This thread will contain any UOAs y'all want to send me from your bikes. The thread will contain only UOAs; no comments, etc. if you want to comment on any UOA start a thread below. This is to keep the UOA thread useful, and not clutter it up so that it becomes difficult to navigate.

thanks.

 

BIKE: 2007 FXSTD; 6,500 miles on engine
Oil: Redline 20w-50
Usage: Engine
Miles on Oil: 5,000
Wear Metals
Copper - 770 ppm
Iron - 39 ppm
Chromium - 1 ppm
Aluminum - 10 ppm
Lead - 20 ppm
Molybdenum - 2 ppm
Phosphorus - 1101 ppm
Zinc - 1639 ppm
Magnesium - 964 ppm
Calcium - 1213 ppm
Sodium - n/a
Potassium - n/a
Contaminants
Fuel Dilution - None
Water - 0.0 %
Silicon - 23 ppm
Oil Properties
Viscosity CST - 14.54
SAE - 40
Sulfur - 7 %
Oxidation - 0 %
Nitration - 4 %

Summary: Copper is extremely high indicating wear. Silicon is high which could be from poor air filtration. Oil has sheared to a 40 weight. Oxidation is good.

 

BIKE: 2007 FXSTD; 6,500 miles on engine
Oil: Redline MTL
Usage: Primary
Miles on Oil: 5,000
Wear Metals
Copper - 2 ppm
Iron - 170 ppm
Chromium - 1 ppm
Aluminum - 21 ppm
Lead - 1 ppm
Additives
Molybdenum - 3 ppm
Phosphorus - 3279 ppm
Zinc - 3045 ppm
Magnesium - 108 ppm
Calcium - 4058 ppm
Sodium - n/a
Potassium - n/a
Contaminants
Fuel Dilution - n/a
Water - 0.0 %
Silicon - 83 ppm
Oil Properties
Viscosity CST - 10.46
SAE - 30
Sulfur - 3 %
Oxidation - 125 %
Nitration - 8 %

Summary: Iron is high indicating wear. Silicon is high indicating presence of dirt. Oil has sheared to a 30 weight. The 125% Oxidation indicates the useful oil life is over.

 

BIKE: 2007 FXSTD; 6,600 miles on bike
Oil: RedlineHD Shockproof
Usage:Transmission
Miles on Oil: 6,600
Wear Metals
Copper -31 ppm
Iron -66 ppm
Chromium - 1 ppm
Aluminum -60 ppm
Lead -0 ppm
Additives
Molybdenum -4154 ppm
Phosphorus -2161 ppm
Zinc - 123 ppm
Magnesium -236 ppm
Calcium - 4058 ppm
Sodium -0
Potassium - n/a
Contaminants
Fuel Dilution - n/a
Water - 0.5 %
Silicon -250 ppm
Oil Properties
Viscosity CST - n/a
SAE -250
Sulfur -n/a
Oxidation -n/a
Nitration -n/a

Summary: Copper is high. Aluminum is high. The viscosity is way high at 250, indicating the water has emulsified and more-or-less "bonded" with the oil molecules."This suggests the base is a diester, which, like an ester, has an open molecule looking for something to fill it - water. A PAO based oil has a closed molecule, so won't do this." Redline oils are Group V oils, which are diester base oils. PAO oils are Group IV oils.
More on the apparent high viscosity from the RedLine site:
A unique lubricant containing a suspension of solid microscopic particles as an extreme pressure agent--unique solid dispersion which cushions gear teeth to help prevent tooth breakage and allows the use of lower viscosities.

Recommended for heavily-loaded racing differentials and transmissions, Off Road racing and problem gearboxes. The viscosity characteristics allow the lubricant to resist throwoff and provide a film thickness similar to a 75W250 grade, while providing the same low fluid friction as an SAE 75W90.

This would explain the unusual viscosity reading. The abnormal levels of copper and aluminum will probably come down as the tranny wears in more. The water contamination is probably condensation which happens with machinery that heats/cools and is vented to the atmosphere.

 

BIKE: 2005 Sportster; 14,300 miles on engine
Oil: Redline 20w-50
Usage: Engine
Miles on Oil: 4,600
Wear Metals
Copper -18 ppm
Iron -27 ppm
Chromium - 1 ppm
Aluminum - 13 ppm
Lead -4 ppm
Additives
Molybdenum -881 ppm
Phosphorus - 1357 ppm
Zinc - 1566 ppm
Magnesium -41 ppm
Calcium -n/a
Sodium - n/a
Potassium - n/a
Contaminants
Fuel Dilution - None
Water - 0.0 %
Silicon -18 ppm
Oil Properties
Viscosity CST - 16.93
SAE - 50
Sulfur -10 %
Oxidation - 106 %
Nitration -10 %

Summary: Everything analyzes at "Normal" levels. Ignore the oxidation number as the chemist didn't really have a baseline because Redline isn't a "certified" oil. Compare the additive package in this Redline sample vs the sample from the Deuce engine posted above.

