First oil report
02-27-2006 | 06:06 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
First oil report
I just got my first oil sample done and was a little surprised by the results. I added no oil in between changes and the mileage on this oil was 5371. I drive this truck pretty hard in stop and go traffic everyday, off road in the desert and some high rpm's at times. I figured for sure it would be alot worse because of the oil and filter I use. I know you guys will probably laugh and some may even tell me I'm an idiot but I go to Jiffy Lube for my oil changes. Yes it's Pennzoil and a Fram filter. Now that everyone's done laughing, the only number that was high was the Iron. I had this sample done by Blackstone Labs and the average number for iron was 24 and mine was 41. They said all my other #'s looked fine and were below the average which is good. Where would the iron be coming from??? Any ideas???
Also, before anyone asks or suggests it, I will be switching oils and filter brands for my next change just to see the difference or if there will be any difference.
If I can figure it out I'll post the whole report so you guys can see it if you want.
Ok guys....let me have it!!!!!
Also, before anyone asks or suggests it, I will be switching oils and filter brands for my next change just to see the difference or if there will be any difference.
If I can figure it out I'll post the whole report so you guys can see it if you want.
Ok guys....let me have it!!!!!
02-27-2006 | 08:32 PM
#2
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 1
From: NW Indiana
How many miles on your truck?
I know iron will be higher than average during break in - up to 20,000miles.
Iron comes from the block, crank, rods, etc.
My initial iron number was 50something at 5000miles
At 10,000miles it was at 21 but my oil sample had only 3000miles on it.
I know iron will be higher than average during break in - up to 20,000miles.
Iron comes from the block, crank, rods, etc.
My initial iron number was 50something at 5000miles
At 10,000miles it was at 21 but my oil sample had only 3000miles on it.
02-27-2006 | 09:49 PM
#3
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Texas
His sig says that he has a 2004 model.............I bet he as at least 25-30K miles on it............that much iron might not be a good sign..........
I would be alot more concerned with my air filter and dusting my engine if I went offroading in the desert alot.......not facts......just my opinion........
I would be alot more concerned with my air filter and dusting my engine if I went offroading in the desert alot.......not facts......just my opinion........
02-27-2006 | 10:26 PM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
I have just over 20k miles on it right now. I considered break-in but just don't think that's it. It's probably just crappy oil and filtering causing too much friction. My filtering is good, silicon levels are at 6 and I have 2 PG7 filters that get cleaned and oiled regularly and I also wipe the inside of the tube to check for dust.
02-28-2006 | 01:04 AM
#5
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,680
Likes: 2
From: McKinney, TX
My last Blackstone Lab report said the following......with 35,484 miles on the engine and 5300 on the Shell Rotella T 15W40 oil:
Aluminum 2 ppm, Chormium 1, Iron 17, Copper 1, Lead 1, Tin 1, Molybdenum 1, Nickel 0, Manganese 0, Silver 1, Titanium 0, Potassium 10, Boron 1, Silicon 4, Sodium 2, Calcium 3035, Magnesium 9, Phosphorus 1037, Zinc 1103, Barium 0
TBN was 9.9
No diesel, moisture, or anti-freeze in oil.
*************************************
at 15,200 miles my Iron was at 32 and at 30,226 the Iron was 21
AS best I can tell with my limited knowledge of this stuff, this is pretty good. Are others seeing similar numbers?
Aluminum 2 ppm, Chormium 1, Iron 17, Copper 1, Lead 1, Tin 1, Molybdenum 1, Nickel 0, Manganese 0, Silver 1, Titanium 0, Potassium 10, Boron 1, Silicon 4, Sodium 2, Calcium 3035, Magnesium 9, Phosphorus 1037, Zinc 1103, Barium 0
TBN was 9.9
No diesel, moisture, or anti-freeze in oil.
*************************************
at 15,200 miles my Iron was at 32 and at 30,226 the Iron was 21
AS best I can tell with my limited knowledge of this stuff, this is pretty good. Are others seeing similar numbers?
02-28-2006 | 07:26 AM
#6
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 1
From: NW Indiana
I'd go with a better oil and filter. Check out bobistheoilguy.com. Lots of good oil/filter info there. Change oil and recheck w/ Blackstone in a couple thousand miles.
btw- what did Blackstone say about the iron in the report?
btw- what did Blackstone say about the iron in the report?
Trending Topics
02-28-2006 | 08:25 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Blackstone's comments were:
"We don't know how you are using this engine but you are getting a little more iron out of steel parts than is average. Universal averages show typical wear metals for an oil from this type of engine after about 6710 miles run on the oil. Your oil was in use far fewer miles, and we found all wear other than iron at or around average levels and in correct balance. Air and oil filtration appear normal. This was 15W/40 diesel-use engine oil with no fuel, moisture or anti-freeze in it. Stay at about 4500 miles for the next sample for another look at iron."
