Sponsored

Full Synthetic Oil Question

CarbonSteel

Wildtrak
Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
1,060
Reaction score
1,845
Location
Colorado Springs
Vehicle(s)
2023 Carbonized Gray
Your Bronco Model
Wildtrak
How many send their oil out for testing to see how long you can actually go? On my NA 3.5 Explorer (sold to buy the Bronco at 150k) I tested it a few times at 10k and there were still additives left and everything looked good so it could have gone longer. On my F150 3.5TT at 10k the additives were about used up so I backed off to 7500 miles for premium synthetic and 6k for standard synthetic. I have my own opinion and standards on what I consider premium and standard, purely my opinion with no data behind it so I will keep it to myself. I use Blackstone for my oil testing.
Sponsored

 

timhood

Badlands
Well-Known Member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Jul 28, 2020
Threads
25
Messages
3,360
Reaction score
6,788
Location
Utah
Vehicle(s)
Several
Your Bronco Model
Badlands
Once I watched the tech pour 5 quarts of 5w-20 Semi Synthetic into my Focus ST. I stopped him at the 5th quart and looked at me like I was from Mars when I questioned why he was pouring the wrong oil into my car.
I'm surprised you could get anywhere near the service bay to see what oil they were using.
 

bloominguez

Black Diamond
Well-Known Member
First Name
Tom
Joined
Jul 19, 2020
Threads
6
Messages
459
Reaction score
1,055
Location
Atlanta, GA
Vehicle(s)
'22 Br BD, '22 5BW, '24 GR Corolla, '94 VFR, '04 SV
Your Bronco Model
Black Diamond
Clubs
 
I have to say, this is really disappointing. When I clicked on this thread I was expecting things to be a lot less civil and a lot more entertaining. Oil threads tend to drift in that direction! :)
 

Sponsored

LSW

Wildtrak
Well-Known Member
First Name
L
Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Threads
19
Messages
265
Reaction score
376
Location
North
Vehicle(s)
'24 Bronco Wildtrak
Your Bronco Model
Wildtrak
I don't know how that data measures up. For example, I don't have the slightest idea of how many ppm of lead in drinking oil becomes cause for concern. Comparison figures ranging identifying Poor to Excellent would help.
I like my drinking oil fully leaded! Tastes great, less filling.

You generally want less than 5 ppm per 1000 miles total wear metals. 2.5 would be a goal. So add up Iron, chromium, copper, aluminum, lead, tin, manganese, titanium & nickel. If you did 10,000 miles on the oil divide the total by 10. 5 or less is good, 2.5 or less excellent. You also ideally want the oil to remain in grade. For 0w-30 or 5w-30 it’s 9.3-12.5 ct.

source:
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
2021FordBronco2

2021FordBronco2

Big Bend
Well-Known Member
First Name
Jo
Joined
Nov 17, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
486
Reaction score
436
Location
Nampa, ID
Vehicle(s)
2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend
Your Bronco Model
Big Bend
Clubs
 
I have to say, this is really disappointing. When I clicked on this thread I was expecting things to be a lot less civil and a lot more entertaining. Oil threads tend to drift in that direction! :)
True I have been around here for a while and have seen very entertaining threads just by a simple question!
 

CarbonSteel

Wildtrak
Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
1,060
Reaction score
1,845
Location
Colorado Springs
Vehicle(s)
2023 Carbonized Gray
Your Bronco Model
Wildtrak
I don't know how that data measures up. For example, I don't have the slightest idea of how many ppm of lead in drinking oil becomes cause for concern. Comparison figures ranging identifying Poor to Excellent would help.
Look to the far right and you will see the universal averages for the 2.7L engine. While you may have spikes, the numbers should be at or less than those numbers for the same mileage.
 

CarbonSteel

Wildtrak
Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
1,060
Reaction score
1,845
Location
Colorado Springs
Vehicle(s)
2023 Carbonized Gray
Your Bronco Model
Wildtrak
It looks like you are checking the oil with very few miles on it, what is it you were looking for or why are you doing this?
I UOA every oil change for trending purposes and change it early during break-in. Glad I did, the factory Motorcraft 5W-30 was a xW-20 viscosity in 1,000 miles. Imagine what it would have been had I followed the iOLM and waited until 7 or 8K miles to change it.

The other thing is that I want to determine the maximum OCI that I want to run and based upon the fuel dilution and the TBN reduction, I have settled on a 5K OCI. I would not know that without testing the oil at various intervals--it would simply be guesswork without it.

Also, trending has enabled me to catch issues with the engine (such as a cracked head/block) long before conventional methods would. The 2019 Jeep Wrangler that I had previously developed a crack head or block around 50K miles. I would not have known that without trending which revealed the potassium and sodium levels were starting to rise with each subsequent oil change. This allowed me to take action before the engine was damaged.

