Engine OIL ANALYSIS .. ‘97 Toyota 1KZ-TE 3L diesel .. By Oillab.co.nz et al
Note: When extending normal oil change periods, it is strongly recommended that regular oil analysis tests are conducted to ensure that the oil remains serviceable.
Progression to 72,449km without engine oil or filter changes .. whilst running on FTC catalytic decarboniser in the diesel, plus SupaSLIP anti-friction/anti-seize in the oil.
Our test vehicle is a 1997 Toyota HiAce Regius, Japanese used vehicle import to NZ.
This fulltime 4WD, 8 seater people-mover was imported with certified 50,000km. It is often used on light loaded, short, stop-start journeys of only 1-4km on city roads .. barely time for the 3L TD engine to reach operational temperature .. and conditions likely to cause serious carbon build-up.
Kms | 22,000 | 34,000 | 51,000 | 72,449 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subject | Actual analysis ppm | Level considered "HIGH" | |||
Aluminium | 7 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 102 |
Iron | 26 | 45 | 54 | 75 | 364 |
Copper | 7 | 10 | 23 | 22 | 128 |
Chromium | 1.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3 | 56 |
Lead | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 128 |
Silicone | 14 | 16 | 21 | 23 | 77 |
Tin | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 179 |
Zinc | 1229 | 1392 | 1408 | 1435 | 1700 |
Actual analysis | Recommended change | ||||
Total Base Number (TBN) | 9.66 | 9.97 | 9.85 | 6.8 | 5 |
Soot | 0.78 | 0.94 | 0.43 | 1.3 | 2.5 |
Oxidation | 15.5 | 18.2 | 16.1 | 21 | 40 |
Nitration | 12.0 | 13.8 | 11.8 | 14 | 21 |
Fuel in oil | >1 | >1 | >1 | >1 | 3.5 |
Normal range | |||||
Viscosity at 100C | 14.4 | 14.8 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 12.4 - 16.3 |
Background to the extended oil change intervals:
The progressive analysis was between 76,943km and 149,392km = 72,449km.
FTC catalyst decarboniser has been used at about 1ml per litre (1:1000) of diesel fuel, since purchase 100,000km ago at the conclusion of this progressive testing.
DeSLUDGE (Flushing Oil Concentrate) was used at vehicle distances of 54,900km, 60,784km, 76,943km and 149,392km engine oil changes to ensure clean oil galleries, clean cylinder cross hatch, clean oil ring grooves and clean oil sump. As mentioned, the progressive analysis was between 76,943km and 149,392km = 72,449km.
SupaSLIP anti-friction oil additive was added to the auto-transmission, transfer box and differential at 54,900km and to the engine oil after each change.
From 60,784km the engine oil was not changed for the next 16,159km as regular oil sample testing every 5000km (the Toyota recommended oil change interval) by the independent laboratory (BP Detecta Analysis Report) indicated clean serviceable oil. Analysis showed contaminants were still well within the serviceable limits. There were no oil top-ups, or filter changes during the 16,159km period.
Remarkably, at the conclusion of the first test, 16,159km of mostly stop-start, short runs after the last engine oil change, the engine oil still tested “serviceable” and the dip-stick oil was visibly still not “diesel BLACK” .. rubbing the engine oil between the fingers and thumb, as a quick test, confirmed the LACK of heavy BLACK carbon deposits. Exhaust smoke remained almost “nil” visibly and the engine remained very “torquey” and responsive.
After 51,194km engine oil Lab tests were done by Oil Check Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia on this Auckland vehicle, confirm that even after 51,194km of mostly stop-start city driving, the diesel engine oil is still serviceable. Without FTC + SupaSLIP + DeSLUDGE the recommended oil change interval is 5,000km. There was no oil filter change and only 1.5L of oil top-up during the 51,194km test. DeSLUDGE was used just prior to the previous engine oil change (hot oil), to ensure clean oil galleries and removal of harmful sludge/soot wear contaminants.
Brid Walker, diesel engine expert from Cost Effective Maintenance Pty Ltd (CEM), Brisbane, Australia comments “The results are excellent. Not only are the wear metals very respectable for those kms (51,194) but the low soot and oxidation levels are outstanding for that type of diesel (engine).”
After 72,449km the engine oil and filter were changed (just in case our “simple tests” were wrong). The remarkable independent lab analysis results are shown in the table above .. the oil was still “serviceable”, but getting down on TBN, a measure of the oil detergency.
We believe that this report confirms the desirable results to be expected from giving an engine what we called “the full treatment” of FTC catalyst + DeSLUDGE + SupaSLIP .. however, we have recent results of “with” and “without” adding NanoEnergizer restorative metal nanotechnology, which show a measurable reduction in wear metals in the 34,168km tests .. read more.
Therefore we now recommend “the full treatment” as FTC catalyst + DeSLUDGE + SupaSLIP .. followed with NanoEnergizer.