AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel Engine Motor Oil Analysis
409,000-Mile Oil Drain Interval Mack E7-400 Diesel Engine Teardown
After 409,000 miles without an Oil change, this AMSOIL-protected Mack E7-400 engine was as wear-free as an engine in comparable service treated to TWENTY TIMES the Oil changes.
Colonial Heights, Virginia -I didn't see any surprises in there at all. Based on my experience with AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil, it came out the way we expected, said owner/operator Haywood Gray of his 1990 Mack E7-400 engine.
It came out in good shape, exactly what you'd expect for a well-maintained
engine with 630,000 miles. Yet the engine's oil had not been changed for
409,000 miles. Gray began using AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine
15W-40 motor oil (AME) in the E9-400 V-8 engine of his first truck, a 1984 Mack,
after the engine accumulated 45,000 miles. For 280,000 miles, Gray changed his
oil at 40,000- to 60,000-mile intervals though his oil analysis reports showed,
without exception, that the oil was good for continued use. At 325,000 miles,
Gray increased his oil drain intervals to 100,000 miles.
The engine was torn down at 600,000 miles when Gray decided to sell the truck. The cylinder liners, bearings, pistons, rings and oil pump, all treated to extended oil drain intervals with AMSOIL, were found to be in excellent condition.
Gray continued using AMSOIL 15w40 AME in the engine of his new truck, a 1990 Mack with a E-7-400 engine. With the new truck, instead of using 100,000 mile drain intervals, Gray began basing his oil drains on the findings of a used oil analysis program. He also installed an AMSOIL By-Pass oil Filter. After 630,000 miles total and 409,000 miles without an oil change, the E7-400 engine was torn down by the local Mack dealership in December 1996 and its parts were examined by an engine rater from a major oil additive manufacturer.
Findings
The engine showed light to moderate wear throughout, just as an engine in similar service and lubricated with conventional oil changed at 15,000- to 20,000-mile intervals would show. In fact, according to the engine rater the parts he examined - cylinder liners, pistons, rings, bearings, valve train components - could have been put right back in the engine and would have continued to provide the good, dependable service they had provided all along - after 409,000 miles without an oil change!
Discussion
Many factors enable AMSOIL to be safely used 20 times longer than petroleum
Oil may be used. Stability- AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40
motor oil is far less prone to thermal and oxidative breakdown than are petroleum
Oil.
Stability inhibits the formation of carbon deposits, varnish, sludge and acids,
which helps the engine run clean and protected.
Except for normal top polishing on the push tubes the rater found, no wear to speak of. These can go right back in the engine and be used again. The push tubes were put back into the engine and are in use today.
Neutralization ability - While rapid TBN loss often renders conventional Oil unfit for continued use, 12 Total Base Number (TBN) AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 motor oil offers lasting protection against engine corrosion.
Viscosity retention - Some conventional Oil' viscosity slips out of specification
within a few thousand miles of an oil change.
AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 motor oil neither loses
viscosity as shear-prone Oil do, which promotes wear during high temperature
operations, nor gains viscosity as oxidation-prone Oil do, which promotes wear
during startup and cold temperature operations.
The rater found the valve train components showed, very light wear.
Very good.
"I" find no wear on the shaft, which can be a heavily loaded area.
Additional Demonstrations
Gray's successful use of AMSOIL synthetic motor oil in extended drain service
is not unique. AMSOIL has conducted demonstrations with fleets all over North
America. In each instance AMSOIL has been proven safe and effective in extended
drain use.
In fact, these studies show that AMSOIL used in extended drain interval programs
consistently delivers lower rates of engine wear than conventional Oil used
in conventional drain interval programs.
Southern over-the-road fleet
AMSOIL was used in Cummins class 8 engines for 75,000-mile drain intervals; the fleet's normal drain intervals were 15,000 miles.
Upper Midwest grocery fleet
AMSOIL was used in Cummins NTC 350 engines for 74,000-mile drain intervals; normal drain intervals were 12,000 miles.
Northern grocery fleet
AMSOIL was used in Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines for 79,000-mile drain intervals; normal drain intervals were 20,000 miles.
Midwestern trucking fleet
AMSOIL was used in Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines for 60,000-mile drain intervals; normal drain intervals were 20,000 miles.
I see no reason why it [the engine] couldn't run on. - Independent engine rater
Northern tier over-the-road fleet
In an ongoing demonstration, AMSOIL Series 3000 5W-30 is being used in a fleet of Cummins N-14 engines for extended drain service with oil drains based on the findings of used oil analysis. One change was performed at one year with 125,000 miles on the AMSOIL. The oil was recommended for continued use. Normal oil drains are done at 20,000 miles.
AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 motor oil Aces
Test!
Haywood Gray has his used oil tested regularly to ensure the ongoing serviceability
of the oil and well-being of the engine.
In the engine Oils report card, wear metals tell the whole story. A high
wear metal content indicates a high rate of engine wear.
In fact, most engine manufacturers publish upper limits on wear metals content
at which an Oils must be changed to assure continued engine protection.
Even after 409,000 miles, AMSOIL protected better than Mack limits required.
Now that's protection!
What Makes AMSOIL So Good?
Synthetic basestocks, top-quality additives, and most importantly, more experience formulating synthetic motor oil than any other Oil company, says AMSOIL Director of Technical Sales Dave Anderson. AMSOIL first put a long drain synthetic Diesel oil on the market in 1975 and since then has introduced three other long-drain synthetic diesel Oil.
Does AMSOIL Offer a Warranty?
Yes. AMSOIL warrants that the use of its lubricants will not cause mechanical damage to any mechanically sound equipment when AMSOIL products are used in full compliance with AMSOIL recommendations. AMSOIL extended drain interval recommendations are set at a minimum of two times or more than the engine manufacturer's recommendations as determined by Oils analysis. Diesel operators who use AMSOIL for extended drains are fully protected. Studies have proven time and again that extended drain intervals with AMSOIL are a win/win situation - truckers win with less downtime and Oils expense and they win big with reduced wear.
What is Oils Analysis?
Oils analysis is a maintenance management tool that allows users to monitor equipment condition for maximum equipment life, maximum lubricant drain interval length and optimal downtime scheduling. Oils analysis saves users significant money by reducing equipment replacements and repairs, reducing the volume of lubricant purchased and destined for disposal and, most of all, by reducing downtime. Oils analysis customers like Haywood Gray trend line their Oils analyses. Trend lining involves comparing the results of previous Oils analysis reports to those of the most recent report to establish trends in wear metals content, viscosity, acid content, acid neutralization ability and other characteristics as specified. Departures from established trends indicate a change in engine or lubricant condition and the information they provide may be used to correct abnormal conditions before they cause damage or failure.
AMSOIL Oils Analysis
The AMSOIL Oils analysis program puts technologically advanced testing equipment in the hands of the experienced diagnosticians to deliver accurate, reliable, useful results.
