Kioti 50 hour and Chevron 400 oil samples

[sdef]

I test all of my oils at strategic points in the equipment's life at Blackstone Labs. On my new Kioti DK45HSE, this turned out to be at the 50 hours and 100 hour checks. I will also do another engine oil at 150 to make sure things have completed getting better. The kioti manual has conflicting information about some oil and filter changes at the 50 hour mark so I changed all oils and filters, as they are relatively inexpensive insurance. I also use synthetics in all vehicles, even now the chainsaw two stroke gas mixture. Per Blackstone's test data of many different oils types in many different vehicles over many years, it does not make any difference whether one uses regular petroleum or synthetic- the wear and protective qualities are the same, all things being equal. However, I do use synthetics in all of my vehicles and change them at regular petroleum intervals. It just makes me feel better... On the other hand I expect synthetics would perform better at various extremes of temperature and usage.

Attached are comments from three engine oil reports. The rest of each report is a long list of various items tested for and their values. The first report comment is at the 50 hour mark using the stock Kioti installed oil and the next two are Chevron Delo 400LE 15w40, one a virgin sample and another I put it at 50 hours and changed at 100 hours. I have another for the hydraulic oil at 50 hours and it read well even though the magnetic drain plugs had small mountains of metallic debris attached.

The 50 hour engine oil had me concerned:



The 100 hour report comments using the Delo 400LE and I feel a lot better now. No clue if the new oil had any impact or not over the original oil, but the numbers have improved a lot- thankfully and I hope the engine is getting broken in. The whole tractor has been used very hard, up to and probably exceeding its stated capabilities many times. Note the comment about how well the oil has performed at this 50 hour interval and it can go a lot longer still providing excellent protection:



The report comments on the virgin Delo 400LE oil mentioning how good this oils additive package is.



I would have preferred to go to a synthetic at the 50 hours change. But the tractor is under warranty and I was not able to locate a 15w40 synthetic. I investigated a lot of regular petroleum engine oil and finally decided on Chevron Delo 400LE and am happy with the reports. I have a lot of test reports for synthetics, virgin and used, in my other vehicles and do not recall any of them being any better than this Chevon oil and a lot of them were not as good. So I will stick with the Delo 400 LE and have stocked up for the next few oil changes.

 

[jenkinsph]

Thanks for the report, I have been using Delo for many years with good service (no engine problems) so it works for me. I am sure there are lots of good oils out there but I tend to stick with what has worked for me. I change my oil in 150 hour increments and trucks every 4000 miles which are 95% highway use. I clean the air filter (primary) every evening after use and replace it when I see signs of dirt on the secondary filter. I mention this because I would expect that the dirt entering the air inlet is what causes the most trouble.

 

[Topher265]

Where does Blackstone say there is no difference in synthetic and petroleum oils? I call shenanigans!

I do know there are oil brands that call themselves "synthetic" when in fact their base stock is petroleum, while there are also true synthetic oils, and there are significant differences between those...but I've seen many ATSM tests which show synthetics provide more protection than conventional oils. I just find it amazing Blackstone would make such a statement.

Regardles, I like oil analysis. It is very important when it comes to extending drain intervals.

 

[Topher265]

Where does Blackstone say there is no difference in synthetic and petroleum oils? I call shenanigans!

I do know there are oil brands that call themselves "synthetic" when in fact their base stock is petroleum, while there are also true synthetic oils, and there are significant differences between those...but I've seen many ATSM tests which show synthetics provide more protection than conventional oils. I just find it amazing Blackstone would make such a statement.

Regardles, I like oil analysis. It is very important when it comes to extending drain intervals.

 

[YardBikeBob]

"I buy the cheapest brand-name conventional oil I can find at the discount store and change my oil every 4 to 5 thousand miles. My motor failed due to poor lubrication before I went xxxxx miles."

Never heard a true story anywhere close to that in 4 decades of paying attention.

And that first sentence says you're still paying over $3 a quart.

Sheesh, Bob

 

[RickB]

50 hour drain intervals and synthetic oil sounds like a combination guaranteed to waste the maximum possible numbers of dollars in an engine crankcase.
My opinion only, your mileage may vary.

 

[sdef]

Where does Blackstone say there is no difference in synthetic and petroleum oils? I call shenanigans!

In particular read the last paragraph:

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/Newsletters/Gas-Diesel/July-1-2014.php

 

[5030]

I've never had an oil analysis. Don't see any need. IMO it's a waste of time and money

I run 2 large Kubota ag tractors most of the time running at rated rpm for pto operation and I change my oil and filters yearly, every fall prior to putting them away for the winter, change the coolant every 2 years and add DCA4 to the conventional antifreeze. Air filters and fuel filters yearly as well.

Both tractors have well over 2000 hours on them and I've never had issue one with either.

I use Shell Rotella 5-40 Synthetic in the engines and Chevron THF Synthetic in the transmission and hudraulics.

It's always been my opinion that what gunks up a motor and causes oil breakdown is piddling along and not operating an engine in it's power band. I use them, not baby them.

Neither of my tractors are toys. They are for work, not playing. Playing is not fiddling with a tractor far as I'm concerned.

 

[Texasmark]

For a data point on performance left after 50 hrs, my Cummins is rated at 300 hrs. On dino and syn oils, the syn holds up to higher temps without breaking down....breakdown being part of the black stuff you find when you drain your oil. Shell Rotella T 5w-40 full synthetic is a C/S star rated to the current standards heavy duty oil. I easily prove that by my air cooled engines which run hotter than liquid cooled having to change oil only once per season rather than 2 or 3 times. On my Cummins, the oil on the dipstick is still honey colored, darker yes, but still clear at 300 hrs.

But this oil saga will never end. Just check out the rows of shelves of oil at WW. Apparently it sells or they wouldn't be stocking it. We obviously have varying tastes for our own reasons.

Mark