Oil Analysis Report finding

[gnegroni]

Hi everybody!

Wanted to post this hopefully to gain some insight on the comments posted on my last oil analysis report (7300 miles on the oil topped up by 0.5 quart):

"Your Solara still looks good in analysis. You mentioned engine vibrations are increasing, though we don't see anything here that would indicate a problem. Note high silicon: have you had this engine opened for work? It could be from sealers if so, but if not, you might check out the air filtration system for issues. No water or anti-freeze found. The flashpoint and viscosity were both fine, so the engine isn't leaving any excess fuel in the oil. Insolubles were low at 0.3% showing good oil filtration. The TBN is strong at 4.6. This engine appears to be okay."

My worry is on the problem in BOLD. As for the text in italic, I guess it might be related.

Any ideas on what could be causing high silicon content in the oil, especially from the air filtration system?

[gnegroni]

Also found this on their website...

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

...but doesn't give any insight to their comments regarding air filtration system. Might the K&N drop-in have something to do with it? How about me cleaning the bottom half of the intake or using SeaFoam and SF DeepCreep?

[Black Bob]

Before I write a whole response I would like to say first: I think you're good, dude, so don't stress it.

Without seeing the actual numbers on your report I am guessing through years of experience that the analysis uses a silicone baseline/average based off oil that is 3000 miles old, your oil is over 7,000 so there would naturally be an increase in silicone.

An air filter does not stop micron particles of dust from getting into your engine (if it did your oil wouldn't filter through neither). What the analysis is picking up is these micron specks of dust that normally get into the engine. I see through Blackstone's website that they used an ICP (inductively coupled plasma) spectrometer that burns your oil and an optical sensor reads the light that flashes off and determines what metals and contaminants are in your oil. (Each metal/contaminant throws off their own color when burned.) Back in my day we used an AA (atomic asbsorption) spectrometer and an AE (atomic emission) spectrometer with both pretty much using the same methodology as the ICP. ICP's are the norm now.

If the silicone originated from a silicone seal even an ICP could not readily see it because most seals don't fail on a micron size basis, when a silicone seal fails small macroscopic (seen with the naked eye) chunks can be seen floating in your oil. The best way to check for this would be to filter your oil through a filter membrane and actually looking for anything retained on that membrane (which I suspect Blackstone does because they do some sort of insolubility test in which case a failed seal would be readily seen). So, again, I think you're good. If you want a second opinion you could post/PM me your numbers. I haven't analysed an oil report since 1994 but I still keep track of the science and it really hasn't changed at all since then.

[gnegroni]

First off, thanks for the explanation.

Before I write a whole response I would like to say first: I think you're good, dude, so don't stress it.

Without seeing the actual numbers on your report I am guessing through years of experience that the analysis uses a silicone baseline/average based off oil that is 3000 miles old, your oil is over 7,000 so there would naturally be an increase in silicone.

I had the same thought, since universal averages might be over a 3k mile oil change or else, but not 7.3k change.

If the silicone originated from a silicone seal even an ICP could not readily see it because most seals don't fail on a micron size basis, when a silicone seal fails small macroscopic (seen with the naked eye) chunks can be seen floating in your oil. The best way to check for this would be to filter your oil through a filter membrane and actually looking for anything retained on that membrane (which I suspect Blackstone does because they do some sort of insolubility test in which case a failed seal would be readily seen). So, again, I think you're good. If you want a second opinion you could post/PM me your numbers. I haven't analysed an oil report since 1994 but I still keep track of the science and it really hasn't changed at all since then.

Since I am planning on changing the oil myself in the future I could perform this filtering, however, which filter membrane would you recommend?

[Black Bob]

My typical setup involved taking about 1 milliliter of the sample oil, diluting it with a solvent (my choice: pentane), putting it in a disposable syringe with a filter attachment and pushing it through a 20 to 100 micron filter and then opening the attachment to see what was caught.



I usually used Millipore filters and Fisher Scientific filter adapted syringes, but I got to warn you that while this is a simple setup it's expensive as hell. A box of syringes and filter attachments are priced for health related labs (companies price rape laboratories more than they do to the military). Solvents like pentane are hella flammable and not easily shipped to a home address. I'd say stick with the services from Blackstone, that really isn't a bad price ($22?). But if you troll through eBay or some surplus outlet this setup might be 90% cheaper than the main suppliers.....or you might find a better way to do it.

Also before I forget, the real benefit of getting an oil analysis is getting a trend going which means sending in intermittent samples. Some people do it every year or every oil change but getting a good trendline helps in preventive maintenance......but again, mostly fleet truck managers, steel mills, engine R&D companies, etc. go this route. Oil analysis companies didn't really start offering up testing to the consumer until 1995 I would say.

[gnegroni]

Thanks for the advice!

With this report, its my 3rd oil analysis done...20k, 50k and 63k. Not really a logic to it, but I guess I won't be making any more for a while. I guess I really wanted to see how the Mobil1 10W30 held up at 7300 miles...

History (not bad for my 2AZ-FE Ferrari, right?):

[youngblood]

How much did this report cost? Very interesting stuff!

[Black Bob]

Oh for Christ sakes, they're alerting you that the silicone is at 28 parts PER MILLION?!!! Having a set point at 100 parts is maybe erring on the side of caution but I personally think 19 is way too low. In case you're wondering, the calcium found in your oil is part of the normal additive package.


youngblood--

Here's a pricelist from Blackstone--http://www.blackstone-labs.com/tests_price_list.html--and you should find these prices par for the industry. They claim a standard test of $22.50. The sugar test is kinda a ripoff for $64 though, you can pretty much tell if your ex-wife/girlfriend vandalized your oil just by looking at it.......unless if you care if it's Columbian sugar or American sugar.

[gnegroni]

Yep, PPM... LOL

I paid for the TBN number in these 3 tests, but I believe I may be dropping that extra $$$, and reducing frequency to yearly. Still, I just wanted to show people my reports. Better examples are available on their website, but I'm satisfied with service.

Oh, and with Black Bob's extra info, I guess I got quite the deal!

[youngblood]

youngblood--

Here's a pricelist from Blackstone--http://www.blackstone-labs.com/tests_price_list.html--and you should find these prices par for the industry. They claim a standard test of $22.50. The sugar test is kinda a ripoff for $64 though, you can pretty much tell if your ex-wife/girlfriend vandalized your oil just by looking at it.......unless if you care if it's Columbian sugar or American sugar.

Thanks, Black Bob-

I will have to give them a try. I have 65K on my '04 3mz but I would be even more interested to have my old ford's oil tested. It has 69K miles since 1972. It might make a neat comparison.