CarbonSteel's 2023 Wildtrak Build + Maintenance Journal (Filters, Fluids, Oil Changes Etc)

[mikec426]

Cabin air filter?

I’m at 57k miles. Probably should change it…

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[CarbonSteel]

Cabin air filter?

I’m at 57k miles. Probably should change it…

Yep; cabin air.

 

[CarGuy]

Did a little maintenance today. Changed the oil (UOA to follow), the wiper blades and the cabin air filter.

16 months/24K miles; it was DIRTY:

Wow, that is filthy! A lot of off-road/dusty environments?

 

[CarbonSteel]

Wow, that is filthy! A lot of off-road/dusty environments?

That's the funny part...not so much. It is dusty in general in Colorado and I have been off-road with it, but geez...

 

[mikec426]

10 Each - Flange Bolts: M8x1.25x25mm long - https://belmetric.com/hex-flange-bolt-10-9-coarse-m8x1-25-10mm-wrench-iso-4162/?sku=BFI8X25YLW

2 Each - Brake Line Studs: M8x1.25x75mm long - https://belmetric.com/m8-double-end-stud-class-10-9-hardened-steel/?sku=SH8X75DBLK

4 Each - Stud Washers: https://belmetric.com/fender-washer-hv-140-steel-din-7349/?sku=WC8X21YLW

4 Each - Stud Flange Nuts (against cover and one side of brake line clamp): https://belmetric.com/tall-collar-nut-flange-class-10-steel-din-6331/?sku=NFFH8TALLYLW

2 Each - Stud Outside Nuts: https://belmetric.com/flange-nut-smooth-class-10-steel-din-6923/?sku=NFFH8X13YLW

Pardon my ignorance of materials and if this is a stupid question… I bought the black oxide version of this hardware. Should I be surprised that it’s rusted all to hell?

Followup question… should I purchase these in a different material?

(This hardware was for the rear diff)

 

[Big Pony]

Pardon my ignorance of materials and if this is a stupid question… I bought the black oxide version of this hardware. Should I be surprised that it’s rusted all to hell?

Followup question… should I purchase these in a different material?

(This hardware was for the rear diff)

I made the same mistake and got the black oxide. They sure did rust in a matter of 3 months. Even with undercarriage rinsing after wheeling. I will be replacing the bolts with what @CarbonSteel recommended. My bandaid was to touch up the bolt heads with a black enamel marker. Maybe you can pre-treat the bolts after installation with the paint marker and avoid the hassle of removing the rust after the fact and then cleaning to then paint them. The paint bandaid has held up surprisingly well after 8 months. Hope this helps.

 

[orion]

Pardon my ignorance of materials and if this is a stupid question… I bought the black oxide version of this hardware. Should I be surprised that it’s rusted all to hell?

Followup question… should I purchase these in a different material?

(This hardware was for the rear diff)

I made the same mistake and got the black oxide. They sure did rust in a matter of 3 months. Even with undercarriage rinsing after wheeling. I will be replacing the bolts with what @CarbonSteel recommended. My bandaid was to touch up the bolt heads with a black enamel marker. Maybe you can pre-treat the bolts after installation with the paint marker and avoid the hassle of removing the rust after the fact and then cleaning to then paint them. The paint bandaid has held up surprisingly well after 8 months. Hope this helps.

Go with these...
https://a.co/d/e2FByr7

 

[CarbonSteel]

The latest UOA results are listed on the first page of the Google Sheet. Fuel dilution is at 4.8%, and since I did zero remote starts and had a 2,000-mile road trip on this run, I will be taking it into the dealer soon to be checked out. There appears to be an issue with the fuel system (likely a leaking injector).

Otherwise, despite the dilution, the M1 ESP held up exceptionally well, retaining 86% of its initial viscosity, and wear rates remain consistent. It is very hard to beat this oil for the price.

 

[LSW]

The latest UOA results are listed on the first page of the Google Sheet. Fuel dilution is at 4.8%, and since I did zero remote starts and had a 2,000-mile road trip on this run, I will be taking it into the dealer soon to be checked out. There appears to be an issue with the fuel system (likely a leaking injector).

Otherwise, despite the dilution, the M1 ESP held up exceptionally well, retaining 86% of its initial viscosity, and wear rates remain consistent. It is very hard to beat this oil for the price.

Interesting, do let us know what is discovered!

