Oil Sample Results

[12guns]

I got my results back today from Blackstone Labs.
I ran Pennzoil Platinum Ultra Synthetic for 10k miles with a Mobile One high-capacity filter. Bottom line the results were good as expected. They suggest going 11k next time to see how the oil holds up. My 4runner is V8 with 132k miles. Their report is very detailed, service was fast. They ran the sample and sent the results the same day it was received! I'll attach the report for anyone who cares to read over it. Looks like there was a touch more aluminum than is "average" but not much of a concern according to the report. Maybe due to a higher mileage vehicle? Maybe from taking the sample from the first of the drained fluid rather than from the "middle" of the flow?

At any rate, I'm very pleased that I can go 10k + miles with out an oil or filter change. I'll run another sample at 10 or 12k and see how that turns out. Oh, and I'll pull the sample from the middle of the drain flow, not sure if that matters on a warm engine, but we'll see.

Sorry but I had trouble blacking out my address and being able to attach the pic/pdf...I'll check back if it didn't work or is not legible.

 

[Glock_19]

Glad to see this combo is holding up so well as it's the same one I'm currently running. Only I plan to still change mine every 5,000 miles.

 

[12guns]

Out of curiosity, why would you change it every 5k running a synthetic? Especially when it holds up well enough to run 10k or better?
Just my opinion here, but if you're running it only 5k, you can get by with a standard oil and not spend as much $$. Just a thought.

 

[12guns]

Anyone have any thoughts on the slightly higher AL? I know it's not really a concern, but I'm curious where it comes from.

 

[CookieRoe]

thanks for sharing!

These results don't surprise me. With my DD (07Civic Sedan), I would listen to the "maintenance reminder". It's a digital display that reads out a percentage of "how the oil is doing". When the oil is new, it is reset and it displays 100%. It is based on a logarithm of how the car is driven. Anywho, my driving is 95 percent highway and the maintenance reminder would come down to 15% (when the manual suggests you change the oil). I would typically change the oil at 20-15% and mileage would be at ABOUT 9-12K miles. I'm at 86K miles now, but have stopped listening to it. I'm a major OCD with my vehicles :nerd:

Excessive AL? The block/head are made of AL. BUT, the cylinder walls are lined with Fe.

"This engine has special cast-iron cylinder liners cast into the block, which are a spiny type to improve adhesion between the liner and cylinder block. With these special thin liners it is impossible to bore the block. In the event of cylinder wall damage (scoring, deep protrusions, etc), the entire cylinder block must be replaced. "

Source: 1GR-FE wiki :hatsoff:

EDIT: I use Mobile1 for all my vehicles

 

[Nuke]

My previous 3rd gen V6 tow vehicle was on 10k mile oil change frequencies with M1 oil and filter. I didn't bother with oil analysis and sold the car with 152,000 miles in showroom condition and strong as the day she left the assembly line.

My 4th gen see's even more towing duty and is on the same 10k mile change frequency. With today's oils, changing a full synthetic before 8k miles is pure waste. But the uneducated have to have their comfort zone somewhere...

As far as the aluminum, I wouldn't sweat it since the Toyota engines may very well employ a tad more aluminum than other engines. Look at it like having bloodwork done; there's almost always a parameter or 2 that are just outside the "norm". I believe you're good to go.

 

[12guns]

Thanks for the replies!

 

[3TonMike]

Out of curiosity, why would you change it every 5k running a synthetic? Especially when it holds up well enough to run 10k or better?
Just my opinion here, but if you're running it only 5k, you can get by with a standard oil and not spend as much $$. Just a thought.

Nothing guarantees the oil filter will last to 10k. Depending on operating conditions. It will by-pass when dirty. Say, in my case, you picked up a used 4r with 50k and the previous owner used conventional oil and changed it 7-10k. Resulting in light sludge. This is an unknown, I do not know how what and when the previous owner changed the oil.
The high detergent nature of synthetic oil. Will wash the sludge and contaminants out of the engine, and onto the oil filter. Resulting in clogging and bypassing of the filter. Followed by the oil progressively getting dirtier.
For me its cheap insurance that the filter and engine stay happy. I don't mind paying more for the synthetic. Ultimately i am trying to clean the engine to eliminate the unknown.
Judging from the results of your oil. You should stay the coarse. On your interval. Me personally, im not going to push an oil filter past 5k.

