Oil analysis questions...

frankenstien

Member
May 25, 2015
587
2
18
Fairbanks,Alaska
Just got this back today. Have elevated aluminum AND potassium. Blackstone tends to think its from emissions junk but Id like to see ur thoughts as well. Got me all paranoid now...lol.

Truck has egr unplugged and no dpf for a year now. Has 55k on it. AFE COI. And tuning. Always run the 40hp tune anyways. I did however take this sample on a cold motor. Just pulled into garage from driveway and drained it. Waited a few seconds when draining and took sample. Wasnt eating a banana either.

Anyone else have this?

UOA%20001_zpsztrkqzkh.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

I have had my LLY oil tested 4 times since ive owned it, i have ran amsoil 5/40 and ams oil 15/40, none of my testes numbers are close to yours, my aluminum is 2, potassium was 3, my coolant was a 0 no "?" my maginiesium was lower than usual at 295, but the other 3 times averaged about 1100, adding about 1 qt in between changes. my emission stuff is all gone, and it had 128k on it on the last check

if you plan doing oil samples regularly, i would invest in a fumoto valve, they work very well, makes getting a sample easy, and i always get my sample hot

if you want i can post up a pic of my blackstone sheet
 

DangerousDuramax

New member
Nov 3, 2006
124
0
0
Houston, Tx
Explain to me how an egr cooler would contaminate oil. Also charge air cooler as blackstone mentioned. Take it easy Im diesel tech noob. I know what egr does just never had a cooler and dont know how that gets into oil. I assume coolant flows thru it?

Well I can tell you that Digmax and Burn Down don't have a clue what they're talking about and just spouting old wives tales BS and stupid internet banter they have read but have ZERO data and experience to back up anything they say. I have almost 20 years worth of data on 13 of my own personal vehicles not to mention 57 of MY company vehicles as well as I'm a Petroleum Engineer with over 20 years experience in dealing with hydrocarbons and thermodynamics (yes...feel free to ask for a copy of my BSPE and PE certification diplomats and licenses' as well as the EIN's for the companies i own). If you would like to understand the science and engineering that tells you the truth then shoot me a PM and I will give you what ya need to know and back it up with the proper data and science thats been available for almost 100 years. Or listen to the two children in this thread they THINK they're "Oil Kings" (yes...that is the "proper" term) and they will lead you to astray with their personal "opinions" and ZERO data.
 

Digmax

Member
Jan 23, 2016
289
2
18
Well I can tell you that Digmax and Burn Down don't have a clue what they're talking about and just spouting old wives tales BS and stupid internet banter they have read but have ZERO data and experience to back up anything they say. I have almost 20 years worth of data on 13 of my own personal vehicles not to mention 57 of MY company vehicles as well as I'm a Petroleum Engineer with over 20 years experience in dealing with hydrocarbons and thermodynamics (yes...feel free to ask for a copy of my BSPE and PE certification diplomats and licenses' as well as the EIN's for the companies i own). If you would like to understand the science and engineering that tells you the truth then shoot me a PM and I will give you what ya need to know and back it up with the proper data and science thats been available for almost 100 years. Or listen to the two children in this thread they THINK they're "Oil Kings" (yes...that is the "proper" term) and they will lead you to astray with their personal "opinions" and ZERO data.
Yes definitely listen to him. Sounds very educated and professional. I'm sure his info is accurate.
 

Burn Down

Hotrodder
Sep 14, 2008
7,092
28
48
Boise Idaho
Well I can tell you that Digmax and Burn Down don't have a clue what they're talking about and just spouting old wives tales BS and stupid internet banter they have read but have ZERO data and experience to back up anything they say. I have almost 20 years worth of data on 13 of my own personal vehicles not to mention 57 of MY company vehicles as well as I'm a Petroleum Engineer with over 20 years experience in dealing with hydrocarbons and thermodynamics (yes...feel free to ask for a copy of my BSPE and PE certification diplomats and licenses' as well as the EIN's for the companies i own). If you would like to understand the science and engineering that tells you the truth then shoot me a PM and I will give you what ya need to know and back it up with the proper data and science thats been available for almost 100 years. Or listen to the two children in this thread they THINK they're "Oil Kings" (yes...that is the "proper" term) and they will lead you to astray with their personal "opinions" and ZERO data.
So I'm not on your Christmas card list:confused:
 

