Im sure you were all just dying to hear about this.

I got a UOA done from my 2007 Civic (R18A1 & 5-spd).
17,615 miles on the car.

Castrol GTX 5w-20
6152 miles on the oil, none added.
Oil life monitor said 10%

Blackstone said it was all good, with the following comments.
Al = 10ppm - engine still getting broken in.
Cr = 0
Fe = 11ppm
Cu = 2ppm
Pb = 0
Sn = 0
Mo = 74ppm
Ni = 0
Mn = 1ppm
Ag = 0
Ti = 0
K = 3ppm
B = 12ppm
Si = 20ppm - assembly sealants still outgassing.
Na = 181ppm - part of the additive package per BITOG.
Ca = 1657ppm
Mg = 6ppm
P = 649ppm
Zn = 819ppm
Ba = 0

mu(SUS) @210F = 51.8
mu(cSt) @100C = 7.83
flashpoint = 385F
fuel < 0.5%
antifreeze = 0
water = 0
insoluables = 0.3%
TBN = 3.0 - still has plenty of active additive left in the oil.

Im probably not going to try to really extend the drain intervals, but I WILL feel better about believing the oil life monitor. I might even let it go down to ZERO.

 

Let me show my ignorance by saying I don't know what analysis was done on the oil or how to interpret it. With the exception of the elements found on the periodic chart, there's some acronyms that I don't recognize. Can you please give more information to help me (and possibly others) know what you posted and what it means?

Also, as a comparison, what are the values in each category for fresh Castrol GTX 5w-20 motor oil?

 

BITOG = www dot bobistheoilguy dot com
The guys on that site are really hard-core about engine oil. Im not a newbie to car maintenance, Im a mechanical engineer, but Im a real newbie for engine-oil analysis.

Check out www dot blackstone-labs dot com for what they do. The short version of the story is that they told me the oil would have been good to leave in for a while longer. I had the analysis done to kinda help me to TRUST that magic oil-life monitor.

Each of the suspended metals would indicate excessive wear from engine components. For example lots of lead might mean main-bearings are tearing themselves up.

Each of the items that have NO comment in my post fall well within the range that Blackstone calls GOOD.

I didnt send an un-used sample in, I would have to root around at BITOG for a VOA. I havent done that yet.

mu = viscosity measured by 2 different standards
fuel, antifreeze, or water = you dont want to see much of that in your oil

VOA = virgin oil analysis
UOA = used oil analysis
TBN = total base number = an indication of anti-corrosion additives being depleted.
(after TBN gets to zero, the oil can become acidic/corrosive)