This is my first oil analysis. After sending the analysis to the guy who built my engine and also in my opinion, we feel it is due to the K&N filter which is not the best for filtering out dirt but great for flow of air that the SCer needs. As you guys have been here for a long time and I am new to this, I would value your opinions. Also, at this time, I would like to apologize for not using your "code" format as you suggested for putting in my analysis information, but as I said, I am new to this and could not figure out how to make it work.
QUESTION SENT TO ANALYST WHO DID THE TESTING: Talked over the coolant issue in the sample with my engine builder and its a mystery to us about the coolant in the oil. 0.13 is a very small amount . Also do you think the Hi numbers in my report may be due to the new engine ? Thank you for any feedback that you may provide.
ANSWER FROM THE ANALYST:I was the analyst who wrote your sample, and you're right -- 0.13% coolant isn't a lot at all. Normally we say it takes 0.4% coolant before you start to see any wear issues. So we don't necessarily think the coolant is a serious issue right now, but it's certainly worth watching. Potassium, silicon, and sodium are the elements we're looking at here. When you have all three elements present, it tends to show coolant, but maybe -- just maybe -- that's not the case. The silicon could be from sealers that were used when the engine work was done or abrasive contamination from a leak or problem with the air filter. The sodium might be oil additive from a previous oil, and the potassium, well, that one's not as common. It could be some sort of soldering material from when the engine was put together, or maybe it's an additive from a grease or lube. Most commonly, though, it's from coolant, so we wanted to put you on "alert" just in case it was coolant, so that you'd have an early diagnosis and were able to do something about it, if the need arose.
Metals are pretty high, yes, but you're probably right in thinking that some of this is from wear-in, if you've only put 3,000-4,000 miles on the new engine. (I didn't know the modifications were that recently when I was writing the report.) Some of it could just be normal wear for your engine, though, but we'll have to see trends build to determine that for sure. Basically, I wouldn't do anything drastic yet, but, as we suggested in the report, watch for coolant loss (just in case) and check back in about 1,000 miles. If the metals are from wear-in, they'll wash out a little, and maybe the sodium will wash out too, if it's just additive from a previous oil you used. Check the air filter/intake for leaks or problems just in case the silicon is an airborne contaminant. If it is, that might account for some of the wear too (though silicon could also be from coolant or from sealers). So there are a lot of possibilities here.... but nothing much that we can say definitively, at least not at this point. As we see the trends that build, we should have a better idea of what's what in your sample.
INFORMATION ABOUT MY ENGINE:Built 3/13 . Maybe 3k
4.6 SOHC Ford Motorsport SVO EATON M112 (4th Gen) Supercharger 2.9" Pulley @ 12+ psi Boost
.020 over 96-98 Cobra Teskid Block with Forged Steel 8-Bolt Crank
ManleySVT "H" Beam 4340 Forged Steel Connecting Rods
18cc MAHLE Forged Aluminum Pistons for a 3.572" Bore
9.5:1 Compression Ratio
Comp Xtreme Energy XE268H camshafts timed with
Trick Flow Specialties Adjustable Crank Sprockets pushing
Manley Performance NexTek valve springs
Melling Billet Hi-Volume Oil pump circulating Mobil 1 Synthetic, 5W-30
55 GPM Meziere Electric water pump
QUESTION SENT TO ANALYST WHO DID THE TESTING: Talked over the coolant issue in the sample with my engine builder and its a mystery to us about the coolant in the oil. 0.13 is a very small amount . Also do you think the Hi numbers in my report may be due to the new engine ? Thank you for any feedback that you may provide.
ANSWER FROM THE ANALYST:I was the analyst who wrote your sample, and you're right -- 0.13% coolant isn't a lot at all. Normally we say it takes 0.4% coolant before you start to see any wear issues. So we don't necessarily think the coolant is a serious issue right now, but it's certainly worth watching. Potassium, silicon, and sodium are the elements we're looking at here. When you have all three elements present, it tends to show coolant, but maybe -- just maybe -- that's not the case. The silicon could be from sealers that were used when the engine work was done or abrasive contamination from a leak or problem with the air filter. The sodium might be oil additive from a previous oil, and the potassium, well, that one's not as common. It could be some sort of soldering material from when the engine was put together, or maybe it's an additive from a grease or lube. Most commonly, though, it's from coolant, so we wanted to put you on "alert" just in case it was coolant, so that you'd have an early diagnosis and were able to do something about it, if the need arose.
Metals are pretty high, yes, but you're probably right in thinking that some of this is from wear-in, if you've only put 3,000-4,000 miles on the new engine. (I didn't know the modifications were that recently when I was writing the report.) Some of it could just be normal wear for your engine, though, but we'll have to see trends build to determine that for sure. Basically, I wouldn't do anything drastic yet, but, as we suggested in the report, watch for coolant loss (just in case) and check back in about 1,000 miles. If the metals are from wear-in, they'll wash out a little, and maybe the sodium will wash out too, if it's just additive from a previous oil you used. Check the air filter/intake for leaks or problems just in case the silicon is an airborne contaminant. If it is, that might account for some of the wear too (though silicon could also be from coolant or from sealers). So there are a lot of possibilities here.... but nothing much that we can say definitively, at least not at this point. As we see the trends that build, we should have a better idea of what's what in your sample.
INFORMATION ABOUT MY ENGINE:Built 3/13 . Maybe 3k
4.6 SOHC Ford Motorsport SVO EATON M112 (4th Gen) Supercharger 2.9" Pulley @ 12+ psi Boost
.020 over 96-98 Cobra Teskid Block with Forged Steel 8-Bolt Crank
ManleySVT "H" Beam 4340 Forged Steel Connecting Rods
18cc MAHLE Forged Aluminum Pistons for a 3.572" Bore
9.5:1 Compression Ratio
Comp Xtreme Energy XE268H camshafts timed with
Trick Flow Specialties Adjustable Crank Sprockets pushing
Manley Performance NexTek valve springs
Melling Billet Hi-Volume Oil pump circulating Mobil 1 Synthetic, 5W-30
55 GPM Meziere Electric water pump
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