Burn Down

Hotrodder
Sep 14, 2008
7,092
28
48
Boise Idaho
Explain to me how an egr cooler would contaminate oil. Also charge air cooler as blackstone mentioned. Take it easy Im diesel tech noob. I know what egr does just never had a cooler and dont know how that gets into oil. I assume coolant flows thru it?
A egr cooler leaking coolant into the intake and burning said coolant in the cylinder can show up as elevated Potassium and the coolant ?. Not sure if it's blocked or not on your truck? But hey i'm just the "Oil King" better PM DangerousDouchemax for the nawledge.

ID 10 T...thanks...carry on.

Is that code for F*ck off? You can just say it buddy. Were all big kids in here, no one will get offended.
 

Moneywellspent

New member
Dec 27, 2013
236
0
0
Idaho
NEVER take a cold sample. That's an automatic skewing of the test results. Your TBN number is what you want to focus on. The potassium is from a cold sample. The aluminum I would pay attention to because even a cold sample shouldn't have shown that high of an elevation. Next time take a full operating temperature sample and see what it says. And just an fyi...I was getting 24K oil changes using Amsoil and the EA filters. And that can be bumped up to 60K with the bypass system. Oil analysis every 10K came out good and at 20K let me know I still had decent life left in the oil.

Explain how they know if the TBN is good or not? Not trying to start a pissing match but in the navy we would take a TBN on oil before adding to an engine then for Daily samples we would compare the results and go based of that test.

Granted that and a flash point test were the main tests we conducted. But I guess they do thousands of tests daily?
 

TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
Staff member
Apr 19, 2008
15,674
1,941
113
Mid Michigan
Sheesh, you guys get awfully worked up over oil. Ive never understood that.

Wouldnt it be prudent to simply recommend that if 496 is worried about the aluminum in the first sample, then maybe he should send in another sample to confirm it? Everything is speculation until a pattern is shown and one sample does not make a pattern.

PS, I dont think Burn or Dig are idiots.
 

Burn Down

Hotrodder
Sep 14, 2008
7,092
28
48
Boise Idaho
Sheesh, you guys get awfully worked up over oil. Ive never understood that.

Wouldnt it be prudent to simply recommend that if 496 is worried about the aluminum in the first sample, then maybe he should send in another sample to confirm it? Everything is speculation until a pattern is shown and one sample does not make a pattern.

PS, I dont think Burn or Dig are idiots.

Thanks Tom but in the future when it's my week I would prefer to be called the "oil king".

I agree and mentioned that on the first page...
 

Slowmax

Build what others' won't
Aug 3, 2013
468
0
0
United States
Instead of spending money on sample's', and adding oil in between oil change's which sound's trailer park hillbilly. :roflmao: Just change the oil with something off the shelf, and call it a day. Typical Engineer logic over thinking the simplest thing's:thumb:.
 

six5creed

Member
Jan 6, 2016
1,046
58
48
N.C.
Instead of spending money on sample's', and adding oil in between oil change's which sound's trailer park hillbilly. :roflmao: Just change the oil with something off the shelf, and call it a day. Typical Engineer logic over thinking the simplest thing's:thumb:.
I'll second this! I change mine every 5,000 with Rotella, in everything I own. If something happens to it I'll fix it. Look at the money I save by not going synthetic and relying on science to tell me something I know anyway......my oil will need changing. That's why they put a plug in the oil pan from the factory, so I can change it!!!
 

Dozerboy

Well-known member
Jun 23, 2009
4,916
496
83
TX of course
Instead of spending money on sample's', and adding oil in between oil change's which sound's trailer park hillbilly. :roflmao: Just change the oil with something off the shelf, and call it a day. Typical Engineer logic over thinking the simplest thing's:thumb:.



