Oil analysis in...

[MMeier]

... . what does the spectrochemical (ppm ) readings mean exactly? Do I have to contact lab that did the work to decipher the readings or are they universal lab to lab ? Visc. 100 is at 13. 27 and TBN reading is 7. 6. Oil is ****** 15W40 with 12K miles on it , and running a K&N Gold series filter , no bypass or anything like that ! Thanks, Mark

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

No ppm for iron, chrome, lead, aluminum, etc?

 

[damar]

I have my oil analysis done at Oil Analyzers inc. My viscosity runs between 12. 9 to 13. 52. My TBN, which measures the alkaline reserve remaining in crankcase lubricants to neutralize acidic byproducts of combustion, runs between 11. 75 and 12. 8 with last analysis at 108,262 miles. A low TBN, which measures Lubricant Service Life, is caused by High Sulfur Fuel, Overheating, Over-extended Oil Drains, Improper Oil Type and Acid Build-up in Oil. If the K&N filter is your oil filter, it is probably not approved by Cummins and Dodge, and therefore if a lub problem causes engine failure, they will not cover it under warranty. Do a search on "oil filters" and you should find a list of those approved.



Oil Analyzers Inc did send a booklet out with your first test which is where I got the above info. I use Amsoil and get my mail-in kits thru them. If you are in Las Vegas NV, they have a distribution center there at 4545 N. Lamb Blvd. Hope this helps.

 

[MichaelWright]

Mark,



You are in Vegas? Run it over to Speedco, the BIG TRUCK Quickie Lube. I can't remember the street name, but they are across the street from the Kenworth dealer. I think it is the Cheyenne exit, just south of the Speedway off of I-15. You can run the truck in and get an oil sample reading in less time then it takes to unscrew the drain plug. It will run you around $15-25. The nice thing is that you get the lab results instantly.



I would recommend Speedco to all of you for oil testing. And if there is no line at the Blue Beacon (Vegas location), which is rare, get your truck washed for around $12. That is where I take my 03 here in Michigan (Dexter), off of I-94. They do a great job getting her nice and shiny! You ought to see the look on the truckers faces when I pull in in my little red CTD!



Mike

 

[bgilbert]

Cancel that K&N filter be it air or fuel or oil. If its air, you might have a higher than normal silicate number, since the k&n likes to let dust, sand, grit thru for the engine to eat. Oil, I wouldn't even think about it, right there next to the Fram I wouldn't use.

 

[MMeier]

OK people, figured out the graph and what it is explaining to me, my silicon reading was 3 which I'm told is excellent for the miles and my climate. Changed out filter this morning and topped off with 2. 5 qts. of oil. Will run another month (about 6k ) and see how its doing! Yes , I put another K&N oil filter on it cuz my local friendly Cummins shop decided to close today also for the 4th of July holiday. Leaving here Monday on another cross country trip, anyone need anything hauled out of the SE US out west?

 

[lawdog1]

I don't really understand why you would gamble a $40K truck with a $20K engine over 30 minutes of your time and $29. 95 worth of oil and fleetguard filter... .



I would think you spend as much on oil analysis"es" to verify your oil status as you would just changing the oil, but I have been wrong before, or I thought I was wrong, which was wrong...

 

[BStoecker]

To me the analysis is more to gauge what is going on in my motor as opposed to making my oil last longer between changes. Even if the lab says it is good for 15-20k miles, I will still change it more frequently than I probably need to. It's just a way to detect potential problems MUCH earlier than I would notice them by just driving the truck...