Assistance with Oil Analysis Results Please

[AndyMan]

Hey guys, I know this is covered quite a bit. I'd really appreciate your analysis of my analysis if you don't mind.



03 HO

43335 Miles

Valvoline Prem Blue Extreme 5w40

7500MI on Oil



This was my first lube oil change with Premium Blue Extreme. Has Been Rosemella T before now. A couple of weeks ago, I did a lube oil and filter change. The sample was taken then.



Iron 22

Chromium 2

Lead 0

Copper 7

Tin 0

Aluminum 9

Nickel 0

Silver 2

Silicon 6

Boron 119

Sodium 12

Magnesium 17

Calcium 3992

Barium 0

Phosphorus 1120

Zinc 1334

Molybdenum 76

Titanium 0

Vanadium 0

Potassium 70 ABNORMAL

Fuel (%Vol) <1

Vis@ 100C 13. 44

Water 0

Soot (%WT) . 1

Glycol NEG



TBN 10. 71

F-Soot 0. 02

SAE 40





Lab is Parman Analytical Services - Parcheck



Thanks for the help.

Andy

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Only thing that looks off base is the Potassium - dunno why - here's a sample of UNused Premium Blue:



Test was done by Blackstone Laboratories

Aluminum 3ppm

Chromium 0ppm

Iron 2ppm

Copper 0ppm

Lead 0ppm

Tin 0ppm

Molybdenum 88ppm

Nickel 0ppm

Manganese 0ppm

Silver 0ppm

Titanium 0ppm

Potassium 0ppm

Boron 142ppm

Silicon 5ppm

Sodium 2ppm

Calcium 3076ppm

Magnesium 10ppm

Phosphorus 1197ppm

Zinc 1395ppm

Barium 0ppm

SUS Viscosity@210F 76. 2

Flashpoint 435F

Insolubles Trace

TBN 13. 5

 

[kscheffler]

Gary: Do you have unused oil results for Delo 400 15/45?

 

[LightmanE300]

Several people have had reports with unusually high potassium - almost all that I can remember were using premium blue extreme. I'm not sure why that is, and it's covered on many other threads. I use Delvac 1/Mobil 1 Truck/Suv and over my last 3 analyses I've had 0 potassium.



The rest of your analysis looks very good, and I would suggest running to 10,000. The soot is almost none, wear metals are very low, and you have PLENTY of TBN left. She's running well!

 

[LightmanE300]

Here is my analysis after 7500 miles - with 20k on the vehicle. I thought I'd post it just for comparison's sake.



Iron 13

Chromium 0

Lead 1

Copper 4

Tin 0

Aluminum 2

Nickel 0

Silver 2

Silicon 3

Boron 32

Sodium 4

Magnesium 407

Calcium 2228

Barium 0

Phosphorus 1166

Zinc 1304

Molybdenum 6

Titanium 0

Vanadium 0

Potassium 0

Fuel (%Vol) <1

Vis@ 100C 13. 76

Water 0

Soot (%WT) . 1

Glycol NEG



TBN 9. 88

F-Soot 0. 01

OXID 16

NITR 13. 0

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Gary: Do you have unused oil results for Delo 400 15/45?"



Sure - here's one for the newest Delo 400 15/40 - which now has Molybdenum and Boron anti-wear additives - that same forum also has analysis for the older, non Moly/Boron Delo as well...



http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=000240

 

[AndyMan]

Well, that puts all that to bed! Thanks guys. You see the word "abnormal", and the $ signs start to pop up. But if all looks good, I may run this longer than 7500.



One other question though. I burned about 3 quarts over that 7500 miles. Any ideas as to why?



Thanks,

Andy

 

[rbattelle]

I burned about 3 quarts over that 7500 miles. Any ideas as to why?



Thanks,

Andy

How many total miles on the truck?



-Ryan

 

[Tony T.]