I know that Polaris has a great reputation but I am going to send my next 5,000 mile oil analysis to 3 labs that all claim to use gas chromatography, including Polaris. Like your recent sample, one of mine got lost too, otherwise I’d already have a data point. I’m averaging right at 3% dilution on all 4 of the UOA I’ve sent to Polaris so far. Interestingly they ran gas chromatography on one of my VOA’s of the Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30 and it came back at 0.5%.

 

[CarbonSteel]

The Ford Performance rear axle cover is the best (feature wise) on the market today with the exception of one thing--it is missing a temperature probe port.

Thanks to a friend over on the Wrangler forum, it is now perfect in every way. He did a fantastic job, and the added port appears factory installed.

The power coating work at R&S Coating is really nice too.

I have a rear axle oil change coming up and will install the new cover and the ISSPro rear axle temperature gauge at the same time.

 

[PowerBronco]

The latest UOA results are listed on the first page of the Google Sheet. Fuel dilution is at 4.8%, and since I did zero remote starts and had a 2,000-mile road trip on this run, I will be taking it into the dealer soon to be checked out. There appears to be an issue with the fuel system (likely a leaking injector).

Otherwise, despite the dilution, the M1 ESP held up exceptionally well, retaining 86% of its initial viscosity, and wear rates remain consistent. It is very hard to beat this oil for the price.

You have about twice as many miles as I do, and I don't know if you want to review this for comparison, but here's my report from Blackstone at ~13,500 miles, with 5k miles on Mobil 1 5w30.

 

[CarbonSteel]

You have about twice as many miles as I do, and I don't know if you want to review this for comparison, but here's my report from Blackstone at ~13,500 miles, with 5k miles on Mobil 1 5w30.

I am highly confident you have more than <0.5% fuel dilution, given that your viscosity is well into the xW-20 range. Blackstone uses a highly subjective and inaccurate flame test to determine fuel concentration, versus using gas chromatography, which is very precise.

Their range for xW-30 cSt Viscosity @ 100°C is off too. xW-30 should be 9.3 to 12.5, whereas xW-20 is 5.6 to 9.3 as noted here. The virgin viscosity of M1 5W-30 is typically 10.8 cSt @ 100°C, so the oil lost about 22% of its viscosity which is not terrible, but given we have an HO twin-turbocharged engine, I would not want the oil dropping out of the xW-30 viscosity range which is why I run a higher viscosity xW-30 oil.

Last, but not least, another tell-tale sign that you have more fuel dilution than Blackstone listed is M1 5W-30 has a virgin flashpoint of about 467°F and Blackstone indicates 405°F; fuel dilution reduces the flashpoint.

With all of that said, the remainder of the results look great!

 

[PowerBronco]

Interesing, maybe I should consider using a different oil analysis company on my next oil change to get some better insights.

I did have an oil analysis done (blackstone also) on another vehicle that also uses M1 5w30 after only 100 miles (long story) and the viscosity at 100c was only 9.51. Seems crazy it lost that much viscosity after only 100 miles.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Interesing, maybe I should consider using a different oil analysis company on my next oil change to get some better insights.

I did have an oil analysis done (blackstone also) on another vehicle that also uses M1 5w30 after only 100 miles (long story) and the viscosity at 100c was only 9.51. Seems crazy it lost that much viscosity after only 100 miles.

I use Horizon/Polaris and buy the test kits from Amsoil. I buy enough test kits and gear oil from them that I bought the preferred membership which makes the test kits about $22. Polaris includes TBN or TAN testing in their price whereas Blackstone charges extra. TBN tells you how much active additive remains in the oil which indicates how much life is left in it.

Polaris is also ISO 17025 certified, and Blackstone is not. ISO 17025 enables laboratories to demonstrate that they operate competently and generate valid results, thereby promoting confidence in their work both nationally and around the world.

You might consider M1 ESP 0W-30 if a Polaris test shows you have >3.5% fuel dilution. Its virgin viscosity cSt @ 100°C is 12.2.

 

[BDBronco23]

Unlike an oil filter, an air filter becomes more efficient as the surface of the media becomes loaded right up to the point of it needing replacement. Which is to say, many of us replace the air filter far too soon. Visual inspections will show if the media has torn or failed, but the only way to determine if a filter has reached the end of its life is with a restriction gauge which most, if not all, of us never use.

Here is a good example of one (WIX 24801):

Great information in this thread, thank you for the details. How did you install your restriction gauge, assuming that you did?

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