Mobil 1 New Life 0W40 (Tesco) MB229.5
Oil Life : 18,031 km
ODO :311,861 km in
Car model: Toyota Avanza 1.3L
Engine: K3VE Multi Port Injection
Added some 100 mL of graphited engine oil in Elf Molygraphite 15W50 .

24 hour blotter :



48 hour blotter :


..... and going ..

That oil looks very dark. How you determine it is still okay?

You are indeed absolutely right in suggesting the oil looks very dark , judging from the wide spread area of grayish dark diffusion zone in relation to all other blotter samples in this thread of 10,000 km and below usage .

Now, why do I feel the oil is still okay ?

First the centre zone of 8 mm ( out of 28 mm minor diameter of right hand side lobe ) has not formed yet . It is not dark black and opaque , I see it as dark gray but still retains some semblance of transparency .

Before the first scenario occurs , the second condition of darkened aureole zone or perimeter ring of diameters between 8 mm and say, 10 mm zone or annulus has not formed at all on the right hand lobe , although it is emerging on the left hand side lobe .

This means agglomeration of excessively high levels of dirt/combustion contaminants has not yet occurred .

Next the annulus between diameters 24 mm and 28 mm is clean and quite clear, transparent and yellowish in colour indicating absence of dirt contaminants within the said annulus .

This means there exist some part of diffusion zone which are free of dirts and ready to absorb more, if and when more of contaminants quantity are introduced into the used oil through further usage .

Hence, my optimism in this 18,031 km blotter .

Having said this , I'm tempted to replace this 18k km oil if not because of the CMCO restrictions on my travel to Pandamaran workshop .

Note:Presence of water moisture as reflected by darkened jagged edge at the outermost zone that promotes corrosion wear does not worry me at the moment with 'spare capacity' to absorb further dirt in the transparent centre zone, aureole zone/perimeter ring and diffusion zone .

Also note there isn't any translucent halo zone beyond outermost zone to indicate fuel dilution phenomenon .

This post has been edited by zeng: Oct 27 2020, 02:25 PM

Hi bro Zeng, pls help to review.

72 hours blotter
Car model: Crv 2.4l
EO: Mobil 1 full synth 5w30 ESP (green)
ODO: 86k
Oil mileage: 7.8k


Attached thumbnail(s)

Hi Bro ,

This M1 ESP 5W30 is a mid-SaPS oil of rather powerful specs in ACEA C3 MB 229.51, 229.52 ; VW 50400 VW 50700 etc .

In Europe , OEMs' MB and VW recommend this oil for 30,000 km oil change intervals in appropriate MB/VW engines .

There is absence of darkened centre zone in this 7800 km used oil , which is good news .

There is also absence of darkened aureole zone/perimeter ring indicating absence of agglomeration of combustion contanminants and top form detergency and dispersancy performance .

I consider the whole of diffusion zone as lightly contaminated with dirts with huge capacity for further absorbing additional amount of dirts during further usage .

Generally the amount of water moisture present is very mild and on the low side , judging by the not so obvious jagged external edge which is not darkened anyway .

However , there is some slight indication of fuel dilution from the very slight translucent halo annulus external to the outermost zone which is harmless for now .

Overall , this used ESP is fit for further service IMHO beyond 7800 km .

This post has been edited by zeng: Oct 27 2020, 10:15 PM

Thanks bro Zeng. I will continue to use it until 10k then do another blotter test

Hello bro @zeng, could you help to analyze the engine oil below? Previous I was using Mobil 1 5w30 Extended Performance but try this well.

Engine oil: Petronas Syntium 3000 [5w-30] SN+
(from Mazda SC)

Model: Mazda 3 2.0L Skyactiv
Current Odo : 123,400KM
Oil age Serviced sometime in July 2020 [Travelled approx 6,500km already and the oil drop dipstick is kind of dark] hmmm
Blotter hours: Picture taken after 7hours plus (after 40mins driving)
Driving condition: Typical Klang Valley Jam and Weekends is highway [speed 80-140km/h]
Fuel used: BHP 97 but occasionally BHP 95....
Others:
-Occasionally hard acceleration [4-6,000rpm], using original oil filter by Mazda, if really not rush will keep speed at 70-90km chill driving.


Normal photoshot



With lighting (while i am not sure which is the right way)



This post has been edited by incredibless: Oct 28 2020, 04:19 PM

Hi Bro ,
Your upper picture seems to indicate clearer there is very evident fuel dilution problem (despite this blotter being taken after 40 plus minutes of driving ) in this 6,500 km Syntium 3000 5W30 used oil .

Fuel dilution phenomenon seems to be peculiar to Mazda3 engines ,IMHO .

However from both your pictures with backlight , it is not clear as yet whether this 6,500 km used oil has structures or darkened grayish zones like centre zone , aureole zone/perimeter ring and diffusion zone .

This is mainly because this 7 hour blotter has not fully matured yet , and the backlight in the above 2 pictures can obscure the contrast between the several zones mentioned above .

I would suggest later on you upload here blotter pictures after 48 or 72 hour of depositing the used oil sample on an A4 paper , without the backlight to enhance the contrast for a more 'accurate' evaluation .

