Bad oil samples...

[MChrist]

I've had two oil samples on my truck, and they have both come back with high levels of iron, aluminum, copper and lead, among others...

I drive my truck like a granny, and even keep my Smarty on level 3, and 75% POD.

Brief rundown of my numbers:

Running Mobil 1 synthetic, 5W-40, oil changes around 8,000 miles



Aluminum. Average should be 3, mine = 5-6

Iron: should be 33, mine 71

Copper: should be 3, mine 12-18

Lead: should be 2, mine 1-5

Tin: should be 1, mine 0-4

Potassium (???) 2, mine 20-27



TBN 4. 5 - 8. 3 (seems good)

No water, fuel, antifreeze

Insolubles (soot?) 0. 5%



The remarks from the technician asked if I do heavy pulling or exhibition pulls competitively. I don't. I drive like Granny Smith.

The metals that are high lead me to believe bearing material. Could it be turbo bearings, not main bearings?

Truck seems to run fine, although my fuel mileage has definitely gone down. Pulling my camper, I would consistently get around 12. 5 to 13 at 65, now with the twins and Smarty on 3, I averaged exactly 10. 25 over a 2,300 mile round trip.

Oil sample and oil change were done before the trip.

This oil change and sample had zero towing on it.

Truck just turned 70,000 miles.

Any comments?

 

[AH64ID]

Those honestly aren't very high at all. . I wouldn't be the least bit worried.

More boost means more cylinder pressure, which puts more strain on bearings...

 

[MChrist]

Wow, that was fast!!, thanks! I am concerned, though, since I drive very conservatively, and I rarely go past 30 psi, and usually stay under 20.
I'll keep up the 8,000 mile changes and samples and monitor.

 

[NavyDood]

Here are some comparisons for you.

I have four complete 1yr/25,000 mile interval oil changes on my truck. I hit the 1yr/25k right around the same time. I only do the analysis when I change the oil.

I have only been using Amsoil AME 15W-40. First oil change was fleetguard filters with the Amsoil. Second time I started with a Fleetguard and changed to a Amsoil. Third time teh same as second. Fourth time was Amsoil Filter only. This oil change I have a Donaldson ELF7349 installed. The Donaldson is the exact same media as the Amsoil filter.

<OAnalysis breakdown.

First time 77,000 miles. 23,000 miles on the oil.
Second time 102,000 miles. 25,000 miles on the oil.
Third time 130,000 miles. 28,000 miles on the oil.
Fourth time 157,600 miles. 27,600 mile on the oil.
<O</O
Aluminum 32-19-11-7
Chromium 1-2-1-1
Iron 26-31-32-32
Copper 26-590-199-44
Lead 0-2-1-3
Tin 0-0-1-0
Molybdenum 0-0-0-0
Nickel 0-0-0-0
Manganese 22-13-0-0
Silver 5-3-2-2
Titanium 0-0-0-0
Potassium 64-57-40-24
Boron 3-10-1-0
Silicon 10-6-6-5
Sodium 0-10-6-0
Calcium 4463-3104-3687-4196
Magnesium 22-13-0-0
Phosphorus 1271-1139-1141-1029
Zinc 1667-1514-1421-1530
Barium 0-0-0-0
<O</O
cST Viscosity @ 100*C 13. 34-13. 43-13. 30-13. 50
Fuel <1 %-< 1 %-< 1 %-< 1%
Antifreeze % no-no-no-no
Water 0-0-<. 1-<. 1
Insolubles . 99%-. 12 %-< . 1 %-< . 1%
TBN 6. 95-7. 78-5. 48-5. 50

 

[JCockerill]

try running different oil. my cummins only likes 15w-40 amsoil so far. if you uses blackstone labs, they tend to scare you with the reports i feel. after running many oils, the amsoil 15-w40 high tbn oil gets me the best sample results. .

 

[MChrist]

JCockerill, how long are your intervals?

 

[amsoilman]

If you are using "Blackstone" Lab, the should be numbers are "universal averages" from the Cummins engines, they have tested over a period of time. The numbers you posted are not bad at all in my opinion.

 

[JCockerill]

JCockerill, how long are your intervals?

i was changing & testing every 6k using premium blue. i tested amsoil ame 15w-40 at 6k and am still running it with better results. . i'm planing on installing a amsoil bypass filter and retesting.