Oil sample Piston wear?

[Jim S]

Hi All,

I have a question about an oil analysis I just had done. As a background I bought my 2k cummins in 1999 and have been getting my oil tested since new. I use premiun blue oil and have been changing about every 5. 5k miles. I had 33k miles on the engine with 5500 mi on the oil. All my other samples had the aluminum at 3 or 4 but this sample it came up 8. Blackstone said this may be due to piston wear. Sample again in 5500 mi. Test results were normal for this type of engine.





Is this something I should worry about? Universal averages for aluminum are 4. Is something going bad? Do I have to wait for my next sample to find out?(which I'm afraid may be the case).

Blackstone didn't sound too concerned in their report. I just want some reassurance.

Jim

 

[TomGolden]

Well, Here http://216.235.147.117/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=37888&highlight=TBN is a thread I posted about TBN numbers, but towards the end of the thread I also posted the previous 6 Blackstone analysis reports, so you can at least compare my results to your own for a bit more piece of mind iof you like.



All my aluminum readings were like 1 or 2 though... ...



Tom

 

[Jim S]

Thanks Tom that's some great info. However I still need some expert out there to tell me what can cause a jump in my aluminum like that and if I should be worried.





Thanks Jim

 

[Jim S]

Back to top, any oil/engine experts to guide me.

 

[DonBaggett]

Where do you take oil to have it analyized? I've never done this before.

 

[TomGolden]

There are several companies that offer oil analysis. Most I believe are done via the US Mail. You order a kit, which usually includes a small plastic bottle, into which you put a few ounces of oil from your engine, and then you ship the bottle back to the company, in a container they provide, and they send you an analysis report.



These analyses cost anywhere from $12 - $25+, depending on which company you use.



www.blackstone-labs.com is one, Amsoil uses a company called Oil Analyzers, there are several others.



Tom

 

[Jim S]

I use Blackstone labs follow Tom's link. They'll send you everything you need to collect a sample and mail it. I take my sample when I change the oil. Others that use extended use oils take samples at different intervals, I'm not sure how they get a sample without making a mess.

Jim

 

[TomGolden]

Jim, there are several ways to sample without changing the entire engine oil. One manner is to simply pour out a samnple from the filter, assuming you are changing the filter when doing sampling. Another way is to use a small hand suction pump and long hose to retrieve a sample from the oil pan via the oil dipstick.



Amsoil sells just such a pump and hose for I think around $25.

http://intershop.amsoil.com/cgi-bin/Amsoil.storefront/3ce54cf602ed54ae271dd1f0e3f0071b/Catalog/1183



That is a link to the Amsoil online catalog page where they list their sampling kits and the above mentioned pump.



Tom

 

[jjdiesel]

samples....

I think samples from the filter are a no no. Too much junk in there to alter the readings, making the analysis inaccurate. They also say not to take the first oil out of the pan... . let it run out for a few seconds then take the sample. The tube thru the dipstick is a good way. FWIW