Speaking of TBN, what is an acceptable range?
Hi Rich,
I'm not sure if there is a "correct" answer to that question. Total Base
Number (TBN) is a measure of the oil's ability to neutralize combustion
acids as time goes on. A higher TBN means, in theory, that the oil will
protect the engine from those acids for a longer period of time. The
downside to higher TBN numbers is that the additive that imparts TBN also is
a major contributor to the oil's sulfated ash number.
Absent any specific instructions from the engine builder you want to change
oil when any of the additive levels drops to half of the 'new oil' level.
With that in mind, here are some TBN figures that I happen to have on my
desk:
Chevron DELO 100 - 7.0*
Chevron DELO 300 - 14.0**
Chevron DELO 400ESI - 12.5***
Chevron DELO 400Multigrade - 9.1 to 9.3
Chevron DELO 400Synthetic - 10.0***
Chevron DELO 400Single Grade - 8.1 to 8.7
Chevron RPM oils - 7.6 to 9.1
Exxon XD3 oils - 8.0*
Exxon XD3 Elite - 10.0***
Exxon XD3 Extra - 8.0
Mobil Delvac I - 11.0
Mobil Delvac 1200 oils - 7.8*
Mobil Delvac 1300 oils - 13.0***
Mobil Delvac 1300 Super - 12.0***
Texaco Ursa Extra Duty - 4.0*
Texaco Ursa Super Plus - 7.0
- These oils are recommended for Detroit Diesel 2-Stroke engines because of
their low sulfated ash level
**DELO 300 is sort of a specialty product designed to be used with very high
sulfur fuels.
***When the TBN level hits double digits the sales literature starts talking
about extended service intervals. OTOH: Exxon has many fleets on extended
interval with XD3 Extra even though the TBN is "only" 8.0.
Basically yours,
Alex
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich Gano" <ganor@bellsouth.net>
> Speaking of TBN, what is an acceptable range?
>
Hi Rich,
I'm not sure if there is a "correct" answer to that question. Total Base
Number (TBN) is a measure of the oil's ability to neutralize combustion
acids as time goes on. A higher TBN means, in theory, that the oil will
protect the engine from those acids for a longer period of time. The
downside to higher TBN numbers is that the additive that imparts TBN also is
a major contributor to the oil's sulfated ash number.
Absent any specific instructions from the engine builder you want to change
oil when any of the additive levels drops to half of the 'new oil' level.
With that in mind, here are some TBN figures that I happen to have on my
desk:
Chevron DELO 100 - 7.0*
Chevron DELO 300 - 14.0**
Chevron DELO 400ESI - 12.5***
Chevron DELO 400Multigrade - 9.1 to 9.3
Chevron DELO 400Synthetic - 10.0***
Chevron DELO 400Single Grade - 8.1 to 8.7
Chevron RPM oils - 7.6 to 9.1
Exxon XD3 oils - 8.0*
Exxon XD3 Elite - 10.0***
Exxon XD3 Extra - 8.0
Mobil Delvac I - 11.0
Mobil Delvac 1200 oils - 7.8*
Mobil Delvac 1300 oils - 13.0***
Mobil Delvac 1300 Super - 12.0***
Texaco Ursa Extra Duty - 4.0*
Texaco Ursa Super Plus - 7.0
* These oils are recommended for Detroit Diesel 2-Stroke engines because of
their low sulfated ash level
**DELO 300 is sort of a specialty product designed to be used with very high
sulfur fuels.
***When the TBN level hits double digits the sales literature starts talking
about extended service intervals. OTOH: Exxon has many fleets on extended
interval with XD3 Extra even though the TBN is "only" 8.0.
Basically yours,
Alex
