Dear All,
Please find below the results of the latest and the previous oil analyses for my BMW.
During this oil change interval I started using the Auto-RX additive, which seem to have a quite interesting story associated with it with respect to which reasons led to its invention and the discussions that it raised here in the forum.
I am a bit concerned about the increase of the wear values of copper, indicating bearing wear, which seems to be the only part in the M62 engine that has copper in it. Currently, I am assuming that the increase is a result of the high fuel contamination of 0.8% (that probably also caused the low viscosity), which in turn might be the result of a partly malfunctioning ignition coil.
I will switch to shorter oil change intervals (15,000 km) to see whether this has a positive effect on the wear values (in the sense of avoiding the increase in wear at higher oil usage values).
But from the experts point of view: which threshold should I set for the copper wear to trigger an inspection of the bearings of the engine? Or can I assume that the values shown are still in a non-critical range?
I again used 100% E85 fuel and added my favorite oil additives.
Although it seems that I could not counteract the loss of viscosity by adding the VI improver?!
May I ask for your opinions?
Philipp
Code:
REPORT #6 #5 #4 #3 #2 #1
CURRENT PREVIOUS PREVIOUS PREVIOUS PREVIOUS PREVIOUS
LABORATORY BLACKSTONE BLACKSTONE OELCHECK OELCHECK OELCHECK OELCHECK
KM on Oil 21548 19935 27262 22081 17762 7200
MI on Oil 13389 12387 16940 13720 11037 4474
WEAR
Iron Fe mg/kg 33 33 38 27 17 15
Chromium Cr mg/kg 1 1 1 0 0 1
Tin Sn mg/kg 1 5 1 0 0 2
Aluminium Al mg/kg 12 10 12 6 3 3
Nickel Ni mg/kg 1 0 0 0 0 0
Copper Cu mg/kg 26 17 23 16 13 6
Lead Pb mg/kg 11 8 9 4 3 3
Manganese Mn mg/kg 1 1 2 1 - 1
Titanium Ti mg/kg 0 0 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
PQ-Index - N.A. N.A. < 25 (OK) < 25 (OK) 26 < 25 (OK)
CONTAMINATION
Silicon Si mg/kg 6 4 7 10 10 15
Potassium K mg/kg 3 0 3 3 2 1
Sodium Na mg/kg 9 6 9 6 7 0
Silver Ag mg/kg 1 1 2 1 - -
Water % 0.0 0.0 0.22 < 0.10 (OK) < 0.10 OK < 0.10 (OK)
IR-Glykol / Antifreeze -/% 0.0 0.0 negative negative negative negative
Fuel % 0.8 < 0.50 < 0.30 (OK) < 0.30 (OK) < 0.30 (OK) < 0.30 (OK)
OIL CONDITION
Viscosity @ 40°C mm²/s N.A. N.A. 95.68 111.26 110.95 80.50
Viscosity @ 100°C mm²/s 12.15 13.63 14.57 17.12 16.90 13.43
Viscosity @ 210°F SUS 67.0 72.6 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
Viscosity Index - N.A. N.A. 158 169 166 170
Oxidation A/cm N.A. N.A. 9 9 11 18
Nitration A/cm N.A. N.A. 25 16 9 8
Sulfation A/cm N.A. N.A. 5 6 5 9
Dispersing Power % N.A. N.A. 97 95 97 92
Carbon-Particulate Index - N.A. N.A. < 0.1 (OK) - - -
Flashpoint °F 375 430 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
Insolubles % 0.2 TR N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
ADDITIVES
Calcium Ca mg/kg 2397 2471 2291 2475 2703 2179
Magnesium Mg mg/kg 310 300 444 134 94 249
Boron B mg/kg 26 19 12 16 34 32
Zinc Zn mg/kg 788 916 939 938 1072 1009
Phosphorus P mg/kg 716 764 695 666 821 826
Barium Ba mg/kg 0 0 0 0 0 0
Molybdenum Mo mg/kg 56 62 63 60 61 2
Sulfur S mg/kg N.A. N.A. 2150 2179 2482 3420
ADDITIONAL TESTS
T/BN mgKOH/g 3.7 3.2 6.39 6.50 8.00 7.27
REPORT #6:
Subject : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50, BMW E39 540iA, 21548 km (oil), 168638 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance) (added several times over oil usage, 0.6 liter in total)
Additive : Liqui Moly Visco-Stabil (VI improver) (added several times over oil usage, 0.45 liter in total)
Additive : Auto-RX (cleaning agent) (added several times over oil usage, 0.25 liter in total)
Oil Usage : 6.5 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
There's more metal in this sample than there was in May, though this oil
was run more km than the last, so perhaps that accounts for the extra metal.
