Pulled the valve cover

[GAmes]

I don't see where they tested for coolant in the system.

Sodium and potassium is coolant. Both numbers are very high compared to my last 20 samples. Silicon is high too unless the oil has about 25,000 miles on it.

 

[GAmes]

Why is "Aluminum" in GREEN? Is 18 high?

Monitor Labs color code the numbers. Green is "normal" Yellow & orange are the steps of abnormal. Red is critical. I'm surprised the contaminates aren't colored.

 

[JR]

Sodium and potassium is coolant. Both numbers are very high compared to my last 20 samples. Silicon is high too unless the oil has about 25,000 miles on it.

I'm not familiar with the report he used. The company I use tests specifically for coolant - potassium, silicon, and sodium can show up independent aside from coolant and dust. They are multi source materials. It's a very generic report from my perspective.

As far as his numbers are concerned they are in line with my 15k ish intervals on my 14. I can look up specific numbers later, but it's not a report I'd be concerned with. Either way whatever company it is didn't flag them so assuming they are somewhat reputable they aren't concerned with the results.

 

[GAmes]

Sodium by itself or potassium by itself could be traces of highway ice melting fluid. Together, along with the water, tells me coolant. The oil only has 5000 miles on it. My last sample had 14,002 miles. Silicon 6, sodium 3, potassium 0. The sample before that had 25,908 miles. Silicon 22, sodium 6, potassium 4. I have never had water show up in any of my samples. The last sample aluminum was 3, the one with nearly 26,000 miles was 4. It is a simple matter to google how coolant in the oil wears out bearings. The aluminum is the first sign of bearing wear. Check your '14 numbers. I'll bet they are not that high.

 

[GAmes]

Correction, tin is the first sign of bearing wear. I don't know the sources of aluminum off the top of my head.

 

[BigPapa]

Aluminum could be pistons or turbo. Can’t think of any other aluminum in the engine.

 

[JR]

It is a simple matter to google how coolant in the oil wears out bearings.

Exactly, and it's why I'm surprised they don't test specifically for glycol instead of making you guess off multi source elements.

I just looked at my 14, the last 3 samples were right on par with the OP as far as aluminum. The middle sample was higher than his. All engines are different which is why establishing trends is paramount, otherwise the numbers don't mean much unless they are excessive.

Per the link I listed above, Predictive Maintenance Services considers less than 20ppm normal, 20-50 slightly elevated, 50-75ppm gets flagged as a caution, 75-100 severe and 100+ gets flagged as critical.

 

[Tuesdak]

Call the lab and see if they can retest for coolant. Some keep samples around a few days in case questions come up. Take another sample if you can. Sometimes it's worth cutting open the oil filter and seeing what's in it and if the element is in good shape. Water can swell up the element and the pleats would look wavy.

Sodium or potassium can be part of an additive package. What oil are you running? I have seen through the roof numbers with 30 weight oil in an air cooled generator. Valvoline ( potassium = 558 ) and Quaker State (sodium =50) traded one for the other (leaving one of them at zero), but, did not have both high.

My Cummins oil samples with Valvoline or other diesel oils potassium was 0 or 2. Sodium all over the place with one at 209, but, there was an engine overhaul in there... Generally below 10.

 

[GAmes]

Blackstone labs results only show potassium and sodium too. They are not a part of the oil additive package, they are contaminates and listed as such.

https://www.oaitesting.com/reading-reports.aspx#elemental

The OP originally thought he had fuel in the oil, obviously that isn't true.

As far as his numbers are concerned they are in line with my 15k ish intervals on my 14.

So, aside from aluminum, your samples had sodium and potassium at those levels? How about water?

 

[JR]

I've only got 4 samples on my 14 but yes they are similar. Upper 40's on Potassium and 9-12 sodium. The potassium has trended downward.

Both are considered multi source elements - not always a contaminant.

My lab does test for glycol and water separately, both have always been 0 on my reports.

 

[SAndreasen]

I was looking for fuel and also bearings which neither one are in the oil at levels I had hoped to see .

 

[Tuesdak]

Blackstone labs results only show potassium and sodium too. They are not a part of the oil additive package, they are contaminates and listed as such.

Maybe my lab was just guessing.

Different oil brand and the sodium goes way down.

 

[Joe Mc]

SAndreasen, Sorry but after reading this entire post I guess I'm missing "why" you pulled rocker cover to begin with? Is there another post that you started that explains what/why?

 

[NIsaacs]

SAndreasen, Sorry but after reading this entire post I guess I'm missing "why" you pulled rocker cover to begin with? Is there another post that you started that explains what/why?

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/engine-rebuild-kits.270226/

 

[GAmes]

Maybe my lab was just guessing.
View attachment 125421

Look at the dates of those four samples. The high sodium is in the winter. As the samples progress into summer the sodium goes down AND the potassium is next to nothing. The page with four samples is all the same brand oil, correct? The last sample is a 2. The sodium is the road salt used on the highways.

 

[GAmes]

I guess I should have looked at the whole page. Now I'm wondering if you have the Onan running while the RV is going down the road. And yes, the word "possibly" does mean they are guessing.

 

[Tuesdak]

I guess I should have looked at the whole page. Now I'm wondering if you have the Onan running while the RV is going down the road. And yes, the word "possibly" does mean they are guessing.

That may explain it. Until I "fixed" the AC ducts, yes, I ran it going down the road esp. in hot travels like a stay in Yuma, AZ in August heat. I wouldn't think AZ uses a lot of road salt. One a year oil change and no "winter" travel on the RV.

 

[SAndreasen]

So here is an interesting tidbit . I just dropped the oil and about half a gallon straight antifreeze came out

 

[DavidC]

So here is an interesting tidbit . I just dropped the oil and about half a gallon straight antifreeze came out

You have the patched up 53 block right ?. Sounds like it cracked inside also.

 

[JR]

This is why I prefer to use a lab that tests for coolant. That report wasnt even flagged.