Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Oil Sample Help Needed

[Hummin Cummins]

How long does it take for a sealer to stop showing up on an oil analysis? I took a sample with 5918 miles on the oil and silicon came back as 24. On this oil I also fixed my KDP using high tack on the cover gasket, changed my valve cover gaskets, and installed a K&N 0880.



Oil was changed and sampled again with 4514 miles on it. Silicon came back at 20 this time.



Quote from blackstone:

"Silicon read at about the same level as last time, after a shorter run on the oil. You might want to consider another type of air filter to see if air filtration improves. Wear levels all ook fine and are well within the average range for this type of Cummins engine. No contamination of the oil was found, and we have no reason to suspect this engine had any problems as of the date the sample was taken. High silicon can also come from sealers and spray lubricants. "



Wear Metals were:

Aluminum 2

Chromium 2

Iron 9

Copper 1

Lead 1

Tin 0



I'm going out now to put factory air box back in and run this until next change, If silicon still is high, I guess it is safe to assume it is the high tack and new gaskets causing this.



Any suggestions?

Thanks

Chris

 

[illflem]

It can take over 10k to go away. No big deal with our trucks but on some gassers that have "sniffers" for the emissions system the sealant scent can trick them causing the engine to run like crap.

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Thanks, Bill



I guess I wont know until next sample. I went back to the paper factory filter until then. I dont know how much silicon (if it is dirt instead of sealer) is too much so I'm not taking any chances. I wont be towing alot this winter so I dont have to worry about egt's too much till spring. I just hate spending the 25$ each time for a paper filter when I can clean my K&N.

 

[redram]

The type of oil analysis that Blackstone runs, ie spectrographic, reads all / any sources of silicon, not just sealers.



It is very possible that the silicon could also be from dirt that had ingressed the oil system, your method of pulling a sample, and at 20-25 ppm, is not excessive if you drive on any type of dirt or dusty roads at all.



I usually see 15-25 voer a 12,000 mile interval.



This oil analysis is a trend report and individual numbers can be misleading if taken out of context and "over analyzed".



Your truck is fine - don't lose any sleep over these two reports. Your wear metals are actually lower than most.



Redram - Certified Oil Analst with the STLe (Society of Tribologist and Lubrication Engineers