10,000 mile oil analysis

[BamaFan]

I changed to syn oil at 30,000 miles. I was told this oil would go 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. I was very hesitant to go this long on an oil change but thought I would give it a shot and have it analyzed at the next oil change. I got my report back today. I have looked up what all this means but I do not know the parameters that I should be in. I have an 05 RoadKing, eng had 40,000 when the sample was sent in.

Brand: AMSOIL 20w-50 syn
Oil age: 10,000 miles

Lubrication Data:
Contamination Rating: Normal
Equipment Rating: Normal
Oil Rating: Normal
Viscosity @ 100C: 19.2
SAE Viscosity Grade: 50
Oxidation (Ab/cm): 2
Soot (wt%): 0.17
Water (Vol%): Not Detected

Wear Elements:
Ag(silver): 0ppm
Al(Aluminum): 3ppm
Cr(Chromium): 0ppm
Cu(copper): 15ppm
Fe(iron): 9ppm
Mo(molybdenum): 33ppm
Ni(nickel): 0ppm
Pb(lead): 0ppm
Sn(tin): 0ppm

Contaminant Elements:
B(boron): 25ppm
K(potassium): 0ppm
Na(sodium): 4ppm
Si(silicon): 4ppm
V(vanadium): 0ppm

Keep in mind I only added 1/2 qt of oil at about 7500 miles during the 10,000 miles.
I am going to continue with this program but for peace of mind I am going to change the oil filter at 5000 miles, and a full change at 10,000 miles.

Any oil readers out there?
Thanks,STEVE

[steveusmc]

Whoever said synthetic is good for 10K in a V-Twin crankcase gave you very poor advice. Regardless of what type of oil you use in your crankcase, it is black and dirty and needs changing at 5K. 10K oil is just crud.....full of dirt, fuel, and other contaminants. While syn may still lubricate at 10K, it is highly degraded. You are very wise to stick with the 5K. As for me, I change my crankcase at 3K...especially in the summer. I use M1 20/50 V-Twin Synthetic. It's money well spent.

[dirtdobber]

steveusmc
I agree with you in the most part. My cousin has used Amsoil for years as well as some of my friends. They change the filter every 5,000 and oil every 10,000. My cousin has over 90,000 miles now and the bike still runs good and uses no oil.
I agree that I think 10,000 miles is a lot to expect from a oil and still not be dirty etc.

[wkohn]

There is actually nothing wrong with going 10,000 miles on the engine oil if it is Amsoil. From the analysis it has held up pretty good and could go even longer. If he is using the Amsoil filter it can go 7,500 miles without changing it.

For you guys that go by the color of the oil. You should be changing it every 500 to 1,000 miles. Because it will pretty much be that color of what you call "dirt" by that time and your filters will never clean it out since they cannot filter out that small of a particle.

[vindex1963]

"Si(silicon): 4ppm" I think that's the one to watch. Si is like sandpaper in your motor. My recent U.O.A. didn't show much for Si. I have read that K&N filters let very fine dirt pass and that is where it comes from for the most part. Just what I've read.

[Odd Job]

BAMAFAN....I switched to Amsoil about 4 years ago, previously used SESYN and was doing my services by the book every 2,500 miles. When I went to Amsoil I changed my service intervals to every 5,000 and just recently went to the Amsoil oil filter.

Dealer where I go to said my engine is in top shape after 70,000 miles on my 03' Road Glide. I'm a believer of Amsoil quality and protection but IMHO going 10,000 is pushing it. I'm fairly conservative so I'm staying with 5,000 oil & filter change to be on the safe side.

[BamaFan]

Originally Posted by Odd Job

I'm a believer of Amsoil quality and protection but IMHO going 10,000 is pushing it. I'm fairly conservative so I'm staying with 5,000 oil & filter change to be on the safe side.

