenheit. Mobil advertises that their oil meets API 10W pumpability standards, which I assume would be the same for LE and Rimula. Shell Rotella however, has a higher pour point (-15 deg F) as well as a lower flash point than the above oils, so I don't think they are as good as the others. I don't know the specs on Chevron Delo or Texaco Ursa. As a CAUTION, there are some vehicles which cannot use such types of oil due to engine design. One example are the later model Toyotas, which because of cam restrictors, the heavier 15W-40 would cause oil starvation-induced cam wear.

 

Hey Bodyelite! Thanks for the info!

I'm a Mobil 1 groupie who is looking at Rotella T Synthetic 5W40. I can get it for 1/3rd less than M1 at Wally's. I'd be using it in gas vehicles (starting with my older vehicles--not sure I'd be comfortable in 5W20 recommended service, where I've already gone to 5W30), but I like that it's CH-4/SL rated.

Anybody have any advise for me?

Thanks,
MrBSS

 

The Shell Rotella full syn 5W-40 may be a great oil, combining CH-4 protection with even better pumpability than the CH-4 dinos. I've seen it at about 13.00 per gallon at Wal Mart too, but the shelf stock was sold out. In my opinion of synthetics, if it is an ESTER-based synthetic, I would be leary on using it IF your engine is subject to mostly SHORT-RUN conditions where condensation accumulates and does not have a chance to burn off. The water condensation degrades the esters and subjects the oil to oxidation which could lead to oil failure if not changed often enough. TFOUT tests have shown this to happen. You can see that I am not the greatest fan of synthetics in general, though I believe that if they are not Ester-based, should provide top protection and also provide extended drain capabilities to some extent over dino. I'm not sure if Shell Rotella full syn is Ester-based or not. You may want to research the make up of this oil Mr. BSS. I believe some synthetics are Ester-based and other brands are PAO based. Can someone help me out here?

 

Delo 15W40 has a pour point of -38F.

Rotella T Synthetic 5W40 is neither ester nor PAO based. Similar to Castrol Syntec, it is hydrotreated, hydrocracked and hydroisomerized petroleum.

By that definition of synthetic, Delo 400 is at least semi-synthetic at less than half the price.

Jim

 

Although I have used Syntec and like the M1 better, I'm really not that concerned about the pedigree. From what I know of organic chemistry, it seems like you could refine and combine and get to pretty much the same point as a classic synthetic. It certainly does, however, muddy the water as to definitions.

The Shell Rotella T Synthetic is the only oil I've seen that goes down to "5W" and also meets the CH-4 rating. That's something concrete. But, of course, I don't know if other oils could also meet this standard--it just seems like they would if they could.

I guess the pour point and flash point give us a more accurate picture of temp:viscosity ratio than the SAE numbers do. I'll have to check those out.

I appreciate any further input.

MrBSS

 

Jim,
Between your superior oil test results, the lowest pour point of dino CI-4's, and your overall knowledge of oils, I can see why you are a fan of Delo. With Delo's -38 deg pour point, this would seem to qualify as a 5W in pumpability?
On the high end, I have found the following listed flashpoints (deg F):

Ursa 410
Rotella 415
Rimula 445
Delvac 446

Based on pour and flash points, it would seem that Ursa and Rotella would not offer the best range of protection versus Delo, Rimula, and Delvac.

 

FYI: Rotella T synthetic 5W40 has 475 (F) flash point, and -40 pour point. Interesting that the pour point is within 2 degrees of Delo's, yet Delo calls itself 15W40.

I guess there's more to it than that.

MrBSS

 

Mr. BSS, Thanks for the specs on the Rotella Syn. For a full synthetic with outstanding temperature range protection and CH-4 rating as well as the price you get at Walmart, this sounds like a great oil for those who prefer a full synthetic. Does this oil carry a CI-4 rating, the latest API class for heavy duty diesel oils (previous standard was CH-4)? I assume it would. Also, it should carry the latest gas rating of "SL" designation.