zeng Appreciate your help in interpreting this blot. Backlit photo is the 2nd image. Thanks in advance.

BOLD ATAS Fully Synthetic 0W-30 API SP ILSAC GF5 CI-4 (Yes looks contradictory, but that's what the seller published)
Used on a Saga BLM 2009

Previous date : 04 May 2024 @ 91,375 km
Current date : 24 Oct 2024 @ 99,417 km

@speedy3210 Oops, late to the party.

Anyway.......

The Centre Zone of 8 mm diameter is generally light brown and not even slightly darkened indicating a medium level of heavy metallic contaminants within this 8100 km mileage Bold Atas 0W30 fully synthetic API SP oil.

The Aureole,/perimeter annulus of about 10 mm size of kind of non-observable indicating agglomeration of large/heavy size contamination particles has yet to occur - a good news indeed.

The Division Zone of about say, 20 mm diameter size is light coloured and transparent indicating a rather low level of small size and light weight.

The absence of however slightly darkened zigzag perimeter indicates a very very low degree or level of oil oxidation phenomenon or water moisture contamination.

The outermost halo annulus is present indicating presence of fuel dilution phenomenon- probably this 8100 km used Bold was subjected to high frequency of short drives of say, less than 5-8 km distance a typical drive.

Overall, I would think this used oil is good to go on further.

Up to 15000 km? Personally I won't hesitate as far as engine life or longevity is concerned.


Edit:
1) This Bold Atas fully synthetic SP 0W30 is a modern low sulphur engine oil.
It can't meet the diesel spec CI of high sulphur engine oil

2) Pardon me for the shorter and brief writings as desktop pc is down for now.

This post has been edited by zeng: May 4 2025, 02:25 PM

Did go on until around 20k km.

No surprises here for a rojak oil.

Will see if I can retrieve images for this blotter spots of around 20k km, no promise though.

................

With backlight:


Without backlight:


At 22k+ km 14 months rojak oil combo of Shell ultra 5W40 + mineral 15w40:

The Centre Zone of about 8 mm is a bit dark and greyish but quite transparent indicating quite substantial amount of heavy metallic contaminants within the sample.

The Aureole perimeter ring seems not darkened and absent indicating agglomeration of heavy metallic contaminants, if present is NOT alarming (to me).

The Diffusion zone is slightly greyish but not opaque indicating medium level or slightly higher amount of light weight combustion by products within the used oil.

Presence of darkened zig zag out edge is obvious indicating oil oxidation phenomenon and/or presence of water moisture.

There is presence of a translucent halo at the outermost edge of the blotter indicating presence of fuel dilution phenomenon here.

NOTE: The final 7-8 months of this engine oil usage has been subjected ONLY to short trips of 11 km one way.

In my opinion modern' engine of this 398k+ km2007 Avanza engine can go on up to 22k km OCI with a modern MB229.5 SN 5W40 engine oil AND Euro 5 (Note: currently is Euro 4M petrol here, Euro 5 petrol will be launched 2 months later) fuels without encountering engine seizure say, in the next 5 years or 100k km, just saying.

Edit: Images uploaded.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jul 1 2025, 05:17 PM

All good bro!

Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 (MB229.5)
Oil Life : 10,178 km dated 26 May 2025
6 months oil life thus far since Nov 2024.
ODO :398,912 km in
Car model: Toyota Avanza 1.3L

Note:
Top up at 10,000 km about 1 L of Helix Ultra 5W-40 -due to timing cover oil seal leaks.

Samples were taken hot within 10 minutes of engine shut down after a 1.5 HOUR drive.

48 hours blotters:

With backlight:


Without backlight:


The Centre Zone (of about 8 mm diameter) of this10K km blotter is generally transparent indicating absence of high density heavy metallic wear particles in this 399K km Avanza.

There is absence of a greyed/darkened aureole zone/perimeter annulus (of about 10 mm diameter size) and it is quite clear, indicating absence of commencement of agglomeration phenomenon of contaminants.

The Diffusion Zone of about 30 mm diameter is generally quite transparent and not opaque indicating quite a low level of light weight or low density contaminants like combustion by-products.

The zig-zag outer edge is slightly darkened showing there is presence of oil oxidation and/or water moisture phenomena within the used oil sample.

The presence of a translucent halo zone surrounding the outer zig-zag edge in this 1.5 hour drive blotter - indicating fuel dilution phenomenon probably due to short 25 minutes drive over 11 km one way in Klang valley.

As usual, the blotter shows no indication of radiator coolant contamination of this used oil.

I believe this 10K km is still serviceable and will go on further whilst planning for a repair job on timing cover leaks problem.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jul 1 2025, 07:58 PM

Shell Helix Protect 0W-30 API SP ACEA A3/B4
Oil mileage: 16,156 km
Oil age: 12 month
Odo: 104,194 km
Car model: 2019 Toyota Hilux Revo 2.4

What’s your opinion on this one bro Zeng?
From the look of it, I assume the oil is not really fit to go with extended 16k oci.