Iron is the only metal that should go up with more time on the oil, though,
and it held steady. Other metals are going up, showing piston (aluminum),
wear, and bearing/bronze wear (copper and lead). Note fuel contamination,
at 0.8% of the sample. The viscosity was a little low too. The TBN was good,
but use just 15,000 km on the next oil to see if that helps lower wear metals.
REPORT #5:
Subject : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50, BMW E39 540iA, 19935 km (oil), 147090 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance) (added several times over oil usage, 1 liter in total)
Additive : Liqui Moly Visco-Stabil (VI improver) (added several times over oil usage, 0.6 liter in total)
Oil Usage : 5.5 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
Universal averages show typical wear levels for this type of engine after
about 8,800 km on the oil. You ran your oil much longer, putting nearly
20,000 km on this fill. Your longer oil run will normally generate a lot
more wear than average, so these levels are not bad considering the long
run. If you'd like to see less metal in the oil you could try a shorter
oil change, but if you are okay with these numbers then we'd say run
20,000 km again. The oil handled the long interval well, with a strong
TBN of 3.2. Insolubles are very low at a trace. No fuel/coolant found.
REPORT #4:
Subject : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50, BMW E39 540iA, 27262 km (oil), 127155 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance)
Additive : Liqui Moly Visco-Stabil (VI improver) (added several times over oil usage, 1 liter in total)
Oil Usage : 10.5 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
The wear values of iron and aluminum are higher than expected, but not yet critical. Possible
components affected are pistons (Fe) and cylinders (Al). Lead and copper are possibly increased
due to wear of bearings.
The water content is higher than normal. Possible causes: condensate formation due to short-time
duty, leakage of the coolant circuit.
The additivation deviates from the fresh oil reference in our database. This can most probably
be traced back to the addition of additives.
The nitration value (NOx) is considerably increased. Possible causes: increased blow-by, mostly
caused by poor combustion, insufficient sealing between pistons and cylinder walls or valve
problems. The gasoline quality or a non-optimal engine configuration may also have an influence.
Increased sludge formation may be the consequence.
The base number BN is considerably lower than expected.
REPORT #3:
Subject : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50, BMW E39 540iA, 22081 km (oil), 99893 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance)
Additive : Liqui Moly Visco-Stabil (VI improver) (added several times over oil usage, 1 liter in total)
Oil Usage : 6 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
The values of wear increased only slightly. This minimal wear is within normal range.
The nitration value (NOx) is increased. Possible causes: increased blow-by,
mostly caused by poor combustion, insufficient sealing between pistons and
cylinder walls or valve problems. The gasoline quality or a non-optimal
engine configuration may also have an influence.
The base number BN is considerably lower than expected.
REPORT #2:
Subject : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50, BMW E39 540iA, 17762 km (oil), 77812 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance)
Additive : Liqui Moly Visco-Stabil (VI improver) (added after 12500 km usage)
Oil Usage : 4 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
The values of wear are within normal range.
The base number BN is slightly lower compared to the fresh oil reference.
All other values are within normal or expected range.
REPORT #1:
Subject : LM Top Tec 5W-40, BMW E39 540iA, 7200 km (oil), 60050 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Liqui Moly Top Tec 4100 5W-40
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance)
Oil Usage : 5 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
The values of wear metals have risen only slightly.
This low wear is within the normal range.
The values of additives differ from the values of the fresh oil reference in our database.
The fuel content is negligible and is below the detection limit.
Please find below the results of the latest and the previous oil analyses for my BMW.
