Question on oil analysis

[Boost]

I just got back my oil analysis and had a couple questions. The report said avg silicon should be 10ppm and mine was 43. And calcium should be 2429 and mine was 3317. It stated that "wear looks good so we dont suspect silicon is from air filtration" I replaced my BHAF with the stock filter for the entire mileage on the oil and now have the BHAF back on and will test again. But if not from air filtration then what could it be from? And also where does calcium come from? BTW it was Delo with 3000 miles on it and 17000 total miles on the cummins. Any help would be appreciated! Here are the rest:



Mine- Universal Avg



Aluminum 2- 4

Chromium 2- 2

Iron 16 -29

Copper 1-11

Lead 2- 4

Boron 6-128

Silicon 43-10

Sodium 3-10

Calcium 3317-2429

Magnesium 8-374

Phosphorus 1068-1055

Zinc 1222-1215

Barium 1-1

SUS Vicocity 80. 1- 69 to 82

Flashpoint 410*- >405*

Fuel % <. 5- <2. 0

Coolant 0- 0

Water 0- <. 05

inolubles . 3- <. 7

Everything else was zero

 

[DEZLPWR]

43 silicon!!!

All I can say is :--)

I too would like to hear how the silicon could be that high and not cause "damage" to the engine. With 17,000 mi on the engine, it should be pretty well broke in... .

 

[Oil Man]

Silicon can be anti-foaming additive but only about as high as 10 ppm. Silicon is also from dirt, but looking at your iron level I'd say that it is not from dirt unless you have a great oil filtering system. The only other way to get silicon in your oil is if you have had work done on your engine and they used some gasket sealer. this will not hurt your engine. The calcium is a detergent/dispersant additive that should be there in those amounts. Everything looks fine to me. Given the very small amount of Mag in the additive package I'd also have to say that your oil is not a long drain additive package oil. So if you're going to keep using this oil then you should change it often.



PS also some engine aftermarket additives like the ones from the dealers will have boosted calcium in them. So if you added an additive like that then it could have come from that.



Kevin

 

[HC]

Kevin's the expert; all I can do is share some data. My first analysis was almost identical engine miles (me, 16845, you, 17000), but with Delvac 1 oil that had been in the engine for 5721 miles vs. your 3000 miles.



My silicon was 10. (equivalent to 5 per 3000 miles, you had over 8 times that number)



My iron was 34 (equivalent to 17 per 3000 miles, ~equal to your 16)



See Kevin's comment on gasket sealer. That is consistent with low wear but elevated Si #'s. I'll bet you see a big difference on your next sample.

 

[Boost]

Thanks for the replies. The only work done on the engine was a new VP44 at around 12000 miles. Stock oil fitration. Maybe the silicon came from the VP install? Should I be worried about this? I will send in another sample in about 500 miles.



Thanks

Rob