Oil Analysis Results ---Your Opinions Please

[Red Clay Rambler]

This truck/engine is one that I am considering for purchase. I realize that oil analysis is most useful to establish patterns from test-to-test, but still wanted to see if anything glaring jumped out at me in the results. Here is all the info I have:

99 International, Cummins ISM 370. OD miles are 630,000 ECM miles are 504,000. Date/mileage of last oil change are unknown.

Test results:
Aluminum 7
Chromium <2
Copper 9
Iron 44
Lead 13
Tin <2
Silicon <2
Potassuim <2
Sodium 15
Moly 2
Water <0.1
Oxidation 7.3
Visc@100 15.6
Glycol ND
Fuel <2.0
TBN 7.5
Nitration <2.0
Soot 3.0

Speedco test info says that soot is a little high, otherwise doesn't mention any other readings as being abnormal. According to notes I took from an interview with the Gulf Coast Bypass Filters guy, sodium might also be considered a little high.

Comments?

[allan5oh]

Do you know what kind of oil was put in?

What are the units of measure for oxidation?

[Red Clay Rambler]

I do not know what kind of oil. Info from Speedco result report says Oxidation is measured in "absorbance units".

[allan5oh]

Too bad, that's a shame.


With this type of oil, and that many miles(whatever that is) this oil analysis basically is showing you right at the limit of when oil changes should be done.

3% soot is high. Between that and oxidation, the viscosity of the oil has increased a bit(probably). But without knowing which oil was used, you can't really tell.

The metal wear numbers look a little high too. But again without knowing how many miles, you can't tell. You need to know the wear metal rate to get a meaningful analysis.

Here are some other analysis' (including mine)

http://www.dabsrepair.com/oilsamples.html

[Red Clay Rambler]

Thanks Allan5oh, sorry I don't have more info. I think I found the name of the company that purchased the truck new. Maybe they can give me more info if I give them the VIN, etc. They might be the most recent owner, maybe the only one.

[rvrjr7]

numbers looked good to me i know my samples if something is leading into problems the readout says to check what ever the high numbers might be comming from. i pull a sample every 12000 miles if i go up to 15000 my wear metals go up high
high soot might be because of idling too much

[carolinatrucker]

Hi Red Clay Rambler. Would you be able to ask the owner for previous oil analysis tests? Speedco does all of mine and on each page I have the current test AND the 2 previous tests to compare. It would be nice if you could compare this test here with the previous test and others before. I'd ask him, or, if you wanted to go through some extra trouble, get the Unit # and company and go to Speedco and ask if they have a record for that Unit.
Good Luck!

[carolinatrucker]

This truck/engine is one that I am considering for purchase. I realize that oil analysis is most useful to establish patterns from test-to-test, but still wanted to see if anything glaring jumped out at me in the results. Here is all the info I have:

99 International, Cummins ISM 370. OD miles are 630,000 ECM miles are 504,000. Date/mileage of last oil change are unknown.

Test results:
Aluminum 7
Chromium <2
Copper 9
Iron 44
Lead 13
Tin <2
Silicon <2
Potassuim <2
Sodium 15
Moly 2
Water <0.1
Oxidation 7.3
Visc@100 15.6
Glycol ND
Fuel <2.0
TBN 7.5
Nitration <2.0
Soot 3.0

Speedco test info says that soot is a little high, otherwise doesn't mention any other readings as being abnormal. According to notes I took from an interview with the Gulf Coast Bypass Filters guy, sodium might also be considered a little high.

Comments?

Here are my readings to compare with. Keep in mind, this is an over-hauled (out of frame) motor and it now has 175,000 miles on it. It is a Detroit 60 and I use ONLY Mobil Delvac 1300 Super. I change mine every 12500 miles.

TRUCK MAKE: FREIGHTLINER
TRUCK YEAR: 1998
ENGINE MAKE: DETROIT DIESEL
SUMP CAPACITY 40.0

ALUMINUM 2
CHROMIUM <2
COPPER 6
IRON 10
LEAD 9
TIN <2
SILICON <2
POTASSIUM <2
SODIUM 5
MOLY 14
WATER <0.1
OXIDATION <0.1
VISC@100 14.8
GLYCOL - ND
FUEL <2.0
TBN 8.3
NITRATION 2.8
SOOT 1.9

ALL ENGINE WEAR RATES NORMAL. SAMPLE APPEARS FREE OF EXTERNAL CONTAMINATION. ANALYSIS INDICATES PROPER PERFORMANCE OF THE LUBRICANT AND UNIT.

I have the "Understanding Your Report" also, but it would take up an entire page. You could get this from Speedco.

[Maniac]

Or try here


http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

[allan5oh]

LEAD 9

This is high, definitely for the amount of miles. However, you said this is a fresher engine. Lead indicates bearings. Keep an eye on this.

VISC@100 14.8

Viscosity is decent.

TBN 8.3

Lots of acid-neutralizing left in this oil. You could extend it if you want.

SOOT 1.9

Soot is *high* for the mileage. Very high. Get your injectors checked out, keep an eye on this. Do you idle the truck a lot? Consider getting a bypass filter. Your engine could really use it.

I have the "Understanding Your Report" also, but it would take up an entire page. You could get this from Speedco.

If this is all speedco gives you, I'd suggest going with a better lab. There are many more things you want to keep an eye on. Also, does speedco use one of those "desktop" units or do they send away to a lab? The second is much much better.

[carolinatrucker]

Hello Allan. Thanks for the great post and reply. Sure enough, one of my injectors went out this morning and I've taken it to Detroit Diesel to be repaired.

You mentioned an "oil bypass" unit. What is that? How does it work? Where would I get it? What are the benefits?