Silicon Numbers from Sample

[DaveHess]

I am throwing this out there for comment and/or suggestions. On 3/20/10, I received my latest oil sample report and it includes the last two reports with it. Here is my point of this post: The last two Silicon (Si) readings were 5ppm and 3ppm respectively and that using an OEM (drop-in) AFE PG7 filter. For this last oil change, I switched back to the Fleetguard paper element. The Si on this one was 7ppm. I used the same lab and took the samples the same way. Used the same oil filters and same brand (Valvoline Premium Blue Classic) oil.



I have read posts out here both pro and con regarding filter such as the PG7. I am a little miffed as to how and why the PG7, at least from the reports, filtered better than the paper. I did not expect that. I had thought in the past that a ppm of 5 or 3 was not excessive. Somewhere along the line I had the number 20 as the threshhold for "bad" ppm when it comes to Si. I don't know. Is there a definitive number out the for Si or any of the other items measured in an oil sample that are known "bad" numbers?

 

[steved]

Don't get hung up on those numbers... they are essentially the same, and the margin of error on a $20 analysis is going to show that. If it had jumped to say 17 or 70ppm, then I would agree.



I'll bet if you ran it again, the numbers would be completely different, while still in the same range of magnitude.

 

[JamesStevens]

I run the much hated K&N drop in and my levels are between 2-5 ppm, so it goes to show U how much mis-information is out there. I use the number 10ppm as the high limit, better to be safe then sorry, I never read that number anywhere thats just my number

 

[DaveHess]

Thanks James and Steve! I thought there might be some input to this post but I guess not. The PG7 is going back in.

 

[mrtrombley]

I get my oil samples done by Blackstone Labs Blackstone Labs

They don't gave a high limit but show "Universal Average" for silicon as 7. Hope this helps.

 

[NavyDood]

Higher than 15 is when you need to question your air filtration abilities. Nothing wrong with trying to find a filter to keep the number lower though.

 

[DaveHess]

Thanks MrTrombley and NavyDood. I appreciate you taking the time to give me your input. I'm feeling rather confident to put the PG7 back in. I cleaned it this past weekend, re-oiled and awaiting time to install.

 

[Regcabguy]

I've run the PG7 dropin since the truck was new except for cleaning and reoiling. My samples have always reflected a below universal average reading. I do not use it much in dirty environments though.

 

[DaveHess]

My rarely ever sees any dirt roads. The ones it does see are usually in a campground otherwise she is strictly OTR. By some of the older posts, I expected to find Si readings to be significantly lower with the paper over the PG7. I guess in those situations we don't know the quality of the cleaning or oiling. Nor do we know how the trucks are used.



Funny story though. Two summers ago after returning from Glacier National Park, I opened the air box to check the filter and found a small bird had expired in there. I wonder how it got in there??? I run the PSM Cold Air kit and that was the only point of entry I could think of. What's the chances???????

 

[BILLVO]

Not all dirt comes through the air filter, You can get some in every time you pull the dipstick, pull off the fill cap fill it with oil, pull the airfilter out will even get a bit in there that you don't see. How are you pulling your samples. You need to pull one at about 1k after an oil change and then every so often there after to get a baseline, I don't think you run your oil long enough to get a good baseline. If you have a bypass filter and ran the oil longer you would see the number go down in most cases over time.



Like posted above that number is normal and nothing to worry about because brand new oil will have silica in it. This is why early samples and then regular sampling of the same oil later gives the best results. Or else just pull a sample a few hundred miles before the oil change to see if trouble is arising.

 

[DaveHess]

Got it Bill. That makes sense. I am pulling my samples from the pan via the drain plug. I have one of the Fumoto plugs where I can control the drain. Thanks for the input.



Got the trailer ready to go yet???

 

[BILLVO]

If taking it from the drain plug be sure to clean it really good with brake cleaner ect. Then let some oil flow and take the sample mid stream to let any dirt clear itself from the plug ect.

 

[DaveHess]

If taking it from the drain plug be sure to clean it really good with brake cleaner ect. Then let some oil flow and take the sample mid stream to let any dirt clear itself from the plug ect.

That is exactly how I do it!