Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) excessive (21ppm) silicon in oil analysis

[rweis]

If you get excessive silicon (21ppm) in an OA and you fix the air filter problem, will the silicon remain at the 21ppm level until you change the oil next time, or will drop to a normal (4ppm) level over time?



Bob Weis

 

[Straight6Jeff]

IT iwll remain in the oil until you change it. It is a solid particulate, not a VOC, so it is not going anywhere over time, except to promote engine wear.

 

[rweis]

Yeah, I was afraid that was going to be the answer. I was pretty sure silicon is not filterable and would not breakdown over time.



I am trying to do a long term oil replacement vs oil change test but do not want 21 ppm silicon wear factor in the oil for a year or more.



Looks like I will restart the oil test.



Also points out that I need to change air filters more frequently than first thought.



Bob Weis

 

[darkhorse]

Yeah, I was afraid that was going to be the answer. I was pretty sure silicon is not filterable and would not breakdown over time.



I am trying to do a long term oil replacement vs oil change test but do not want 21 ppm silicon wear factor in the oil for a year or more.



Looks like I will restart the oil test.



Also points out that I need to change air filters more frequently than first thought.



Bob Weis

I would suspect something like the Frantz bypass oil filter might filter out some of the silicon. They filter down to about . 1 micron. Even then I would recommend the oil change to start your testing.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Bob, if you have the courage and curiosity to tough it out a few miles, it might be a good test of your bypass filter to see if it WILL filter some of it out - while that level of silicon is somewhat high, it is NOT dangerously high, and unless some other contributing factor is causing it, it MIGHT come back down over the nest few thousand miles.



The first analysis done on my test in my extended oil usage test revealed 3 ppm silicon - new virgin Delo specs out at about 3 ppm Silicon right outta the bottle as I recall - as the test progressed, subsequent analysis always was at a steady 4 ppm - most of those miles on the K&N filter...

 

[jrobinson2]

Are you sure it came from the filter?

Didn't you just have the injection pump changed? Anytime the engine is opened there is a chance for contamination, it doesn't take much to show on an oil sample. I like to change the oil anytime the engine has been opened just to be sure any possible contamination is removed, I've seen spikes on my pump engines from a valve adjustment.



Jared

 

[rweis]

Yes I did just have the VP changed, nice catch, thanks. I did not even think of the silicon contamination comming in through the change of the VP. Could have easily come in there.



Well, I'll dump and restart the oil test. Ah well. From the other OA numbers it looks like the 1qt/1k replinish will keep the oil package in closer tolerances of new.



Bob Weis

 

[Mundgyver]

If you are looking for a good bypass filter that works, try one of these. They work very nice and will spin out the soot and everything else from . 1 um to 10 um with no problem and should allow your to extend your oil drains out to 50 to 60,000 turns. http://www.oil-tech.com.../model25.htm