Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) First Oil Sample--long

[DEickhoff]

Got my first oil sample lab report back and they say nothing is wrong but I really don't know exactly what I am looking at. They say the Iron is high but I don't know what could cause that. According to Blackstone it may be the way I drive it. On this oil change I did drive in some dusty conditions and carried my four-wheeler in the back on a couple of days.



MI/Hr on Oil 5982

MI/Hr on unit 88,499 Averages

Aluminum 4 4

Chromium 4 2

Iron 42 24

Copper 2 4

Lead 1 3

Tin 1 1

Molybdenum 2 13

Nickel 1 0

Manganese 0 1

Silver 0 0

Titanium 0 0

Potassium 2 1

Boron 3 108

Silicon 7 8

Sodium 3 5

Calcium 3090 2750

Magnesium 28 308

Phosphoru 1060 1068

Zinc 1214 1239

Barium 0 1



TBN reading is 8. 2 (They say showing plenty of active additive left. More miles on the oil will lead to highter iron, but it should still be okay. )



Properties: SUS Viscosity @ 210 73. 6 (should be 69-82)

Flashpoint 435 (>405)

Fuel % >0. 5 (<2. 0)

Antifreeze % 0. 0 (0)

Water % 0. 0 (>0. 1)

Insolubles % 0. 4 (<0. 7)



I was running Chevron Delo 400 15W40 with 2 extra quarts added. I am now running Rotella 5W40 Syn. Anyone have any ideas why my iron content was high and what this all may mean? It sounds like the engine is fine and I can run a 6000 mile change.



TIA



Dawna

 

[TMitch]

FWIW - I just got back an oil analysis, also running Delo 15w40. I use Finning (Caterpillar) Fluid Analysis Lab.

My numbers first then yours then averages

MI/Hr on Oil 4000, 5982

MI/Hr on unit 64375, 88,499 Averages

Aluminum 4 4 4

Chromium 2 4 2

Iron 15 42 24

Copper 2 2 4

Lead 2 1 3

Tin 0 1 1

Molybdenum 11 2 13

Nickel 0 1 0

Manganese 9 0 1

Silver 0 0 0

Titanium 0 0 0

Potassium 2 2 1

Boron 14 3 108

Silicon 4 7 8

Sodium 1 3 5

Calcium 3168 3090 2750

Magnesium 9 28 308

Phosphoru 1274 1060 1068

Zinc 1420 1214 1239

Barium 0 0 1



I don't get a TBN # and the rest of my analysis reads like this:

Soot 17

Oxidation 39

Nitration 15

Sulfation 13

Water Negative

Antifreeze Negative

Fuel Negative

V100 13. 7

V40 101. 1

As you can see my iron is quite a bit lower. My truck is stock except for the BHAF and I don't baby it. I only had one long highway trip on the last oil change. The rest of the driving was trips less than one hour with no towing.

As with any fluid analysis the important thing is to watch for trends. Your next analysis may shed some light on the iron reading but you will also have to take into account that you have changed brands of oil so most likely the different additive levels will change some of the readings.

My neighbour is a heavy duty mechanic who laughs at oil analysis because he claims that they filter out the big chunks before they do the analysis!