I had my 2nd oil sample tested through Blackstone my 20K-25K=5K mile interval. Post office lost my 1st sample the 15K-20K, wish I had it for comparison. The sample was showing 17 on potassium compared to the universal average 1 they showed. They said usually high potassium indicated anti-freeze present. Anti-freeze at bottom of my oil sample page showed 0. 0%.



Also stated they have been seeing high potassium in these type engines, but didn't know it's source. I use the Delo 400 15w/40 and got to thinking that the newer Delo (wear guard) might have something to do with the high potassium count. Me and Gary talked about this in a PM one day, and he sent me a link to the article on the newer Delo 400.



Anyway they said everything looked to be wearing normal and try running oil to 6500 miles.



Tony

 

[amsoilman]

Hey guys, I know this is covered quite a bit. I'd really appreciate your analysis of my analysis if you don't mind.



03 HO

43335 Miles

Valvoline Prem Blue Extreme 5w40

7500MI on Oil



This was my first lube oil change with Premium Blue Extreme. Has Been Rosemella T before now. A couple of weeks ago, I did a lube oil and filter change. The sample was taken then.



Iron 22

Chromium 2

Lead 0

Copper 7

Tin 0

Aluminum 9

Nickel 0

Silver 2

Silicon 6

Boron 119

Sodium 12

Magnesium 17

Calcium 3992

Barium 0

Phosphorus 1120

Zinc 1334

Molybdenum 76

Titanium 0

Vanadium 0

Potassium 70 ABNORMAL

Fuel (%Vol) <1

Vis@ 100C 13. 44

Water 0

Soot (%WT) . 1

Glycol NEG



TBN 10. 71

F-Soot 0. 02

SAE 40





Lab is Parman Analytical Services - Parcheck



Thanks for the help.

Andy

First off, I can not tell you what type of equipment was used to do your analysis, but the high Potassium level could be due to the equipment used. Potassium is actually used as a coolant inhibitor. Also the reported 2 ppm of Silver is interesting, as the Cummins engine has no Silver. However, a 2 ppm figure is very small,and could have been the Test equipment!



When an oil analysis is reported in ppm, think about this: If you had 1 MILLION pennies on a table, and took 2 off, that's not very much! Also these parts they are referring to are submicron in size, as most spectrochemical tests can only see particles 5-10 microns. To put the linear measurement of 1 MICRON particle into perspective, 1 MICRON= 0. 000039/inch.



The report you have indicates to me you're in good shape. Remember, however, you can not COMPARE some other analysis from another engine with yours! The wear rates are totaly different for different engines, even if they came from the same manufacturer. Oil analysis is a very good tool, but is important to "establish Trends".



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Gauthier]

I've seen many oil reports from 3rd gens with high potassium, mine included. I called Cummins and they sent me a report that had recommended levels to flag an element in the oil analysis. The Cummins recommendation for potassium is 20 ppm above the baseline.



I've marked my overflow bottle, but I'm not sure how accurate this method is given the total volume of the coolant system. The conditions when marked and when checked must be identical to be significant.



Some people I've talked to stated that a likely problem is the oil cooler. But if the oil cooler is made the way I think it is constructed, although I've never seen a picture or drawing, it seems like it would have to leak through a 1/8" steel plate to get coolant in the oil. Also it seems like getting oil in the coolant would be a more likely possiblility. If anybody has a drawing or picture of the oil cooler I would greatly appreciate a copy.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"How many total miles on the truck?"



Gotta learn to READ, Ryan!



"03 HO

43335 Miles

Valvoline Prem Blue Extreme 5w40

7500MI on Oil

 

[nickleinonen]

why are many of the boron numbers so high? at work, our cooling water has borate-nitrate [shows as boron] as the anti corrosion treatment in it, and a reading that high will mean an internal water leak. but the soduim is low compared to the boron [soduim shows as water in the oil]

 

[Gauthier]

Premium Blue and Premium Blue Extreme have boron in the additive package.

why are many of the boron numbers so high? at work, our cooling water has borate-nitrate [shows as boron] as the anti corrosion treatment in it, and a reading that high will mean an internal water leak. but the soduim is low compared to the boron [soduim shows as water in the oil]