Oil analysis and particle count - Delo 400 15/40

[Gary - K7GLD]

This was done by Blackstone - 5000 miles on oil, Fleetguard 3894 full flow filter, Frantz bypass:



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Here's the particle count:



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Now, according to particle sizes common to NEW, unused oil right outta the can, that particle count ain't BAD!



I did this for my own info - and also because we keep hearing of more bypass setups and new filter media hitting the market - I wanted some baseline #'s to use in comparison with any of those various owners might want to offer using their own specific brand.



So here we have some!



Any critics of TP filters wanna discuss "channeling", or deteriorating/shedding of the TP material when used as an oil filtering media? :-laf :-laf



The actual analysis up above as to various wear metals is OK for a bypassed engine, and probably not bad for a Cummins with mileage in the mid 40K range, used mainly for RV towing. A few more miles should see wear #'s fall even lower.



The Frantz-specific #'s pretty well speak for themselves...



Anyone else wanna play?

 

[fkovalski]

Interesting comments listed on the report sheet. Sounds as if you are changing your oil at too soon of intervals? Or is that the representation of the quality filtering that you do and you are actually driving more between oil changes



Where/ how does one go about testing oil/ oil anaysis as you do?

 

[Buddy's Ram]

Thanks for posting that report Gary. Just curious; what is the 2 quarts of makeup oil about? How much do you drain out to send them?

 

[Nate]

I thought the 6BT was 98. 5 and down? and 98. 5 up was the ISB??

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Informative!, THANKS for posting it.

 

[Mundgyver]

Gary, How much did Blackstone charge you to do the particle count? I have about 1600 miles to go before I turn in another sample for the SpinnerII that I have installed. I have around 179,000 turns now on the truck.

 

[PAllyn]

Gary, where can I get a Blackstone Oil Test kit and how much does testing cost?

 

[DonTX]

You can read all about Blackstone here: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Gary, How much did Blackstone charge you to do the particle count? I have about 1600 miles to go before I turn in another sample for the SpinnerII that I have installed. I have around 179,000 turns now on the truck.

AH - glad you caught my thread Mundgyver - the whole test, including particle count was $30 with the TDR

discount.



I'll do another similar test in another 5000 miles, now using the new Donaldson Nano filter full flow, to see if there is any measurable difference in efficiency for an average user.



I hope you get a similar test done with your setup, especially if you also use Blackstone - makes a better and more direct comparison.



To the question as to why 5000 miles for my test - it was just a nice round number, and fairly common oil change period for many users. If you will look at the analysis column just previous to this latest one, you will see the numbers with this same setup on oil that had been run for 20,000 miles!



As to the 2 quarts of "makeup oil", that is because I changed the TP cartridge twice in those 5000 miles, and needed to add oil to make up for what the cartridge absorbs and then takes with it when changed. I'll do the same with this next 5000 mile test.



This little informal test was quite revealing to me - I've seen that MOST particle counts for brand new, unused oil are far higher in count #'s than what I had in 5000 miles - sure reinforces my trust in the Frantz bypass filters!

 

[Mundgyver]

Yep I use Blackstone also, but was unaware that they gave a discount to TDR members. Guess I will be asking some questions.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Just for grins, here's a full analysis/particle count done on NEW, UNUSED Royal Purple 15/40, copied from over on Bob the oil guy's site:



Iron 2

Tin 1

Alum 3

Silicon 1

Potassium 1

Moly 117

Boron 1

Calcium 2961

MG 22

Phosphorus 1126

Zinc 1213

Vis@100C 15 (SAE 40)

Particle Count (all are in microns)

>5 = 2233

>10 = 152

>15 = 44

>20 = 20

>25 = 10

>50 = 2

>75 = 1

>100 = 0

Particle Volume (PV) = 1

Ferrous Debris = 5

ISO Code = 18/13

Anti-Freeze = Neg

All Others = NEG



By comparison, I'm sure un-ashamed of my 5000 mile oil!

 

[radar doctor]

Oil Analysis 6/06

I have a 03 just turned 25 KA miles . . Have had 2 Analysis . . all figures were great... no added Filters just stock Fleetgard..... If you Trade trucks every 3 to 5 yrs anyhow, why worry about Oil consumption. .

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I have a 03 just turned 25 KA miles . . Have had 2 Analysis . . all figures were great... no added Filters just stock Fleetgard..... If you Trade trucks every 3 to 5 yrs anyhow, why worry about Oil consumption. .

YUP - very true, guys who trade fairly early would be wasting time and $$$ on bypass filters...



On the other hand, I plan to be buried in my '02! :-laf :-laf

 

[PRout]

Blackstone, 30k, Delo (mixed with some Amsoil), Standard Fleetguard Oil Filter, Frantz Bypass.

The oil looks pretty black. . Darker than what the poor quality pic shows. .

Particle Count:

ISO Code (2) ------- 15/12
NAS 1638 Class ---- 1
ISO Code (3) ------- 16/15/12
>= 2 Micron --------- 808
>= 5 Micron --------- 299
>= 10 Micron -------- 82
>= 15 Micron -------- 32
>= 25 Micron -------- 7
>= 50 Micron -------- 0
>= 100 Micron ------- 0

Blackstone comment was this is clean for an engine oil. I would like to see this improved. .

FYI currently using 2 frantz units plumbed in series. Flow rate is reduced with two units. May go back to using only one to get flow rate back up.

 

[Mundgyver]

Even if you trade every few years, think about this. If you have a record of oil changes along with oil analysis reports, it should make your trade in or sale of the vehicle worth more value because of the documentation for servicing the engine.

 

[dsherman]

SpinnerII

Keep us posted on the Oil analysis on the SpinnerII.

Thanks

David

 

[Mundgyver]

I will be pulling an oil sample this week on Thursday and sending it in. Will be asking for a particle count also. I will let you all know what the results are as soon as I get them.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Blackstone, 30k, Delo (mixed with some Amsoil), Standard Fleetguard Oil Filter, Frantz Bypass.



The oil looks pretty black. . Darker than what the poor quality pic shows. .



Particle Count:



ISO Code (2) ------- 15/12

NAS 1638 Class ---- 1

ISO Code (3) ------- 16/15/12

>= 2 Micron --------- 808

>= 5 Micron --------- 299

>= 10 Micron -------- 82

>= 15 Micron -------- 32

>= 25 Micron -------- 7

>= 50 Micron -------- 0

>= 100 Micron ------- 0



Blackstone comment was this is clean for an engine oil. I would like to see this improved. .



FYI currently using 2 frantz units plumbed in series. Flow rate is reduced with two units. May go back to using only one to get flow rate back up.

HMMmmm - not bad at all for the miles on the oil - *I* sure wouldn't change anything! As a matter of fact, I've been considering installing my spare Frantz in series with the one in use to REDUCE flow rate a bit, and INCREASE overall filtering efficiency...



MUNDGYVER - sure will be waiting to see your results! Oo.

 

[dsherman]

spinner II

I will be pulling an oil sample this week on Thursday and sending it in. Will be asking for a particle count also. I will let you all know what the results are as soon as I get them.

Looking foreword to seeing it

Thanks

David

 

[Mundgyver]

I think the copper is from the bushings in the Spinner II. Got to figure out how to put the report on. Give me a few minutes