10,000 Oil change interval.

[Doc]

???? What is silicon? ...a break in additive?

Sand ...ref ”Silica”..

”
”Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent metalloid and semiconductor. It is a member of group 14 in the periodic table: carbon is above it; and germanium, tin, and lead are below it.
Naming: after Latin 'silex' or 'silicis', meaning flint”

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[harringtondav]

Sand ...ref ”Silica”..

”
”Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent metalloid and semiconductor. It is a member of group 14 in the periodic table: carbon is above it; and germanium, tin, and lead are below it.
Naming: after Latin 'silex' or 'silicis', meaning flint”

Thanks. Got it years ago in several chem. classes.
...just trying to tie it into the comment and this threat.

 

[FoD]

???? What is silicon? ...a break in additive?

dirt, factory dust, ... according to one of the posts regarding analysis reporting that "silicon"

 

[harringtondav]

dirt, factory dust, ... according to one of the posts regarding analysis reporting that "silicon"

Thanks. ...I'm not fretting over this much. I worked in two Deere diesel engine plants. I suspect their QC is on par with Ford's. Component parts were washed to a stiff cleanliness spec, covered well and sent to the assembly floor where cleanliness was anal.
My best wild-ass guess is trace silicone is from sealants or other coatings from purchased parts.

 

[FunInTheSun]

Silicon is mainly evidence of sand (silicon dioxide). Silicon-based lubricants are popular, but unlikely to be specified at Ford as an assembly lube, as they are mostly incompatible with mineral oil lubricants. Silicone RTV is used for gaskets and such, and silicone rubber is used in *some* o-rings, but gaskets and sealants tend to be found as large fragments, not fine nanoparticles, and would not be run through the spectro-analyzer. They can and sometimes are tested separately just for material identification, but silicon present in the oil composition is usually due to sand / dust nanoparticles or some soluble / fluid compound like antifreeze, if they still contain sodium silicate, which used to be common. Not sure about modern anti-freeze compositions, so I will just announce that I am ignorant about them and leave it to you to continue and expand this line of research.

If you call the company that does the analysis, they can usually give you some insight into what they believe the source of the silicon is, based on their experience and referring to their detailed knowledge of how they process the specimen (do they filter / decant the fluid before spectro-analysis?). They may have some information regarding the composition of the other fluids and materials used in your engine / vehicle, and can offer some more informed speculation as to what the source might be.

I used to send various fluids out for analysis as part of my normal duties at previous jobs, so I have some detailed knowledge about what an analysis firm can typically offer. The oil composition analysis is done by spectroanalysis, which identifies only elements, not compounds, so some detective work is needed to positively identify the source of any anomalous result.

 

[FunInTheSun]

i trust people who are educated. period.
personal experiences arent education.

Sorry to disagree, but education without experience is frequently unreliable.
Personal experience without education is also frequently unreliable.
Education is intended to give a mental model of processes and theories of operation, as a basic foundation that you then proceed to test, apply and refine by personal observation and practice. A newly graduated engineer has an education, but his degree indicates that he has been exposed to the relevant concepts, and is qualified to understand what he is about to experience. Once he has done a few things (and probably broken a few things), he is more qualified by knowledge and experience than someone who is merely educated. He has developed engineering judgement and skill, which is his own personal experience of improving his education.
Someone who has no education will make slower progress and go down more dead ends, as he re-discovers well-known truths that he has not been exposed to. But everyone's education has gaps in it, and these gaps must be filled in by self-education, which is a kind of personal experimental experience, or an extension of education, however you want to look at it.

But ignorance is definitely inferior to either one... LOL So I'm with you on that... ?

 

[Floyd]

provided that experience is correct
you cant say my dad had any skills as a teacher, nor the skills to determine what was best for his vehicle.
sure, theres anecdotal evidence that his 20000km oil changes didnt cause an engine failure, same time I never got taught what else to look for. I highly doubt his senses were anywhere near accurate as an actual oil sample.
So his experience, is quite honestly based on zero facts and worthless

Provided the formal training is correct...
Field experience has consequences, get it wrong and suffer the consequences.
Classroom, while often correct, has no consequences when wrong and must be field verified.
Hopefully correct formal training will result in fewer initial F*kUps and will be mitigated over time with field experience.
Do you want wet ink on the credentials of the professionals you hire, or is "internship" still a valid practice?
It is often said "those who can't do... teach".

Gramma often makes a far better babysitter than a "child care specialist" with no experience.

Of course, we've all seen both competence and incompetence with and without diplomas.

( Try campaigning a roadrace car)

 

[Radioman]

thanks for opening up old woulds and re-igniting my PTSD
my Gramma used to beat me with a wooden spoon.

I never got hit by a babysitter

So that explains it...

Sorry, couldn't help myself...

 

[FunInTheSun]

my Gramma used to beat me with a wooden spoon.
I never got hit by a babysitter

But which one contributed more to your "edification"?

 

[VegasRanger]

I don’t know jack sh*t about oils, and know just the basics about car engines, but I change my oil every 5 or 6K. Why? Cheap insurance. Especially with a DI/turbo engine and temps in Vegas being 100+ 4-5 months out of the year. Plus it gives me something to do

 

[NedKelly]

I took the plunge and had an oil sample tested by Blackstone Labs. I primarily wanted to see the amount of fuel in the sample considering the issues that some members have experienced.

 

[got3fords]

I took the plunge and had an oil sample tested by Blackstone Labs. I primarily wanted to see the amount of fuel in the sample considering the issues that some members have experienced.

Why are all the numbers in the first section all the same as the Unit/Location averages? Seems like an unrealistic coincidence, or am I not reading it right?

 

[NedKelly]

Why are all the numbers in the first section all the same as the Unit/Location averages? Seems like an unrealistic coincidence, or am I not reading it right?

I believe it is the averages for my specific vehicle in the 2nd column whereas overall observed vehicle type averages are in the last column.

 

[JohnnyO]

I change mine at 5000 miles mostly because I like to tinker on my vehicles. Pennzoil Platinum went 12,000 miles in my daughter’s Fiesta and the UOA was fine.

 

[Big Blue]

Why are all the numbers in the first section all the same as the Unit/Location averages? Seems like an unrealistic coincidence, or am I not reading it right?

When you only have one sample the average is the sample. Need more data points.

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