"We don't know how you are using this engine but you are getting a little more iron out of steel parts than is average. Universal averages show typical wear metals for an oil from this type of engine after about 6710 miles run on the oil. Your oil was in use far fewer miles, and we found all wear other than iron at or around average levels and in correct balance. Air and oil filtration appear normal. This was 15W/40 diesel-use engine oil with no fuel, moisture or anti-freeze in it. Stay at about 4500 miles for the next sample for another look at iron."
02-28-2006 | 09:28 AM
#9
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 1
From: NW Indiana
How bad are you beating on your truck? Playing hard in the sand may be one reason. Just a guess. Anyway, goodluck. I'm sure your Cummins will last longer than a Ford or Chevy diesel even though you have a little more iron wear... 
02-28-2006 | 09:40 AM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
I don't beat on it, but I do drive it!! I drive it off road with the box off and most of the time it's cruising. On the streets I like to get on it but not any harder than most people, I mean my tranny is still holding together so it can't be that bad. I do drive in a lot of stop and go traffic and that may be the culprit, especially in the heat out here. I'll see with the next oil change after this one, as I'll be trying the different oil and filter then.
02-28-2006 | 12:01 PM
#11
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
I use rotella T and NAPA Gold (Wix) filters. I send in samples ranging from 12,000 miles to 18,000 miles on a motor over 140,000 miles. Blackstone tells me 20,000 should be no problem, but I'm just a tad leery 
02-28-2006 | 08:42 PM
#12
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Glendale(Phoenix),AZ.
With 36,299 miles on the engine & 8303 miles on Chevron Delo-400, 15X40, CI-4 using Fleetguard Stratopore oil filters, my iron level was 22 (Empire<Caterpillar>Fluids Lab).
Their remarks were as follows: No Action Required. No Problems Presently Associated With This Sample. Continue Sampling At The Normal Interval.
Joe F.(Buffalo)
Their remarks were as follows: No Action Required. No Problems Presently Associated With This Sample. Continue Sampling At The Normal Interval.
Joe F.(Buffalo)
02-28-2006 | 09:50 PM
#13
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
Its my understanding that they filter the oil sample of the larger particles before they test it. So if you have a crappy filter that lets those bigger grits remain and wear on your motor Blackstone is not going to be telling you about it from a filtration standpoint.
They get the results shown in the tests from trace amounts which they have dialed in to give them a close idea of whats going on.
A cheap filter and a mediocre oil will together allow more wear from 1) poor filtration 2) poor lubrication film.
I am not speaking as an expert here, but in generalities. Even though Blackstone says filtration was "normal" I would bet your engine, given how you drive it, is both under lubed and under filtered.
And when they speak about filtration they are probably talking about silica levels, or air born dirt entering the engine through the air filter, which they can measure, not your oil filters efficency, which is measured by the wear numbers, and iron is shown to be poor.
With the right set up of oil and oil filter you should be able to pound your engine pretty hard and still get good wear numbers.
IMO
Big Jimmy
They get the results shown in the tests from trace amounts which they have dialed in to give them a close idea of whats going on.
A cheap filter and a mediocre oil will together allow more wear from 1) poor filtration 2) poor lubrication film.
I am not speaking as an expert here, but in generalities. Even though Blackstone says filtration was "normal" I would bet your engine, given how you drive it, is both under lubed and under filtered.
And when they speak about filtration they are probably talking about silica levels, or air born dirt entering the engine through the air filter, which they can measure, not your oil filters efficency, which is measured by the wear numbers, and iron is shown to be poor.
With the right set up of oil and oil filter you should be able to pound your engine pretty hard and still get good wear numbers.
IMO
Big Jimmy
03-01-2006 | 01:12 AM
#14
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
What are you all feeling about your air filtering? I have ran a couple of different air filters and am wondering about how well they do filter. Each time I have checked on my air filter, I didn't see any dirt in the 'tube'. But pull the elbow off the turbo and wipe clean fingers in the mouth of the turbo and on the fronts of the vanes. Each time I do this I get DIRT!
I just got this '06 after CHRISTmas. At about 1600 mi I pulled the factory box and added my redneck BHAF. Even at that low miles there was a bit of dirt in the turbo. I know I can't keep all the dirt out (Although I would if I could!!), but I want as much out as I can.
You have all probably seen the filter tests showing how much dirt they do pass. You guys pull the elbow off your turbo and let me know what you find.
Dan
I just got this '06 after CHRISTmas. At about 1600 mi I pulled the factory box and added my redneck BHAF. Even at that low miles there was a bit of dirt in the turbo. I know I can't keep all the dirt out (Although I would if I could!!), but I want as much out as I can.
You have all probably seen the filter tests showing how much dirt they do pass. You guys pull the elbow off your turbo and let me know what you find.
Dan
03-01-2006 | 06:42 AM
#15
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 1
From: NW Indiana
I have the stock filter and my silicon levels are at 7. I think this is ok. Not great but ok. Next time I change my filter, I'll check the tube. Never really did this before. Another thing I think people don't realize is that every time you open your air filter components up, you are possibly allowing dirt into the system. I think it'd be better to just check the outside to be sure connections are good and leave all alone. JHO.