I have a 2009 Tacoma with 4L V6. I just changed oil recently at 40,714 miles. The old oil had 3810 miles on it (10 months). The old oil was Castrol GTX 5W-30 high mileage semi-synthetic. I have my oil analyzed by the local CAT lab at every oil change. This batch came back fine, except for a caution on 4 ppm aluminum. None of the previous reports ever had more than 1 ppm aluminum. Is the 4 ppm aluminum anything to be concerned about? It is an aluminum engine. What about bearings? Is there aluminum in the bearing material? Do modern bearings use something other than babbitt metal? Note that the dealer has always changed my oil, until recently, and I do not know what the local dealer uses in that engine, other than 5W-30.
Aluminum in oil
- Thread starter DesertRatR
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4ppm aint nuthin
There are aluminum bearings. 4ppm? that seems low to me!
It's from the pistons and insignificant at such a low number
Did you take the sample hot this time and cold the previous times?
Originally Posted By: Chris142
4ppm aint nuthin
+1
Low enough to show up in virgin oil.
4PPM showed up in this RP sample i just sent in.
Royal Purple HMX VOA
4ppm aint nuthin
+1
Low enough to show up in virgin oil.
4PPM showed up in this RP sample i just sent in.
Royal Purple HMX VOA
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Did you use an aluminum funnel when you put the oil in ?
I find it intriguing that this outfit can even measure something down to 4 ppm.
gathermewool
Site Donor 2023
No way to know.
Its from pistons and nothing to loose sleep over. Drive on.
Take a look at the UOAs I have done so far on my Tacoma with the same engine. The first UOA was done at 1000 miles, and I had 11 ppm of Aluminum, which they flagged (this was factory fill, so high metals were expected).
The following UOAs were 5, and 3 ppm respectively, and were not flagged. Blackstone says Universal average for this engine regarding aluminum is 3 ppm. I hardly think 4ppm is a problem. Just monitor it and see what it does at the next UOA.
The following UOAs were 5, and 3 ppm respectively, and were not flagged. Blackstone says Universal average for this engine regarding aluminum is 3 ppm. I hardly think 4ppm is a problem. Just monitor it and see what it does at the next UOA.
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I had chunks of aluminum come out of the Jeep last oil change. That's probably bad.
Originally Posted By: Miller88
I had chunks of aluminum come out of the Jeep last oil change. That's probably bad.
Yes, yes it is
I had chunks of aluminum come out of the Jeep last oil change. That's probably bad.
Yes, yes it is
gathermewool
Site Donor 2023
Originally Posted By: Miller88
I had chunks of aluminum come out of the Jeep last oil change. That's probably bad.
Not if the UOA looks good!
I had chunks of aluminum come out of the Jeep last oil change. That's probably bad.
Not if the UOA looks good!
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