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2006
Cadillac CTS-V Used Oil Analysis
Report
Differential Fluid
C66 Racing team
owner Brad Neff bought a 2006 Cadillac CTS-V as his daily driver in the
fall of 2006. The car was a used corporate car that had 7780 miles of use. In an attempt to
obtain information on the differential's performance over time, as well as
how the factory fluids compared to aftermarket alternatives such as AMSOIL,
the team intends to draw used oil samples after each fluid change and submit them to
Blackstone Laboratories for analysis.
Used Oil Analysis History:
| Oil |
Factory Fill |
|
|
|
Universal Lab
Averages |
| Miles on oil |
10,636 |
|
|
|
|
| Miles on unit |
10,636 |
|
|
|
|
| Sample Date |
6/10/07 |
|
|
|
|
| |
ppm |
|
|
|
ppm |
| Aluminum |
15 |
|
|
|
10 |
| Chromium |
14 |
|
|
|
3 |
| Iron |
1107 |
|
|
|
517 |
| Copper |
177 |
|
|
|
16 |
| Lead |
21 |
|
|
|
3 |
| Tin |
14 |
|
|
|
1 |
| Molybdenum |
3 |
|
|
|
2 |
| Nickel |
22 |
|
|
|
10 |
| Manganese |
101 |
|
|
|
30 |
| Silver |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
| Titanium |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
| Potassium |
10 |
|
|
|
5 |
| Boron |
200 |
|
|
|
92 |
| Silicon |
33 |
|
|
|
40 |
| Sodium |
11 |
|
|
|
43 |
| Calcium |
3 |
|
|
|
34 |
| Magnesium |
2 |
|
|
|
4 |
| Phosphorus |
3898 |
|
|
|
1490 |
| Zinc |
127 |
|
|
|
374 |
| Barium |
37 |
|
|
|
4 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| SUS Viscosity @ 210F |
68.4 |
|
|
|
Range ~67-80 |
| |
Actual Blackstone Report |
|
|
|
|
Initial Fill
The differential fluid initial fill was GM Factory Fill synthetic 75w90 gear
lube.
Oil Change 6-10-07
After 10,636 miles of driving, the differential fluid was drained and
replaced with AMSOIL Severe Gear
Synthetic Extreme Pressure Lubricant 75w90.
Blackstone's comments on the sample result:
We normally expect to
see high wear in factory fill differential sample, though these levels are a
little excessive, even for that. Iron was the dominant metal and shows
some serious wear at steel parts. Chrome, iron, and nickel are all
alloys in steel, and should read well below average considering the short
oil run. Universal averages show normal wear levels after about 29,000
miles oil use. Copper, lead, and tin show poor wearing bronze parts
like a bushing. Suggest having this oil changed out if you haven't do
so already and resample in 5,000 miles.
Our evaluation of the used oil
analysis report:
- As evidenced by the SUS
viscosity at 210F, the gear lube remained in grade for a 90 weight gear oil and did not
shear low out of grade or thicken
out of grade.
- As evidenced by the ppm values
for the wear metals, primarily iron, chrome, nickel, copper, lead and tin, the
differential exhibited wear 114 - 1300% above the universal lab averages.
This is particularly concerning given that the gear lube only had 10,636
miles on it, compared with the universal average of about 29,000 miles.
Given the problems GM has had with the CTS-V differential, these high wear
metal readings may be indicative of problems to come for our differential.
Understanding the used oil analysis report
These two links to pages on
Blackstone Laboratories website provide background on the elements in the
used oil analysis report, as well as how to review and understand the
report:
Understanding the Elements
Understanding Your Gas/Diesel Engine Oil Report
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