Deuce vs Sportster

Molybdenum -2 vs. 881 ppm
Phosphorus - 1101 vs. 1357 ppm
Zinc - 1639 vs. 1566 ppm
Magnesium - 964 vs. 41 ppm
Calcium - 1213 vs. 0 ppm

The huge differences in molybdenum, magnesium, & calcium are disturbing. These oils were purchased from the same place at the same time, yet it appears they are not the same oils! "Even the chemist was blown away. Absolutely no consistency at all." The chemist also agreed with the assumption that the base was "ani nferior base stock and a pretty good additive package. "

Looking at these two analyses does not give one much confidence in Redline. That's just my observation, so take it or not.

 

BIKE: 2005 Sportster; 14,300 miles on bike
Oil: ??? 75w-90
Usage:Transmission
Miles on Oil: 4,600
Wear Metals
Copper -47 ppm
Iron -71 ppm
Chromium -0 ppm
Aluminum -16 ppm
Lead -12 ppm
Additives
Molybdenum -22 ppm
Phosphorus -3625 ppm
Zinc - 110 ppm
Magnesium -12 ppm
Calcium - 104 ppm
Sodium -n/a
Potassium - n/a
Contaminants
Fuel Dilution - n/a
Water - 0.0 %
Silicon - 33 ppm
Oil Properties
Viscosity CST -15.54
SAE -90
Sulfur -10%
Oxidation -44%
Nitration -n/a

Summary: Copper is high. Oil should be changed.

 

BIKE: 2007 RK Classic; 8,681 miles on engine
Oil: Redline 20w-60
Usage: Engine
Miles on Oil: 4,974
Wear Metals
Copper -26 ppm
Iron -8 ppm
Chromium -0 ppm
Aluminum -3 ppm
Lead - 2 ppm
Additives
Molybdenum -559 ppm
Boron - 50 ppm
Phosphorus - 1014 ppm
Zinc - 1431 ppm
Magnesium -121 ppm
Calcium -2616 ppm
Sodium -17 ppm
Potassium -0 ppm
Contaminants
Fuel Dilution - 0.5%
Water - 0.0 %
Silicon -18 ppm
Insolubles - 0.6%
Oil Properties
Viscosity - 125 (should be 90 - 130 @ 210F or 100C) Note: This viscosity is not SAE, but is measured in Saybolt (SUS). This corresponds to a 60 weight SAE.
Flashpoint - 450F(should be 410F)
Summary: The twin cam 96 that powers your Harley Davidson motorcycle is looking very good at 8681 miles. Universal averages show typical wear from this type of engine after a routine oil change. Your wear metals read at or below those averages, which is a good sign of a healthy engine. The TBN was 4.9, plenty of active additive left in the oil. A reading of 1.0 is too low. Air and oil filtration (see silicon and insolubles) were normal and we didn't find any contaminants in the oil. Nice wearing Harley! You might try ~6000 miles for the next oil change.

 

BIKE: 2007 Road Glide; 18,000 miles on engine
Oil: Amsoil 20w-50
Usage: Engine
Miles on Oil: 8,500

Wear Metals
Copper - 20 ppm
Iron - 22 ppm
Chromium - 1 ppm
Aluminum - 6 ppm
Lead - 0 ppm

Additives
Molybdenum - 50 ppm
Phosphorus - Not Listed
Zinc - 1303 ppm
Magnesium - 44 ppm
Calcium - Not Listed
Sodium - 7 ppm
Potassium - 3 ppm

Contaminants
Fuel Dilution - Not Listed
Soot & Water - 0.0 %
Silicon - 11 ppm

Oil Properties
Viscosity CST @100 C - 20.3
Sulfur - 52 (no units given)
Oxidation - 56 (no units given)
Nitration - 10 %

Summary: No summary given

 

Skip:
I am the Manager of Product Development at Red Line Synthetic Oil Corporation and have held that position for 20 years. I would like to clarify some of the analyses that have been posted in the forum you moderate. I have many issues to discuss here and hope that you don't take offense to my criticism. I am not angry with you and I realize that you have been advised by oil analysts which may not completely understand certain differences which are characteristic of Red Line.