Well it doesn't cost you tens of thousands of dollars to bring your pick up truck out of service for repairs. That's what oil analysis is for. To find a possible issues with Engine before it causes a catastrophic failure when you need it tmost. Some here use it just to give them warm fuzzies so they know what's going on with there engine. I use it on my engine because We use it for work. But it has told me that I can run regular Dino oil up to 16,000 miles before it needs to be changed.


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Dozerboy

Well-known member
Jun 23, 2009
4,916
496
83
TX of course
Just got this back today. Have elevated aluminum AND potassium. Blackstone tends to think its from emissions junk but Id like to see ur thoughts as well. Got me all paranoid now...lol.



Truck has egr unplugged and no dpf for a year now. Has 55k on it. AFE COI. And tuning. Always run the 40hp tune anyways. I did however take this sample on a cold motor. Just pulled into garage from driveway and drained it. Waited a few seconds when draining and took sample. Wasnt eating a banana either.



Anyone else have this?



UOA%20001_zpsztrkqzkh.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]



I wouldn't worry about your sample that much. Your truck is pretty new and high metal isn't all that uncommon until the coolers and Etc get flushed out.


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WVRigrat05

Wound for sound
Jan 1, 2011
3,081
4
38
36
French Creek, West Virginia
I'll second this! I change mine every 5,000 with Rotella, in everything I own. If something happens to it I'll fix it. Look at the money I save by not going synthetic and relying on science to tell me something I know anyway......my oil will need changing. That's why they put a plug in the oil pan from the factory, so I can change it!!!

I run synthetic just for the fact it doesn't gum up in the turbo like regular oil. And yes I know it wouldn't do that if I let the egts lower before shut down, I usually wait one minute but it would take 5+ minutes some days on my LLY to get below 350-300, I don't run gauges on this truck because it's pointless.

I go 10k (dic) and change again. Most of mine is highway anyhow.

And you guys running synthetic and paying for samples, I feel your not saving, you're paying more for the oil, then paying 25 bucks a pop for samples. If the motor is gonna let go it's gonna let go, only thing you're saving by catching it's a tow bill and insurance reimburses for that. The only time I feel it necessary is in a industrial environment where it's more cost effective to see the signs of failure and have a motor waiting ready to swap when it goes.

496, I'd send in 1-2 more samples to see if there is an issue and call it good.
 

Novak

SQUIRREL TRYN TO GET A NUT
Jun 15, 2015
990
0
16
Cloud 9, IDAHO
Instead of spending money on sample's', and adding oil in between oil change's which sound's trailer park hillbilly. :roflmao: Just change the oil with something off the shelf, and call it a day. Typical Engineer logic over thinking the simplest thing's:thumb:.



I prefer to chew on the oil and if it's grainy then mechanical failure, if it's sweet there's a coolant leak and if it's rich then there's a fuel leak and if it tastes good come back for seconds 3k later. FYI the banana pan does no change to taste..sorry


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496 BB

Head Thread De-Railer
Feb 20, 2009
697
5
18
44
At your girlfriends house
Damn this escalated quickly...lol.

I like synthetic because Ive had great luck with it in gassers. Is is better in a diesel? I have no idea but it works. DO I care about the pricing? No or I wouldnt be doing it. Samples I do for piece of mind....thats all. I dont get a sample every change. Usually once a year or whenever I think about it. I dont do extended oil changes...just whenever the dic says too. I got a TBN test just to see what it was at the stated dic mileage. I cant see going over 8k mile intervals for MY piece of mind anyways. Im sure others can but I cant.

All I was getting at with this was if it indeed could be egr cooler and related parts. IF its a trend on not that then its getting sold. Simple as that...lol. I just like having a truck I can depend on as I use it everyday for work. I dont baby it but Im also a fanatic on preventive maintenance and upkeep. Thats why I get so many years outta my trucks and they still are running great when I sell em.

Thanks for the input!