During this oil change interval I started using the Auto-RX additive, which seem to have a quite interesting story associated with it with respect to which reasons led to its invention and the discussions that it raised here in the forum.
I am a bit concerned about the increase of the wear values of copper, indicating bearing wear, which seems to be the only part in the M62 engine that has copper in it. Currently, I am assuming that the increase is a result of the high fuel contamination of 0.8% (that probably also caused the low viscosity), which in turn might be the result of a partly malfunctioning ignition coil.
I will switch to shorter oil change intervals (15,000 km) to see whether this has a positive effect on the wear values (in the sense of avoiding the increase in wear at higher oil usage values).
But from the experts point of view: which threshold should I set for the copper wear to trigger an inspection of the bearings of the engine? Or can I assume that the values shown are still in a non-critical range?
I again used 100% E85 fuel and added my favorite oil additives.
May I ask for your opinions?
Philipp
Code:
REPORT #6 #5 #4 #3 #2 #1
CURRENT PREVIOUS PREVIOUS PREVIOUS PREVIOUS PREVIOUS
LABORATORY BLACKSTONE BLACKSTONE OELCHECK OELCHECK OELCHECK OELCHECK
KM on Oil 21548 19935 27262 22081 17762 7200
MI on Oil 13389 12387 16940 13720 11037 4474
WEAR
Iron Fe mg/kg 33 33 38 27 17 15
Chromium Cr mg/kg 1 1 1 0 0 1
Tin Sn mg/kg 1 5 1 0 0 2
Aluminium Al mg/kg 12 10 12 6 3 3
Nickel Ni mg/kg 1 0 0 0 0 0
Copper Cu mg/kg 26 17 23 16 13 6
Lead Pb mg/kg 11 8 9 4 3 3
Manganese Mn mg/kg 1 1 2 1 - 1
Titanium Ti mg/kg 0 0 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
PQ-Index - N.A. N.A. < 25 (OK) < 25 (OK) 26 < 25 (OK)
CONTAMINATION
Silicon Si mg/kg 6 4 7 10 10 15
Potassium K mg/kg 3 0 3 3 2 1
Sodium Na mg/kg 9 6 9 6 7 0
Silver Ag mg/kg 1 1 2 1 - -
Water % 0.0 0.0 0.22 < 0.10 (OK) < 0.10 OK < 0.10 (OK)
IR-Glykol / Antifreeze -/% 0.0 0.0 negative negative negative negative
Fuel % 0.8 < 0.50 < 0.30 (OK) < 0.30 (OK) < 0.30 (OK) < 0.30 (OK)
OIL CONDITION
Viscosity @ 40°C mm²/s N.A. N.A. 95.68 111.26 110.95 80.50
Viscosity @ 100°C mm²/s 12.15 13.63 14.57 17.12 16.90 13.43
Viscosity @ 210°F SUS 67.0 72.6 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
Viscosity Index - N.A. N.A. 158 169 166 170
Oxidation A/cm N.A. N.A. 9 9 11 18
Nitration A/cm N.A. N.A. 25 16 9 8
Sulfation A/cm N.A. N.A. 5 6 5 9
Dispersing Power % N.A. N.A. 97 95 97 92
Carbon-Particulate Index - N.A. N.A. < 0.1 (OK) - - -
Flashpoint °F 375 430 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
Insolubles % 0.2 TR N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
ADDITIVES
Calcium Ca mg/kg 2397 2471 2291 2475 2703 2179
Magnesium Mg mg/kg 310 300 444 134 94 249
Boron B mg/kg 26 19 12 16 34 32
Zinc Zn mg/kg 788 916 939 938 1072 1009
Phosphorus P mg/kg 716 764 695 666 821 826
Barium Ba mg/kg 0 0 0 0 0 0
Molybdenum Mo mg/kg 56 62 63 60 61 2
Sulfur S mg/kg N.A. N.A. 2150 2179 2482 3420
ADDITIONAL TESTS
T/BN mgKOH/g 3.7 3.2 6.39 6.50 8.00 7.27
REPORT #6:
Subject : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50, BMW E39 540iA, 21548 km (oil), 168638 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance) (added several times over oil usage, 0.6 liter in total)
Additive : Liqui Moly Visco-Stabil (VI improver) (added several times over oil usage, 0.45 liter in total)
Additive : Auto-RX (cleaning agent) (added several times over oil usage, 0.25 liter in total)
Oil Usage : 6.5 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
There's more metal in this sample than there was in May, though this oil
was run more km than the last, so perhaps that accounts for the extra metal.
