Use Oil Analysis (UOA) Results -- Should I be worried?

[Bob G]

Hey folks,

I have a 2019 RAM 2500 with the 6.7 Cummins. At the first Oil change I switched to AmsOil 5W40 Sig. Series (DEO) and use Fleetguard StratoPore LF16035 Filters. I just recently did my oil change and sent in a sample for analysis.

The oil/filter were in for 11 months and 12,830 miles. Here are the results:

They flagged the Iron (they did last time as well). What are others seeing on this generation of engines?
Their comments on the sample were:

Should I be worried or am I over thinking it.

THANKS FOR ANY COMMENTS !

Later,

Bob

 

[Diesel85]

What are the total miles and hours on the engine?

 

[Pizzamaker991]

I've had oil analysis done at every oil change, on my longest oil run that was 9 months and 9,134 miles my iron came in at 214ppm. Shorter 5k ish oil runs I'm averaging 90-150 ppm. The other metals look pretty similar to my numbers. You are running right at the top end of the oil change interval, my only suggestion would be to cut back by maybe 5k miles and see if the numbers go down or stay the same.

 

[Ozymandias]

That's why I love Blackstone, they always compare it to same engine with same milage average. So I know if I'm within the range of other users or not.

 

[Timd32]

Does Cummins have baselines for OA?

 

[Ozymandias]

What are the total miles and hours on the engine?

48460mi in total.

 

[Bob G]

To answer the questions about total miles -- the last sample was pulled with 48,460 on the truck. Total hours on the truck were 1,460.

I understand that if I want to see less iron in the sample to run it shorter amount of time/hours, but that doesn't tell me if I am looking at a problem or this is expected wear on these engines. (I could change the oil/filter at 3k miles and the iron number should only be 25% of what it was for almost 12k miles but is that 25% number higher than should be expected?)

Pizzamaker991 if your iron was 214PPM for 9,134 miles that would be 0.0234 PPM per mile
My numbers would work out to:

• 298 PPM for 14,084 miles, that works out to 0.0212 PPM per mile
• 279 PPM for 12,830 miles, that works out to 0.0217 PPM per mile

both those are a bit better than your number, so do we both have issues or are we in the expected wear zones for these CGI engines?

Later,

Bob

 

[Pizzamaker991]

both those are a bit better than your number, so do we both have issues or are we in the expected wear zones for these CGI engines?

Going back to the results from my 2016 which ran consistently 35-45ppm, I was surprised to see this one running pretty consistently over 100ppm.

When I queried blackstone they told me not to lose any sleep at night, that if there was a significant issue the results would be in the several hundred to thousands of ppm.

I would guess the new block style with probably closer tolerances and the new cam and lifter design leads to a little more wear. The tolerances must have changed because it required them to switch from a 15w 40 oil down to a 10w 30.

 

[AH64ID]

I've had oil analysis done at every oil change, on my longest oil run that was 9 months and 9,134 miles my iron came in at 214ppm. Shorter 5k ish oil runs I'm averaging 90-150 ppm. The other metals look pretty similar to my numbers. You are running right at the top end of the oil change interval, my only suggestion would be to cut back by maybe 5k miles and see if the numbers go down or stay the same.

Why so many short oil change intervals?

That's why I love Blackstone, they always compare it to same engine with same milage average. So I know if I'm within the range of other users or not.

I find Blackstone lackluster at best. Their standard test doesn't include TBN, which is one of the single most important tests for indicating oil life remaining... you can't tell people to run oil longer without it.

The couple times I have called them to ask questions their techs were bugger eating morons who couldn't do anything be re-read what was on the sample, which was generic and lots of words to say nothing. They weren't trained in anything to do with oil, or so it seemed.

I started asking around the bigger shops in town on who they use/recommend for UOA and Blackstone was never mentioned. Cat and OAI were thou, and OAI was the winner and also who Rocky Mountain Cummins recommended. You don't get the universal averages, but to me that didn't matter as one failing engine will throw the results off.

Does Cummins have baselines for OA?

This is the best I've seen for what they publish. I've looked and haven't found one newer than 2009.