I know what you mean, I'm very conservative myself ( more like Anal) so going this 10,000 miles liked to have drove me nuts but I really wanted to see what my report would find. Even though the scientist found a good report it still makes me squirm. I have always tried to listen to my concience and right now it is saying to not go with the extended oil changes, but the verdict is still out on that one!
I am using the AMSOIL filter.

Thanks for all the replies and I welcome more.

[steveusmc]

Originally Posted by wkohn

There is actually nothing wrong with going 10,000 miles on the engine oil if it is Amsoil. From the analysis it has held up pretty good and could go even longer. If he is using the Amsoil filter it can go 7,500 miles without changing it.

For you guys that go by the color of the oil. You should be changing it every 500 to 1,000 miles. Because it will pretty much be that color of what you call "dirt" by that time and your filters will never clean it out since they cannot filter out that small of a particle.

"Us Guys" don't go by the "color" of the oil but some of us do know that there are contaminants, other than particulates, that make the oil less effective. Oil gets contaminated by fuel and other materials that aren't filtered out. I would suspect that going to a lower micron, higher efficiency, filter for an old EVO (Mine) may not be the wisest thing to do....

I guess all the engineers are just missing the point. Stretch that oil just as far as you can...and maybe even save the cost of a couple rounds of beer. No sense in throwing good money away just to replace filthy oil.

Bottom line...change your oil when you want and I will change mine when I want. Mine will never see 7,500 and I know that AMSoil is no better than M1 20/50 V-Twin Syn. What do you think George?

[hdmarsh77]

George has told me that going to 10Gs isn't an issue.

[Amsoil Dealer Group]

Guys,
If you ran water in your bike and it didn't create any wear would that be wrong? If oil protects your machinery the whole time it is in your motor, whether it is 2500, 5,000, or 10,000 miles, it has done it's work.

Some of you have this repitious oil changes no matter what ingrained in your preventive maintenance mind and no matter what the facts here state some how it doesn't compute. Big oil has done a great job over the years of getting into our pockets needlessly, especially when using better than average oils. Jiffy lube for example has told their franchisees that to enhance their bottom line they have to get people to change their oil at 3,000 miles or sooner no matter what the OEM's state in their manuals. There are not many oils on the market that need to be changed that often period!

This oil report is not an exception, as I have another one at 9721 miles that is nearly as good. Do any of you realize that this sample has less total wear on it than most other samples at 3,000 miles. Keep in mind that wear metals are accumulative and keep adding up as the miles are put on. Also keep in mind that these wear metals are sub-micron in size and do no harm circulating through the oil system.

I have been doing one year oil changes in all my street vehicles now for 27 years and have never wore anything out yet.
george
ADG

[fatboydoc04]

Originally Posted by BamaFan

I know what you mean, I'm very conservative myself ( more like Anal) so going this 10,000 miles liked to have drove me nuts but I really wanted to see what my report would find. Even though the scientist found a good report it still makes me squirm. I have always tried to listen to my concience and right now it is saying to not go with the extended oil changes, but the verdict is still out on that one!
I am using the AMSOIL filter.

Thanks for all the replies and I welcome more.

BamaFan
Where did you send your used oil for the analysis? I would be interested in checking mine the next time.
Thanks....fatboydoc

[gdkenoyer]

More and more folks are getting oil analyses. Another recently posted results in the string Used Oil Report.

As mentioned in that string, if you want some more feedback go post your UOA (used oil analysis) over in the Used Oil Analysis - Motorcycle forum over in BobIsTheOilGuy.

[BamaFan]

Originally Posted by fatboydoc04

BamaFan
Where did you send your used oil for the analysis? I would be interested in checking mine the next time.
Thanks....fatboydoc

I'm sorry I can't help you on this one, my fuel supplier here at work slipped it in for me with our generator oil samples.

[vindex1963]

I went to blackstone labs

[hdmarsh77]

Originally Posted by vindex1963

I went to blackstone labs

Same here, and I paid a little extra for the "Dyson Analysis". Which, is to say, Terry Dyson will go through the results and tell you how your engine is doing. He took the time to answer any questions I had.