Iron is the only metal that should go up with more time on the oil, though,
and it held steady. Other metals are going up, showing piston (aluminum),
wear, and bearing/bronze wear (copper and lead). Note fuel contamination,
at 0.8% of the sample. The viscosity was a little low too. The TBN was good,
but use just 15,000 km on the next oil to see if that helps lower wear metals.
REPORT #5:
Subject : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50, BMW E39 540iA, 19935 km (oil), 147090 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance) (added several times over oil usage, 1 liter in total)
Additive : Liqui Moly Visco-Stabil (VI improver) (added several times over oil usage, 0.6 liter in total)
Oil Usage : 5.5 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
Universal averages show typical wear levels for this type of engine after
about 8,800 km on the oil. You ran your oil much longer, putting nearly
20,000 km on this fill. Your longer oil run will normally generate a lot
more wear than average, so these levels are not bad considering the long
run. If you'd like to see less metal in the oil you could try a shorter
oil change, but if you are okay with these numbers then we'd say run
20,000 km again. The oil handled the long interval well, with a strong
TBN of 3.2. Insolubles are very low at a trace. No fuel/coolant found.
REPORT #4:
Subject : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50, BMW E39 540iA, 27262 km (oil), 127155 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance)
Additive : Liqui Moly Visco-Stabil (VI improver) (added several times over oil usage, 1 liter in total)
Oil Usage : 10.5 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
The wear values of iron and aluminum are higher than expected, but not yet critical. Possible
components affected are pistons (Fe) and cylinders (Al). Lead and copper are possibly increased
due to wear of bearings.
The water content is higher than normal. Possible causes: condensate formation due to short-time
duty, leakage of the coolant circuit.
The additivation deviates from the fresh oil reference in our database. This can most probably
be traced back to the addition of additives.
The nitration value (NOx) is considerably increased. Possible causes: increased blow-by, mostly
caused by poor combustion, insufficient sealing between pistons and cylinder walls or valve
problems. The gasoline quality or a non-optimal engine configuration may also have an influence.
Increased sludge formation may be the consequence.
The base number BN is considerably lower than expected.
REPORT #3:
Subject : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50, BMW E39 540iA, 22081 km (oil), 99893 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance)
Additive : Liqui Moly Visco-Stabil (VI improver) (added several times over oil usage, 1 liter in total)
Oil Usage : 6 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
The values of wear increased only slightly. This minimal wear is within normal range.
The nitration value (NOx) is increased. Possible causes: increased blow-by,
mostly caused by poor combustion, insufficient sealing between pistons and
cylinder walls or valve problems. The gasoline quality or a non-optimal
engine configuration may also have an influence.
The base number BN is considerably lower than expected.
REPORT #2:
Subject : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50, BMW E39 540iA, 17762 km (oil), 77812 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Mobil 1 Peak Life 5W-50
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance)
Additive : Liqui Moly Visco-Stabil (VI improver) (added after 12500 km usage)
Oil Usage : 4 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
The values of wear are within normal range.
The base number BN is slightly lower compared to the fresh oil reference.
All other values are within normal or expected range.
REPORT #1:
Subject : LM Top Tec 5W-40, BMW E39 540iA, 7200 km (oil), 60050 km (total)
Machine : M62B44TU (E39 540iA, YoC 2002)
Oil : Liqui Moly Top Tec 4100 5W-40
Additive : Wynn's Oil Stop Leak (as sealant maintenance)
Oil Usage : 5 month
Comments : [of the engineer performing the analysis]
The values of wear metals have risen only slightly.
This low wear is within the normal range.
The values of additives differ from the values of the fresh oil reference in our database.
The fuel content is negligible and is below the detection limit.
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