Oil analysis results

[PhilJet09]

I’ve been using Blackstone Labs as a curiosity into how my aging FJR is wearing for a couple years now. As a former aircraft technician, this is nothing new...send them an oil sample during each change interval and track the trends. This latest one came back a bit interesting. I understand the iron component, but have to research what the boron and magnesium levels mean. Anyway, I thought some of you might be interested.

[PhilJet09]

Crap, let me try again...

[Uncle Hud]

This type of post makes me realize how little knowledge is actually inside my brain. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc ... sounds like the label on a vitamin bottle.

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks for sharing...I'll be watching this thread...maybe I can learn something.

[LKLD]

Thanks for sharing...I'll be watching this thread...maybe I can learn something.

Blackstone says your TBN is strong, much higher than 1.0, but seeing that it decreases at each change interval, is this a reason for concern?

I have no clue about this, so like Wheatie, I am hoping to learn something.

[Hppants]

Me too, Wheatie. Might as well start now:

1. What does TBN mean, why is 6.5 good (compared to what?), and how does that number equate to presumably a longer oil change interval? What was your interval before? Are you consistent with that interval?

2. What are the unit/location averages based on? Is that YOUR averages on the same bike over its lifespan? All of YOUR bikes combined? Some kind of standard against this type of motor? Or some standard against all types of motors?

3. How many miles on your bike? Why did you switch viscosities? What viscosity were you running before?

I'm definitely in the "ride more, stress less" camp. We all know that the FJR is HIGHLY UNLIKELY to ever have a lubrication based motor failure. But I'm curious none the less.

[Bugnatr]

Way over my head, I'll stick with ...clean oil good-dirty oil bad.

[0face]

[silverback]

Boron and magnesium are in your oil from the latent fusion process in the stellar reactor which powers the singluarity multiplier.

[PhilJet09]

Ok, so magnesium and boron are pressure additives. Boron is usually a coolant additive, but they aren’t showing other coolant components in my oil, so it must be a component in the oil itself...I guess.

TBN is Total Base Number and is a measure of active addiditve left in the oil, the higher the number = the more “life” is left in your oil. I would expect this value to vary from sample to sample and as the engine wears. Also, I started using different oil during this interval.

Unit averages are my averages from this bike. Universal averages are from testing averages they’ve gotten from similar engine types...whatever that means.

As of this sample, which was sent in about 4 months after I took it because I’m a lazy procrastinator, the bike had 133,066 miles. I switched viscosities because the oil was more available, cheaper and I was going to be doing a lot of riding in very hot weather.

[PhilJet09]

Here’s what the first Ural sample looks like.

[PhilJet09]

Btw, I also subscribe to the ride more, stress not-at-all philosophy. I just find the data interesting.

[Bugnatr]

Boron and magnesium are in your oil from the latent fusion process in the stellar reactor which powers the singluarity multiplier.

Yeah.. Thats just what I was thinking.

[raYzerman]

Boron and magnesium are in your oil from the latent fusion process in the stellar reactor which powers the singluarity multiplier.

https://www.fjriders.com/forums/viewtop ... =15&t=3199

[Hppants]

Ok (and just out of curiosity), would you agree that by changing your oil brand and viscosity, respectfully, you've screwed the pooch on your TBN? Perhaps your new oil has more magnesium and boron added to it for whatever reason?

[PhilJet09]

Ok (and just out of curiosity), would you agree that by changing your oil brand and viscosity, respectfully, you've screwed the pooch on your TBN? Perhaps your new oil has more magnesium and boron added to it for whatever reason?

I wouldn’t go that far, necessarily. Blackstone tests for active additives remaining in the oil sample (TBN). If those additives are left over from the previous oil, fine by me. The key is that they’re still viable and doing their job. It’s when that number drops below 1 that your oil has broken down and the additive package is almost completely depleted. The shear and pressure forces in the engine break down the additives, not the base oil. I pay a little extra for them to do the TBN test, to see how much life is left in the oil I’m using. They keep telling me I can extend the change interval, but I never do it because...reasons.

Yes, I’m guessing the Mobile1 I’m using now probably has way more boron and magnesium.