 

[12guns]

I agree 100% that one never knows when their filter life is up. I would guess the "high capacity" filters will do fine for my vehicle running 10k miles, but I guess I'll never really know. To be on the safe side, I'm thinking about doing a filter change at 6k and sending my next sample off at 12k. Haven't really decided. I'm confident I'm ok w/ 10k on the Mobile One filter. Wouldn't there have been more "dirt" or minerals show up on the sample if my filter had been full and bypassed?

 

[CookieRoe]

I agree 100% that one never knows when their filter life is up. I would guess the "high capacity" filters will do fine for my vehicle running 10k miles, but I guess I'll never really know. To be on the safe side, I'm thinking about doing a filter change at 6k and sending my next sample off at 12k. Haven't really decided. I'm confident I'm ok w/ 10k on the Mobile One filter. Wouldn't there have been more "dirt" or minerals show up on the sample if my filter had been full and bypassed?

Great read:

Oil Filter Bypass Theory

 

[12guns]

I got a reply from Blackstone labs. He said "the filteration looks great" he went on to say he would stick with the filter I used.
I'll read over that link today, just wanted to pass along what blackstone said.

 

[Glock_19]

Out of curiosity, why would you change it every 5k running a synthetic? Especially when it holds up well enough to run 10k or better?
Just my opinion here, but if you're running it only 5k, you can get by with a standard oil and not spend as much $$. Just a thought.

I run full synthetic because I believe it's a better oil. I ran it in my Volvo because I had to and I never had any issues so I figured I would stick with it in my 4Runner. As far as changing it at 5K it's purely peace of mind. It's the same reason I don't run my truck below a quarter tank of gas, just makes me feel better.

With today's oils, changing a full synthetic before 8k miles is pure waste. But the uneducated have to have their comfort zone somewhere....

Wow... why are you going to be hostile about someone changing their oil? If people can afford it and it's what they're comfortable with, who are you to judge?

 

[empty403]

I got my results back today from Blackstone Labs.
I ran Pennzoil Platinum Ultra Synthetic for 10k miles with a Mobile One high-capacity filter.

At any rate, I'm very pleased that I can go 10k + miles with out an oil or filter change. I'll run another sample at 10 or 12k and see how that turns out. Oh, and I'll pull the sample from the middle of the drain flow, not sure if that matters on a warm engine, but we'll see.

Sorry but I had trouble blacking out my address and being able to attach the pic/pdf...I'll check back if it didn't work or is not legible.

12guns,
Thanks for the info. Is there a reason you are using 5W20 instead of 5W30? Colder season, improved MPG, etc? I thought about using 5W20, but I wasn't sure of the benefits over the 5W30 recommended viscosity. I just got my '07 T4R V8 about 5000miles ago - now with 84000 miles. I changed the oil to the Penz Ultra right when I got it, i'll be changing it early and soon to hopefully remove any deposits the syn oil loosened up before I go to 10K-15K service intervals. I do have an '01 Corolla that has 235K, over 150K on syn oil. I did go to 15K a few times and had the oil tested from TitanLab, on one of those 15K runs. I do change the oil filter at 8-10K when going to 15K. The test came back just fine - I did use M1 5W30 Extended Performance in the past. Now I need to test out the Penz Ultra to 15K.

 

[Barefoot]

Source: 1GR-FE wiki

He's got the V-8...

 

[12guns]

12guns,
Thanks for the info. Is there a reason you are using 5W20 instead of 5W30? Colder season, improved MPG, etc? I thought about using 5W20, but I wasn't sure of the benefits over the 5W30 recommended viscosity. I just got my '07 T4R V8 about 5000miles ago - now with 84000 miles. I changed the oil to the Penz Ultra right when I got it, i'll be changing it early and soon to hopefully remove any deposits the syn oil loosened up before I go to 10K-15K service intervals. I do have an '01 Corolla that has 235K, over 150K on syn oil. I did go to 15K a few times and had the oil tested from TitanLab, on one of those 15K runs. I do change the oil filter at 8-10K when going to 15K. The test came back just fine - I did use M1 5W30 Extended Performance in the past. Now I need to test out the Penz Ultra to 15K.

No reason I went w/ 5w20, just what Toyota calls for? I think?? I'm always open to suggestions, I've already changed it to the same 5W20, but maybe next time I'll do some more reading.