Expert Opinion On My First Oil Analysis

[JBonpua]

My truck has a little over 25K on the clock. I was changing the oil every 7. 5K regardless with Amsoil 15W-40, Fleetguard Stratapore LF16035 and Amsoil bypass filters since it turned 10K and every 2. 5K with dino oil till it reached 10K. I was going to continue with changing the oil and filter every 7. 5K but I thought just maybe I can extend the interval with oil analysis. Well this is my first analysis with 7,634 on the oil/filter. Iron is the only metal above average and TBN is still 9. 7 from 12 Amsoil publish. In your opinion, can I go another 5K and another analysis or just change the oil and filter then?

 

[JHardwick]

I'd change it and establish a baseline with another UOA. I run ~15,000 towing miles on Rotella T and a Wix oil filter with no elevated iron. I have for over 500,000 miles.

 

[RHebert]

My good old 96 has been getting a yearly oil change for the last nine years. I currently have over 230K miles on it. I average anywhere from 15K to 20+K miles on it every year. I also run Amsoil 15-40 Heavy Duty Diesel and Marine oil, the Fleetguard Stratapore filter and the Amsoil 110 bypass filter, as well as the AFE air filter. Every single analysis has come back with the recommendation to continue with the oil and re-sample after another 5K - 7. 5K. I always go ahead and change oil and filters anyway. I can live with a yearly oil change and I'm pretty sure you could too.

 

[JBonpua]

I'd change it and establish a baseline with another UOA. I run ~15,000 towing miles on Rotella T and a Wix oil filter with no elevated iron. I have for over 500,000 miles.

This got me thinking why elevated iron? I never ever towed with this truck and the most load this truck ever seen is when the entire family goes to church on Sundays but that is it. I do about 40% city driving and I do not abuse it and baby this truck as I drive slower than an 85 year old half blind grandma. What doe elevated iron really mean in plain English?



Maybe I'll take your suggestion and change the oil and do an analysis again to get the baseline #s. But since I will be deploying again to the sand box next week, should I change the oil now or wait till I return in 4 months?

 

[vern]

My truck has a little over 25K on the clock. I was changing the oil every 7. 5K regardless with Amsoil 15W-40, Fleetguard Stratapore LF16035 and Amsoil bypass filters since it turned 10K and every 2. 5K with dino oil till it reached 10K. I was going to continue with changing the oil and filter every 7. 5K but I thought just maybe I can extend the interval with oil analysis. Well this is my first analysis with 7,634 on the oil/filter. Iron is the only metal above average and TBN is still 9. 7 from 12 Amsoil publish. In your opinion, can I go another 5K and another analysis or just change the oil and filter then?

After putting on the Amsoil bypass filter is the Oil still black or is it clear?

 

[JBonpua]

It turns black the minute you turn the engine on. This is due to the built in EGR and the 3rd injection but as you can see from my oil analysis it is still pretty good with exception of s slight ride n iron.

 

[SierraRam]

It turns black the minute you turn the engine on. This is due to the built in EGR and the 3rd injection but as you can see from my oil analysis it is still pretty good with exception of s slight ride n iron.

What built in EGR?

 

[JBonpua]

Its built in the cam. If you install a Hamilton or other aftermarket cam it will not have that built in EGR. Even with an aftermarket cam you still have the post ignition injection to deal with that will turn your oil instantly black the moment you start the engine.

 

[AABEN]

You should do as Blackstone says. You paid for the info so do what the report say. You might try 6. 000 miles then send in for a new test this will let you see what it is doing. Them you will have a guide to go by === Good luck Thanks for serving are country May GOD be with you.

 

[amsoilman]

My truck has a little over 25K on the clock. I was changing the oil every 7. 5K regardless with Amsoil 15W-40, Fleetguard Stratapore LF16035 and Amsoil bypass filters since it turned 10K and every 2. 5K with dino oil till it reached 10K. I was going to continue with changing the oil and filter every 7. 5K but I thought just maybe I can extend the interval with oil analysis. Well this is my first analysis with 7,634 on the oil/filter. Iron is the only metal above average and TBN is still 9. 7 from 12 Amsoil publish. In your opinion, can I go another 5K and another analysis or just change the oil and filter then?]QUOTE



JBONPUA,



I feel your Iron content is not out of line in the least! Keep in mind, your truck is still breaking in at this point, and 39 PPM is not at all a major concern, as the lab pointed out.

Keep in mind that the analysis reports are given in (PPM) Parts Per Million by weight.

To grasp how vanishingly small one part per million (ppm) is, lets put this into understandable terms. Try this: find a standard-size (not jumbo) paper clip composed of iron and dissolve it in one liter (1. 06 quarts) of oil. Take a sample of this oil, send it to the lab and have it analyzed. If the lab has perfect calibration on a perfect spectrometer - one able to pick up all the iron in the sample - the result should come back close to 500 parts per million by weight (the standard reporting scale for elemental analysis). This illustrates how a large numerical value may be associated with a small actual quantity of material.



Do I think you could go another 5,000 miles then do another oil analysis? Absolutely I do. This is my opinion, and I've seen many many oil analysis very similar to yours.



Having said that, every engine is different in how they wear, due to the tolerances with in, as well as the way they are driven, fuel used, oil used and etc. The bottom line is to establish a "trend" on your engine, then you will be able to determine more in terms of wear etc.



Wayne

 

[thomasrmmr]

your engine is still wearing in ;; the iron should stabilize after say 50000 to 60000 miles unless yo can borrow someones 9 000 lb trailer n machine to tow up some hills and make the cummins HAPPY , tom

 

[JBonpua]

I was thinking the same thing that the mighty Cummins is a little tight and still breaking in. Wow another 25K to break in? I will take Blackstone's advice and go another 5K.

 

[Bochuck]

I change my oil every 15K using Rotella T and Mopar/Fleetgard filter. I've performed two analyses so far and both were well within limits. I tow about 7200 lbs (boat and trailer) pretty much every weekend it's warm here and have 90K on the odometer. I'm thankful for being able to go 15K between changes. Three gallons of synthetic oil ain't cheap! Ha!



Also, thank you for your service to our great country and its people! We're deeply indebted to you.

 

[thomasrmmr]

hi again also== if you have the amsoil bypass filter the be 110 # i beleave is absolute nothing larger than 2 microns [thats what is stated on the cartridge in my truck , extending outward to even 25000 miles shoulnt be a problem ,