 

[Pizzamaker991]

Why so many short oil change intervals

If you remember my other thread “truck making oil”….that’s why the short intervals. I have a big update for that thread coming soon.

 

[AH64ID]

If you remember my other thread “truck making oil”….that’s why the short intervals. I have a big update for that thread coming soon.

That's right, I'll keep an eye out for the update.

 

[Cummins12V98]

That's why I love Blackstone, they always compare it to same engine with same milage average. So I know if I'm within the range of other users or not.

YEP that is really a great thing to compare to. Besides they are great people. They gave me and my wife a tour a few years back.

 

[06 Dodge]

Why so many short oil change intervals?



I find Blackstone lackluster at best. Their standard test doesn't include TBN, which is one of the single most important tests for indicating oil life remaining... you can't tell people to run oil longer without it.

The couple times I have called them to ask questions their techs were bugger eating morons who couldn't do anything be re-read what was on the sample, which was generic and lots of words to say nothing. They weren't trained in anything to do with oil, or so it seemed.

I started asking around the bigger shops in town on who they use/recommend for UOA and Blackstone was never mentioned. Cat and OAI were thou, and OAI was the winner and also who Rocky Mountain Cummins recommended. You don't get the universal averages, but to me that didn't matter as one failing engine will throw the results off.



This is the best I've seen for what they publish. I've looked and haven't found one newer than 2009.

I finally gave up on Blackstone when I found out they use flash method to guess the amount of fuel in the oil, I now use Cummins test kits ( bought them direct from Cummins) it includes TBN and it cost less then half the price of Blackstone, I figure I cant go wrong by trusting the lab Cummins has you send your oil samples too....

 

[Regcabguy]

That's why I love Blackstone, they always compare it to same engine with same milage average. So I know if I'm within the range of other users or not.

I need to send a sample in. It's been forever now.

 

[Diesel85]

I finally gave up on Blackstone when I found out they use flash method to guess the amount of fuel in the oil, I now use Cummins test kits ( bought them direct from Cummins) it includes TBN and it cost less then half the price of Blackstone, I figure I cant go wrong by trusting the lab Cummins has you send your oil samples too....

Does Cummins test EcoD oil if I bought a test kit and sent it in?

 

[Ozymandias]

Does Cummins test EcoD oil if I bought a test kit and sent it in?

They test every oil from every machinery you can imagine. Send in what ever you want.
Order the test kits for free. Return shipping is also pre-paid for.

 

[Diesel85]

They test every oil from every machinery you can imagine. Send in what ever you want.
Order the test kits for free. Return shipping is also pre-paid for.

Awesome! I was thinking of doing an oil analysis on my Kubota turbo diesel tractor too. Got well over 6000 hours on it.

 

[06 Dodge]

They test every oil from every machinery you can imagine. Send in what ever you want.
Order the test kits for free. Return shipping is also pre-paid for.

Not sure where you get your Cummins test kits for free at, I buy mine direct from Cummins and have to pay for them and I pay postage to mail the oil sample to the lab, but then the kits are also cheaper then Blackstone, depending on what kit you buy, free shipping on orders over $75.00: https://shop.cummins.com/CSSNAStore/s/categories/a224N000007v0yRQAQ/cummins-fluid-analysis

 

[Diesel85]

Not sure where you get your Cummins test kits for free at, I buy mine direct from Cummins and have to pay for them and I pay postage to mail the oil sample to the lab, but then the kits are also cheaper then Blackstone, depending on what kit you buy, free shipping on orders over $75.00: https://shop.cummins.com/CSSNAStore/s/categories/a224N000007v0yRQAQ/cummins-fluid-analysis

So you pay upfront. I gotta admit, $13.14 to do an oil analysis is dirt cheap!

I'll order one and send in a sample of my EcoD oil next time I do an oil change.

 

[06 Dodge]

So you pay upfront. I gotta admit, $13.14 to do an oil analysis is dirt cheap!

I'll order one and send in a sample of my EcoD oil next time I do an oil change.

The higher $16.21 priced kits include the oils TBN report, if you don't need the TBN then the $13 kit will be they way to go...