Oil Sample Results

[Ken55]

I got back my results after switching over to synthetic and am very happy with the results except for the sodium level which was at 70 PPM . The mileage was 7000 on the oil & filter and I sampled while draining and after letting about half the oil drain out of the pan. Did I somehow contaminate it or is there something else I should be looking at? The rest of the values were; Alum,Chromium,Lead,Tin=0PPM; Iron=18; Silicon=15; Copper=4; Potassium=1; Water<0. 1; glycol=0; Fuel=<2. 0; Soot=<0. 1; Oxidation=<2. 0

Ken

 

[radixr]

Your silicon seems a bit high. According to Blackstone, an average silicon value is 9ppm. My average silicon value is 5 (ave. of five samples).



Usually this is caused by an air filter that is letting unfiltered air through.



Sodium comes from anti-freeze inhibitors and is an additive in some gasoline engine oils. Since you are not showing any glycol or water, the sample must have been contaminated or the synthetic you are using does use sodium as an additive.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Just an observation - and a bit of carryover from another thread - there's that somewhat higher than usual Iron content from a synthetic again - not BAD, just higher than most dino oils seem to be at that test interval...

 

[JJW_ND]

Great Sample!

Great sample Ken. In the first 10 samples taken with 5K to 6K and oil dumped every time running Rotella and Premium Blue 2000 only once did I have a iron reading below 18ppm. Most of the time my Silicone readings are in the teens. Once in a while in the winter the readings go below 10. Each truck has its on unique values. I have taken all my samples through the oil pan just like you did. Keep everything clean and you will be fine.



Sorry Gary! 18ppm iron is pretty darn low especially on a 6 year old truck not running bypass (did not read a bypass was present).



I looked back over my samples and I noticed a trend on iron. If I ended a 25K oil drain in the 60s or higher iron the next sample (even with new oil) was slightly higher. I never drain my oil over night. 12V's drain along time. Carry Over????



I run synthetics because 15W40 does not even pour out of the bottle at temps I need to start my truck in the winter.



jjw

ND

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Sorry Gary! 18ppm iron is pretty darn low especially on a 6 year old truck not running bypass (did not read a bypass was present). "





Re-read my post - I didn't say it was high = only that it is *higher* than MOST dino results *I* have seen at similar mileages and conditions. And for yet another variance possibility, there seems to be significant difference between test labs as well - so once you start with a specific one, it's a pretty good idea to stick with them to establish consistent trend numbers...



As far as the age of the truck is concerned, tho total engine mileage isn't stated, MOST Dodge/Cummins trucks are right in their prime at that age, and if anything, wear rates would be at their minimum...



I stand by my assertion that TYPICALLY, synthetics will produce significantly higher iron wear rates than dino oils, all things being equal... Just keep an eye on various results posted in these groups and see if that isn't true more often than not.

 

[Ken55]

Hey guys thanks for all the thought. I thought that I must have contaminated that sample for the sodium to be that high. You guys ain't gonna believe this but the truck has only 36000 miles on her. I bought it 20 months ago with 12700 .

Gary I last sampled at 16700 miles using Rotella with 4000 miles on the oil and my iron was 27. But that could have been from an almost new engine. So a reading of 18 I thought was good.

JJW, There's no bypass on the truck either.

Radix, The silicon too concerned me since my last reading was <5PPM with the stock setup. I just put in the AFE mega cannon about 1000 miles before the sample was taken. Sure hope that aint the cause of that reading. I'll know in another 4000 miles when I resample.

Ken

 

[LSMITH]

Ken, potassium and sodium are usually coolant additives. I would send off an email to the oil maker to see if those are part of the package they have. I am not trying to scare you, I just want you to have all the information you can. The rest of the sample is GREAT!!! Good luck.

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

From a Rotella Fan

My 2 cents;the high iron readings are from break in on that cream puff you got your hands on. Nothing to worry about there. The high silicon readings would be my biggest concern being that you have removed the stock air box. Keep an eye on that. Dirty air will kill your CTD, period. A little detective work should find the source of the sodium. Thumbs up to a good report card