Oil analysis question

[crispyboy]

Just for the heck of it I purchased an oil analysis kit from the local parts house. I was curious what the percentage of fuel dilution on my stock emissions truck. Much to my surprise it did not register any fuel dilution with 5k miles on this oil change. 5k is my normal oil change interval with Valvoline Premium Blue 15w-40.
I did not do an analysis on the new oil prior to this oil change.
I did notice that there was a number for both Potassium and Sodium. Do this mean there is a problem with a touch of anti-freeze in the oil even though the report said "negative" for anti-freeze? Or does the oil contain traces of the elements?

Here is the report:
View attachment sample results 2.pdf

 

[Freebore]

I've had results showing just potassium and no sodium and understand it may be from something else. Both of those together may be coolant related, but I work where I see oil samples frequently and know that many times the recommendation is to follow up with another sample to understand the trend.

Two areas that I've been learning a bit more about are other sources of those elements. Part of the biodiesel refinining process can involve the use of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide, so no confirmation yet but if any of those elements get carried into the fuel you burn, there might be a connection. Sometimes the byproduct (possibly flux) used in building the intercoolers for diesels is potassium. You can probably imagine that cleaning the inside of an intercooler once it is built may have difficulty in removing every trace of any byproduct of manufacturing. I've heard of some engines where certain ambient conditions (pressure, temperature, humidity) have contributed to carrying the small parts per million of these traces which show up in oil samples.

 

[Killgore]

Crispyboy, your potasium and sodium numbers are right in line with my oil analysis reports. Blackstone identifies these two elements as components of antifreeze as well as some engine oils.
- Ed

 

[crispyboy]

Thanks for all your replies, it looks like things are going about as good as I could hope.

 

[AnOldBiker]

I'd like to mention that the analysis machines are very touchy and many other factors must be considered. A relative brought over his reports and was concerned. We tried to cover everything to no avail. Now the next time he sampled. The night before, I found out he emptied and cut the top off a 12 oz water bottle, towel dried it and let it set over night to air dry completely. Then the next day I was there for coffee to watch him draw a sample. He was going to fill his make shift cup, with the intent to poured it into this sample container for shipping. I threw his setup away, and got an extra, clean, unused sample container I had from Blackstone, and drew the sample for shipping.

Doesn't seem like much, the container looked spotless and was very dry.
But the slightest residue of "ANY" product other then your actual oil sample can give you false results.
The results were different this time, he was well within parameters.

 

[sag2]

I do lots of samples and always use the travel bottles from CVS, Walgreens etc. I have seen other technicians do the same thing, grab a water or soda bottle and it is contaminated. Same with brake fluid samples, I only use a new clean brake fluid container if a travel bottle isn't available. It's worth $3 to throw away new fluid and use the empty bottle than it is to use a used container.

 

[crispyboy]

I just put the actual sample bottle in the stream of oil flowing from the oil drain plug. Never considered any other method.....

 

[AnOldBiker]

I just put the actual sample bottle in the stream of oil flowing from the oil drain plug. Never considered any other method.....

From what I've seen and found out, many thinks that's to messy and hard to clean up for sending through the US Mail. They put it in a container, then under controlled conditions, put it in the bottle that they will send. Cleaner conditions. I have a fomoto drain valve on my oil pan. Run it for a bit, shut it off and draw the sample. People I know want drain valves but not on the pan, they think it's to close to the ground. That's where human imagination comes in, and they can be all over the place.