For those of you testing your oil for minerals ....

[Hrant]

Curious, what are your readings for Aluminum and Silicon?

I just sent a sample to Blackstone Laboratories and the universal average reading for an NSX engine with oil changes at 4500 miles inteval is 3 for Aluminum and 12 for Silicon. Mine are 8 and 23 and they prescribe this to perhaps dirty air filter. It was changed about 7K miles ago! Everything else is ok or below the universal averages.

I believe they base their pool (universal) data on 56 engines from which they are deriving their "universal averages" but I do not believe they use separate averages for 3.0L vs 3.2L; its al combined together though I have an e-mail asking them about this.

Edit: Based on this thread, I see that the Silicon levels are higher than the Universal Average as well: http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23961&highlight=oil+analysis

The Universal Averages have changed a little since that thread. My other numbers are pretty much the same except for less calcium. Mine has 35K miles, I change the oil at about 3K miles with Mobile-1 10/30W.

 

[Tom239]

Curious, what are your readings for Aluminum and Silicon?

aluminum: 2 ppm
silicon: 19 ppm

oil: Mobil 1 10W/30
this interval: 2734 miles
odometer: 44,950 miles

Blackstone commented about the air filter as a possible explanation for my silicon level too. The air filter had last been changed at 29,284 miles.

 

[prova4re]

Here is my test using 5W/30, keep in mind this is after a bbsc had its way with it, and after it was rebuilt.
Silicone 17
Aluminum 4
Iron 2
Chromium 0
Lead 3
tin 4
nickel 2
molybdenum 65
titanium 0
manganese 4
vanadium 17
boron 39
magnesium 11
calcium 3057
barium 0
phosphorus 451
zinc 1068
sodium 4
potassium 0

 

[Hrant]

Well, it seems we have Silicon slightly higher than the average, and I have higher Aluminum than you. Any thoughts as to why? All tested values on the bottom of their printout are within the normal range.

This is their comment: Aluminum and silicon were on higher than expected, though it's too early to call these a problem. If the silicon is abrasive dirt escaping the air filter, it could be causing the aluminum (upper-end) wear, so we suggest checking that out.

Not sure exactly what this means or what I am supposed to check. I have the Cantrell AIS so could that be a factor in scooping more air through the filter thus increasing the volume of abrasive dirt going through?

Mine is a 98 3.2L so I don't know if the 97+ would make a difference, and I do track my car in HPDE.

Edit: I noticed that three of the samples were from Mobile-1. Prova4re deosn't mention his oil brand. Could Mobile-1 have some silicone in it?

 

[Hrant]

Update: I talked Ryan Stark at Blackstone Labs 260 744 2380.

I found interesting info and very helpful offer from them. They do not have a 3.0L or 3.2L NSX specific universal averages. They pool all Acura/Honda engines with 3.0L and 3.2L andcreate the universal pool and averages based on all those engines.

Blackstone is going to go back into their data base and try to pull 3.0L and 3.2L NSX engines and start creating separate averages for each distinct engine from all other 3.0L and 3.2L engines. This is great as long as all of you who sent your oil for analysis specified that they were from an NSX engine otherwise they won't be able to pull that data in the pool. Unfortunately, not all people do so, though I suspect most NSX owners are anal enough to have mentioned it if they sent it for analysis

Anywho, if previously you have not specifically identified your oil as being from an NSX engine, and you want to have a more relevant comparison/update of your oil analysis, give Ryan a call with your details.

HTH

3/11/05 Update: After they searched their internal data bank, they do NOT have any 3.2L NSX engine oil analysis on file. So mine is the first baseline for them, hence it is also the "unversal average" of one. They had handful of 3.0L at best and their average silicon level was 29 ppm, so my 23 is fine comparatively speaking.