Oil analysis question
 

I decided to have my engine oil analyzed after changing it this fall.
It's a good thing I did, because they found antifreeze in it. That, plus
my having to add antifreeze once in a while towards the end of the
season tells me I have a serious problem. Not so serious while it's on
the trailer and easy to transport to the engine guy, but a lot more
serious had I noticed this problem next June 100nm north of Prince
Rupert on the way to Juneau! We're guessing there is a cracked head or
bad head gasket.

Anyways, they also found 340ppm of iron in the oil, which they call
abnormal. Is this a problem at that level?

This is from a 1987 5.7L 260hp with 770 hours on it. I also ran it 165
hours on Amsoil 15-40 marine diesel oil this season before the change,
although the analysis showed no signs the oil was deficient.

Capt. Jeff

In article ,
Tamaroak wrote:


I decided to have my engine oil analyzed after changing it this fall.
It's a good thing I did, because they found antifreeze in it. That, plus
my having to add antifreeze once in a while towards the end of the
season tells me I have a serious problem. Not so serious while it's on
the trailer and easy to transport to the engine guy, but a lot more
serious had I noticed this problem next June 100nm north of Prince
Rupert on the way to Juneau! We're guessing there is a cracked head or
bad head gasket.

Anyways, they also found 340ppm of iron in the oil, which they call
abnormal. Is this a problem at that level?

This is from a 1987 5.7L 260hp with 770 hours on it. I also ran it 165
hours on Amsoil 15-40 marine diesel oil this season before the change,
although the analysis showed no signs the oil was deficient.

Capt. Jeff

Yeah, it is a problem, and probably a consequence of the coolant being in
there (abnomrally high wear)

Fix the coolant problem, do a few short-interval changes, and then resample
and see if those iron numbers return to normal.

--
--
Karl Denninger ) Internet Consultant & Kids Rights Activist
http://www.denninger.net My home on the net - links to everything I do!
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In article ,
Gene Kearns wrote:


On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 21:20:55 GMT, (Karl
Denninger) wrote:


In article ,
Tamaroak wrote:


I decided to have my engine oil analyzed after changing it this fall.
It's a good thing I did, because they found antifreeze in it. That, plus
my having to add antifreeze once in a while towards the end of the
season tells me I have a serious problem. Not so serious while it's on
the trailer and easy to transport to the engine guy, but a lot more
serious had I noticed this problem next June 100nm north of Prince
Rupert on the way to Juneau! We're guessing there is a cracked head or
bad head gasket.

Anyways, they also found 340ppm of iron in the oil, which they call
abnormal. Is this a problem at that level?

This is from a 1987 5.7L 260hp with 770 hours on it. I also ran it 165
hours on Amsoil 15-40 marine diesel oil this season before the change,
although the analysis showed no signs the oil was deficient.

Capt. Jeff

Yeah, it is a problem, and probably a consequence of the coolant being in
there (abnomrally high wear)

Fix the coolant problem, do a few short-interval changes, and then resample
and see if those iron numbers return to normal.

-

What Karl suggests is sound and is often done, but the point needs to
be enforced that what you are doing by this drill is putting in a
clean vehicle (oil) with which to map any future mechanical failure.
By your posting, you don't classify as a leisurely lake boater ....

in other words... don't try any of those 100 NM trips to anywhere
until you find out where that 340 PPM went (or came from).

I am particularly baffled by the fact that the iron was the only
element found. Were there any other elements also above spec?

My personal feeling is that this is a suspect engine and is not
seaworthy for any life threatening journey.

Diagnose the problem and FIX IT before it becomes a crisis.

Yep.

But 340ppm is not TOO stupid-bad.

As an example, on my Detroits in recreational service levels up to 150ppm
are not unusual. If you run the engines daily you will get MUCH lower
numbers, but the usual "weekend warrior" who doesn't run for a week or two
at a time gets higher numbers on iron, because of start-up wear and
relatively longer time (in clock hours, not engine hours) between changes.

I'd change the blown head gasket (assuming that's where the leak is), make
sure the coolant leak is fixed, look at the bores while you have the head
off, and do some short-interval changes with monitoring.

Oh yeah, don't go do any 100nm offshore trips until you know the engine is
ok too....

--
--
Karl Denninger ) Internet Consultant & Kids Rights Activist
http://www.denninger.net My home on the net - links to everything I do!
http://scubaforum.org Your UNCENSORED place to talk about DIVING!
http://www.spamcuda.net SPAM FREE mailboxes - FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME!
http://genesis3.blogspot.com Musings Of A Sentient Mind

Strongly suspect Karl is right. Many years ago, I found out that aluminum
heads had to be refaced, even when just changing a head gasket. Eventually
wound up doing a complete engine job. Antifreeze sure does a number on
moving parts. Rebuilder might have an opinion after a look at cylinder
sleeves when head is off.

Good luck, and make really sure all is well before heading offshore!

surfnturf

"Karl Denninger" wrote Yeah, it is a problem, and
probably a consequence of the coolant being in there (abnomrally high wear)
Fix the coolant problem, do a few short-interval changes, and then resample
and see if those iron numbers return to normal.