Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Oil Sample

[Puffin Smoke]

Hey guys I got my oil sample results back and I need help with them. My oil is 15w 40 Amsoil full synthetic with Amsoil filter with about 6000 miles on the oil. The truck had about 48,000 at the time of sample. Here go's!





Iron 57



Chromium 4



Nickel 0



Aluminum 4



Copper 1



Lead 1



Tin 0



Cadium 0



Silver 0



Titanium 0



Vanadium 0



Silicon 4



Sodium 5



Potassium 1



Molybenum 0



Antimony 0



Manganese 0



Lithium 0



Boron 9



Magniesium 147



Calcium 3528



Barium 0



Phosphorus 1031



Zinc 1182



Fuel 0. 5%



Soot 0. 8%



Water <. 1







Can somebody please help me out with these numbers?

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

hey puffin clean out your box go to the beginning and delete the ones you dont want.

 

[amsoilman]

Puffinsmoke,

Looks pretty normal to me. Did you get any TBN and TAN numbers as well? The Magnesium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Zink, Sodium, Boron are all Additives. The "wear" Metals look OK as well. Fe (Iron) will most always be higher than any of the other "wear" Metals. Next time when you sample the oil compare it with this sample to begin Trending. You can't really go by one oil analysis, unless they found high concentrations of fuel, water, etc. For your first analysis, I think it is pretty "normal". What was their remarks, if any?



Wayne

amsolman

 

[DocStressor]

Wayne, don't you think his iron, soot, and fuel contamination are pretty high for only 6K? Puffin, what type of driving do you do and how long was your change interval (time)? Was this your first change after switching to synthetic? The fuel contamination and soot level might indicate an injector problem.

 

[Puffin Smoke]

The oil hasnt been changed in it yet. This is my first batch of amsoil in it. I drive really hard if thats what your asking. The oil has 6k on it and the truck has 50 now. Do I change it or what?

 

[DocStressor]

Well I was really asking if you did a lot of short trip type driving. That tends to cause some fuel dilution. Also, if you only piled up 6K miles over say a year, that could also be a factor. If the engine was run on conventional oil for the first 42K and you just switched to synthetic, the high iron and soot could be the result of the synthetic oil re-suspending some old sludge. An unmodified ISB usually takes 40K or more miles without an oil change to pile up 0. 8% soot. And iron levels with only 6K miles on the oil should be 10-30 ppm. But as Wayne suggested, you really have to follow the trends for your particular engine and driving style.



I would change the oil an filter now and re-analyze again after 6K. If your soot levels are still >0. 5%, I would suspect a combustion problem or a leaky injector.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I think the Iron count is kinda high too but I think Lee Weber is right on in that the Amsoil is probably bringing metallic deposits back into circulation and cleaning the engine out. I would change it pretty soon and then you should be fine to go at least 10,000 on the next change. When I switched to Amsoil from dino oil I went 8,000 miles the 1st time and then after that I have always gone 20,000 miles per change, using 3 Stratapore filters during the 20K interval.



I sample every 10,000 miles. Iron counts on mine at 20,000 miles have ranged from a low of 41 to a high of 88 (not using any bypass filtration).



Vaughn

 

[Puffin Smoke]

So another words I guess ill have to order some oil. . I do alot of short driving back and forth to work and and in town. I can put 6000 miles on in about 3-4 months in the summer time as i have been this summer. All them fishing trips!!! And my foot is constantly in the thottle so im always dumping alot of fuel in the engine. I dont think or I should say I know I dont have an injector problem cause I just averaged 27mpg on my little 200 mile trip today. I dont thinks i would see that kind of fuel mileage. Since i just flipped 50,000 today and i put the oil in at 42,000 ill go ahead and change it. Thanks guys for all the info.

 

[amsoilman]

Lee,

I thought I read his soot level of 0. 8 % and fuel at 0. 5 %. We are talking less than one percent on both these properties. I thought a soot level of 3. 0 % would be an "elevated" number and would be concerned. As to the fuel, here again I would think something over 2. 0 percent would become a problem.



Everything I have ever read concerning oil analysis has indicated that reading less than (<1. 0 %) in fuel or soot is nothing to worry about. AM I wrong here? Have I missread something?



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[DocStressor]

PuffinSmoke- If you drive as hard as you say, I guess that might account for the soot.



Wayne, I agree that soot up to 1% shouldn't be a problem. It is just that the Cummins is usually such a low soot producer that 0. 8% after only 6K might be saying something about combustion. But if he drives hard in town, I can see how overfueling with the his right foot could produce more soot than normal. Also more iron.



Do you agree that he should change the oil once before going to an extended drain interval?

 

[Puffin Smoke]

Well I just ordered two batchs of oil for the truck today. Im gonna change it at 8000 miles then run it and do the regular oil sample checks and compare. I called the oil sample place today and they said the soot and fuel are fine. Neither should get over like 2%. The Iron was high but still out of the flagging range. The guy said if I want to know whether this is good for a long drain interval that I should have gotten another kit. I guess its more indepth. Next time.

 

[amsoilman]

Lee,

I took onto account the type driving he did, and I do agree with you that he should change out the oil one time before going the long drain intervals.



Wayne

amsoilman