This post has been edited by zeng: Oct 28 2020, 05:04 PM

Thanks bro Zeng. I will wait for at least 48 or 72 hours to repost my engine oil test. Btw i think that i read somewhere you are from Pandamaran ka? Pah Sang people?

Your pleasure .

Hmm .... my go to workshop is in Jalan Pendamar , Pandamaran for his trustworthiness and quality workmanship .

I'm from USJ/Subang Jaya .

This post has been edited by zeng: Oct 29 2020, 06:32 PM

Hello bro zeng. I have waited the blotter test (72 hours) 3 days plus for your review. with approx 6500km travelled with the oil. Appreciate your advice on the blotter drop i did.

About the oil dilution, i check my dipstick level still same as i change my oil. No sign of oil level increase. However, Can this Petronas Syntium 3000 5w-30 oil last until 10,000km? I m thinking to stick one brand for long term though.








This post has been edited by incredibless: Nov 1 2020, 10:02 PM

Hi Bro ,

These 72 hour blotter spot test pictures should have been 'matured' by now , and it clearly demonstrates they are free of (or lack of) structures or zones like centre zone ; aureole zone /perimeter ring and diffusion zone which are good news as it indicates the superb condition of this Syntium 3000 5W30 used oil at 6,500 km .

Generally, the diffusion zone is very transparent and light yellowish in colour indicating very low levels of combustion by-products or contaminants .

The jagged edge is not darkened , indicating a very mild or negligible level of water moistures which is of no concern .

Yes, this blotter indicates 'severe' level of fuel dilution by looking at the very visible translucent annulus of 80 mm and 65 mm diameters on my screen (of Right Hand Side of Top picture measuring in North/South alignment) .

This 'severe' level of fuel dilution is somehow not reflected in your so-called engine oil level increase .

IMHO, this 6,500 km used oil is fit for continuing service and IME 10,000 km is a non-issue and poses no problem whatsoever .

Is the oil changed ?

Edit: IIRC, Mazda3 OEM recommended oil change intervals is 10,000 miles (16,000 km) in U.S. for a 2013/14 .

This post has been edited by zeng: Nov 1 2020, 10:58 PM

Hi bro. Thanks alot for your reply and comment very much. Now i am confident that this Syntium 3000 is good to go until 10k km. This oil is not change before and infact this is my first time to use this syntium 3000 in which previously i tried mobil 1 ep and shell helix ultra 5w30 (ACEA A5/B5). As for the syntium I suppose it is a ACEA A3/B3 oil? Since its never stated (only SN plus/GF-5)

hi zeng, just wondering if im interested to share my oil here, I just need to drop a few on paper right? doesn't need any specific sheet is it?
I'm using duron now on both my scooter and car.

The local Syntium 3000 5W30 SN plus/GF5 (with or without SE) in question does not have/meet ACEA A5/B5 specifications .

However, European sourced Syntium 3000 FR (Ford & Renault) 3000 SN (plus) /GF5 , which are available here on online stores , carries much demanding and tougher Renault and Ford OEM approvals like Ford WSS-M2C913-C, 913-D & Renault RN0700 , whose specs is ...........
over and above than that of ACEA A5B5 specs , which in turn is over and above API SN(plus) /GF5 specifications .

As regards your expressed confidence in 10,000 km usage for this SN plus/GF5 , I consider it as well placed and appropriate .

For comparison purpose , you may wish to refer to this @90Boyz Syntium 3000 FR SN/GF5 blotter of 11,680 km in a Kia engine in post #1 .

Add :FR spec sheet ......


This post has been edited by zeng: Nov 2 2020, 12:00 PM

Yes, any non-glossy paper such as A4 size letter head or printing paper would do .

Some people here uses coffee filter paper that seems to 'differentiate' the blotter contrast better , IMO .

As suggested, sample is best taken after more than 20 minutes - an hour or more of driving and ..........

within 20 minutes of engine shut down while engine oil is hot/warm and not cold .

This technique may be used on gear oils etc , other than engine oils or saloon cars .

This post has been edited by zeng: Nov 2 2020, 11:50 AM

thanks bro will find the coffee paper and a syringe, so I could drop without messing the paper haha.

if i check this thread earlier i might be sharing more cos i regularly change different type of oil previously . sighhh banyak rugi haha

For interim and periodic checks , you may drop the blotter spot from the dipstick whilst checking/ascertaining correct oil levels .

Btw, I wish you would benefit from reading post #1 in this thread .

This post has been edited by zeng: Nov 2 2020, 12:33 PM

Hi Zeng, would you able to share your thoughts on this 5w30FR blotter that just done about 5,218km in a 130k mileage turbo engine?

The left top blotter was done after warming up for 10 mins while the bottom blotter done about 20 mins driving.

Both are about 48 hours by now.

This post has been edited by Andy0625: Nov 2 2020, 10:26 PM

Mind sharing what is the engine model here ?

It seems to place quite a demand on its engine oil , IMO .

Edit: If I may speculate , this engine may not give you good fuel economy in relation to a Japanese Port injection engine .

This post has been edited by zeng: Nov 2 2020, 11:01 PM