Lastly, if you are looking for accurate fuel dilution readings, you need to find another UOA company other than Blackstone such as Polaris. Blackstone does not use the latest ASTM testing methodologies, is not ISO 17025 certified and uses a highly subjective flame test for dilution instead of using gas chromatography which is very accurate. Blackstone also charges more than Polaris and does not include the TBN or TAN without an extra charge.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: LSW

Sponsored

hellb0y

Outer Banks
Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
11
Reaction score
4
Location
Canada
Vehicle(s)
Bronco OB
Your Bronco Model
Outer Banks
If it meets the specs, it’s all good…very few oil meet Ford specs for lubrication - so be careful, you might get a warranty claim denied if you are using off spec oil.
 

CarbonSteel

Wildtrak
Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
1,060
Reaction score
1,845
Location
Colorado Springs
Vehicle(s)
2023 Carbonized Gray
Your Bronco Model
Wildtrak
If it meets the specs, it’s all good…very few oil meet Ford specs for lubrication - so be careful, you might get a warranty claim denied if you are using off spec oil.
Just know that despite the warranty concerns, all API SP/ILSAC GF-6 oils can meet (or exceed) the Ford requirements--they are a nothing burger. Just after buying my Bronco, I bought the Ford WSS-M2C960-A1 specification document just to see what the requirements were. The document includes the following specifications:
  • OIL, ENGINE, GASOLINE, ILSAC GF-6, SAE 5W-20 WSS-M2C960-A1
  • OIL, ENGINE, GASOLINE, ILSAC GF-6, SAE 5W-30 WSS-M2C961-A1
  • OIL, ENGINE, GASOLINE, ILSAC GF-6, SAE 0W-20 WSS-M2C962-A1
  • OIL, ENGINE, GASOLINE, ILSAC GF-6, SAE 0W-30 WSS-M2C963-A1
All of the ASTM test requirements in the WSS specifications are base requirements to meet API SP and ILSAC GF-6A. I saw no other requirements in the specification that oils must meet to pass the specification. A quote:

Ford WSS-M2C960-A1 said:
3.2 PERFORMANCE

Shall meet all requirements of “ILSAC GF-6A for Passenger Car Engine Oils” plus the following:

All production needs to have an API license in the country where the product is manufactured or sold in. Total production volume of each product must be accounted for in the license(s) in either the country of production or sale.

All required engine tests shall be conducted in accordance with the most recently approved procedures as described in ASTM Standards and the applicable ASTM Standards Research Reports and Information Letters. All tests under surveillance by ASTM must be conducted using test equipment monitored by and calibrated to the requirements of the ASTM Test Monitoring Center.
 
OP
OP
2021FordBronco2

2021FordBronco2

Big Bend
Well-Known Member
First Name
Jo
Joined
Nov 17, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
486
Reaction score
436
Location
Nampa, ID
Vehicle(s)
2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend
Your Bronco Model
Big Bend
Clubs
 
I UOA every oil change for trending purposes and change it early during break-in. Glad I did, the factory Motorcraft 5W-30 was a xW-20 viscosity in 1,000 miles. Imagine what it would have been had I followed the iOLM and waited until 7 or 8K miles to change it.

The other thing is that I want to determine the maximum OCI that I want to run and based upon the fuel dilution and the TBN reduction, I have settled on a 5K OCI. I would not know that without testing the oil at various intervals--it would simply be guesswork without it.

Also, trending has enabled me to catch issues with the engine (such as a cracked head/block) long before conventional methods would. The 2019 Jeep Wrangler that I had previously developed a crack head or block around 50K miles. I would not have known that without trending which revealed the potassium and sodium levels were starting to rise with each subsequent oil change. This allowed me to take action before the engine was damaged.

Lastly, if you are looking for accurate fuel dilution readings, you need to find another UOA company other than Blackstone such as Polaris. Blackstone does not use the latest ASTM testing methodologies, is not ISO 17025 certified and uses a highly subjective flame test for dilution instead of using gas chromatography which is very accurate. Blackstone also charges more than Polaris and does not include the TBN or TAN without an extra charge.
Dang maybe I should change mine before 1000, I was going to do it right at 1000.
 

CarbonSteel

Wildtrak
Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
1,060
Reaction score
1,845
Location
Colorado Springs
Vehicle(s)
2023 Carbonized Gray
Your Bronco Model
Wildtrak
Dang maybe I should change mine before 1000, I was going to do it right at 1000.
Based upon what I have seen in my 2.7L, those who are not testing their oil at least a few times are likely running oil that is either no longer a xW-30 viscosity OR the TBN has been fully depleted at the end of a 7-8K mile run.

As for me, I want to know...
Sponsored

 
Last edited:
 





Top