Perhaps the greatest issue I have is an analysis of 2007 FXSTD; 6500 miles. This one is easy. That is not Red Line Oil. I have been in charge of all formulations for the past 20 years, and that formulation has never been created in our manufacturing plant. It could not have been put into a Red Line bottle. We typically have greater than 500ppm Molybdenum and little or no magnesium in our lubricants. At least once a year, I get an analysis back from an analytical lab which is not what I sent. Samples can get switched in analysis. Samples can get put in the wrong container when sampling, and products can get in the wrong bike during installation. What I can guarantee is that the analysis posted is not Red Line.

Then this wrong analysis causes the chemist to be "Blown away" at the lack of consistency of Red Line. I would appreciate a reassessment of that statement in light of this knowledge.

I also take issue with his statement that Red Line is an inferior basestock with a pretty good additive package. His only reason to doubt the superiority of the Red Line basestock is because of the oxidation number of 106. That is an erroneous number. Red Line contains a significant amount of synthetic esters which have very great thermal and oxidation stability. Those esters absorb at the same wavelength as organic acids, which are a result of oxidation. What he is seeing is not oxidation, which he simply assumes, but the absorbance of the ester in the FTIR testing. His assessment is wrong and thus his comments about the inferiority of Red Line's base stock are wrong. He must use the same product unused as a baseline to do a differential IR scan. Even with that, differences in evaporation of various components during use will cause differences in the FTIR scan to make oxidation very difficult to measure using FTIR when esters are present. If oxidation is occuring, acids will be created and they will neutralize the TBN. If there is significant TBN, then there cannot be significant oxidation. TBN can also be depleted by NOx, but that is another wrinkle, but it can be said that if there is still TBN, then significant oxidation did not occur.

Another analysis to discuss is the 2007 FXSTD 6,600 miles.

The viscosity of the product has nothing to do with water being emulsified and more-or-less bonded with the oil. This lubricant is in physical terminology "thixotropic" and has a high apparent viscosity under certain testing. The water may be from condensation, but more likely from a very good hosing down. This water would be evaporated during high-temperature service. His assessment that this base is a diester is totally false. This is not a diester lubricant, but does contain polyol esters, which have little affinity for water also. Left open, these esters will have only a few ppm water, much less than the 50,000ppm shown.

There was another analysis 2007RK Classic; 4974 miles

This appears to be a mixture and something else, probably 80% Red Line, but we have no boron in our oil and usually only 10ppm magnesium, and approximately 3500 ppm calcium, and 1400 ppm Phosphorous in this product. I only bring this up because some readers may find that level of phosphorous unsatisfactory.

The last issue is with 2005 Sportster

The assertion of the chemist that he did not have a baseline because Red Line is not a "certified" oil is not true. The reason he did not have a baseline is that he never purchased a baseline. That is all he would have to do.

 

Owner: solorider
BIKE: 2006 Street Glide; 16,350 miles on engine
Oil: Amsoil 20w-50
Usage: Engine
Miles on Oil: 6,150
Make-up Oil: 1/2 quart

Wear Metals
Copper - 34 ppm
Iron - 8 ppm
Chromium - 0 ppm
Aluminum - 3 ppm
Lead - 3 ppm
Nickel - 1 ppm

Additives
Molybdenum - 59 ppm
Phosphorus - 1117 ppm
Zinc - 1464 ppm
Magnesium - 17 ppm
Calcium - 3328 ppm
Sodium - 2 ppm
Potassium - 3 ppm
Boron - 3 ppm
Barium - 1 ppm

Contaminants
Fuel Dilution - Not Listed
Water % - 0.0
Silicon - 10 ppm
Fuel % - <0.5
Insolubles % - 0.3

Oil Properties
CST Viscosity @100 C - 21.04 (Should be 17 - 20.1)
SUS Viscosity @ 210 F - 102.9 (Should be 86 - 98)
TBN - 4.2

Summary: Only good things to report on this sample from the Streetglide (cool name). The wear metal profile extracted from analysis shows that at +16K total miles, this Harley's engine is functioning well with the components inside free of malaise. The TBN read 4.2 - we consider 1.0 to be low. Plenty of active additive was holding fast against acidity. The viscosity was a tinge high, but still within SAE 50W range. The high viscosity did not affect wear adversely in any way. No moisture or gas dilution was found. Things being as they are, try a 7K-mile run and check back.