Infrequent use of engine. Rust? Iron in oil?

[Bimmer]

Hi Guys,

Below is oil report for my BMW 35d (diesel). Around 8,000 miles on the oil, probably 80% towing a heavy trailer, oil not changed for approx. 18 months. I am not using this car often. Sometimes, it is parked for 3-4 weeks. The iron resulting from the oil test is very high (copper and aluminum are high as well). I didn't have any issues with the engine. I am just wondering whether the fact that I using the car rarely may result in rust in the engine and then rust get to the oil? Is this even feasible?

I drove the car for approx. 1,000 since the oil change. What would be the minimum to get another sample tested? They mentioned 3k, but it will take me over 6 months to drive.

By the way, sometimes the oil get to 260F on steep grades when towing. Is there any sign of oil degradation related to this based on the test result?

Thanks!

 

[wwillson]

Unless there is water intrusion into the cylinder, sitting for a month doesn't cause rust that would make the Fe and other metals this high. There is something else going on with this engine and it isn't good.

How many miles total?

I would take another sample to baseline and send it to Wearcheck, then sample again in another 3k miles.

Did you cut the filter to see how much metal is caught? This is probably one of the best ways to see if the motor is starting to have serious problems.

 

[Bimmer]

Thanks. I didnt cut the filter as i was not expecting any surprises with the test results

Total miles on the engine is around 80k.

So 3k is kind of minimum mileage to get a reasonable oil sample? I will take me months to get there.

Is this OK to suck the oil through the dip stick?

 

[wwillson]

So 3k is kind of minimum mileage to get a reasonable oil sample? I will take me months to get there.

If the motor is really making that much metal, you'll see it in a 3k sample.

Is this OK to suck the oil through the dip stick?

Yes

 

[Hirev]

That engine does not seem happy with something at 313 iron. If it was mine I would try a different brand of oil.

 

[Lubener]

That engine does not seem happy with something at 313 iron. If it was mine I would try a different brand of oil.

Agree. Trying a different oil and shortening the oil change interval. I would go 3-4k and get retested. There is also a good possibility of something bad developing with the cylinders,rings and pistons in his engine.

I had an engine long ago which tested for high iron but the reading was about 150. The engine failed within a year.

 

[Donald]

The copper is probably an oil cooler. But the iron is cylinder walls, aluminum the piston and chromium the rings.

You might try with engine cold, running it for 30 seconds to a minute (to mix things up) and the pulling a sample with a sample pump. That way you would catch the issue of water in the oil. If you run the engine until it's hot you will likely burn off most of the water.

Compression test?

 

[kschachn]

This engine has a significant mechanical issue and it's not rust.

Those numbers on the list, are those the ones that Blackstone generated?

 

[Bimmer]

Yes, all numbers are from Blackstone

This engine has a significant mechanical issue and it's not rust.

Those numbers on the list, are those the ones that Blackstone generated?

 

[Donald]

I use NAPA for UOA that includes TBN.

I would drive like people did in the 1960s & 1970s with a Jaguar V12 and always have a mechanic follow you in his pickup.

 

[fantastic]

Hi Guys,

Below is oil report for my BMW 35d (diesel). Around 8,000 miles on the oil, probably 80% towing a heavy trailer

Stop towing with it to isolate the problem. A heavy trailer will only make things harder to diagnose. We can eliminate one variable. Are you towing an RV? Not that it really matters much other than to see what weights were being used that could've contributed to the high wear but add in heavy weight, uphill, and mechanical problems it can get hot.

By the way, sometimes the oil get to 260F on steep grades when towing. Is there any sign of oil degradation related to this based on the test result?

Thanks!


View attachment 243407

The oil is being loaded beyond "severe" and with towing heavy I'd assume those elevated temperatures to be present, especially in a diesel since they combust from heat and compression by design.

You could get it resampled at anytime but 3k will be right at the time the oil can handle no more metals w/o damaging the engine more. 3k would work but again you can test at anytime.

 

[Bimmer]

Stop towing with it to isolate the problem. A heavy trailer will only make things harder to diagnose. We can eliminate one variable. Are you towing an RV? Not that it really matters much other than to see what weights were being used that could've contributed to the high wear but add in heavy weight, uphill, and mechanical problems it can get hot.

The oil is being loaded beyond "severe" and with towing heavy I'd assume those elevated temperatures to be present, especially in a diesel since they combust from heat and compression by design.

You could get it resampled at anytime but 3k will be right at the time the oil can handle no more metals w/o damaging the engine more. 3k would work but again you can test at anytime.

Thanks! I am towing an RV, approx. 7,000 lbs. Good suggestion to stop towing and check the oil. I am around 1,200 miles after the oil change out of which 800 was towing (unfortunately).

 

[Donald]

Thanks! I am towing an RV, approx. 7,000 lbs. Good suggestion to stop towing and check the oil. I am around 1,200 miles after the oil change out of which 800 was towing (unfortunately).

Get a pickup to tow 7000 lbs.

 

[Donald]

If your engine gives up it's bad enough. If you are towing and you have a trailer hitched to a vehicle with broken engine it's even worse.

 

[twX]

0.3% water is quite a lot. Did you warm up the engine before taking the sample? How was it driven beforehand?

Chromium usually only comes from piston rings. Iron and aluminum can come from the cylinder liner and the pistons, but also from elsewhere. At the very least, the engine seems to have high piston/liner wear, so that's where I'd start looking for an issue. You might consider a compression test and cylinder boroscope. Silicon is low, so dust isn't the issue, but you might want to check the turbos to make sure they're not shedding broken bits of compressor wheel into the engine.

The copper is high on this UOA, but if the bearings also contain a lot of tin or lead, the copper could be from something else.

Thanks. I didnt cut the filter as i was not expecting any surprises with the test results

You can replace the filter at any time, and check the old one for metal. It won't really affect your UOA results. 1,000 miles is plenty of time for the filter to pick up sparklies if there are any.

 

[oil pan 4]

I would say something not good is happening to one of the cylinders.

 

[whizbyu]

Does the BMW diesel have a HPFP? If so, would a HPFP fixing to launch make that Fe high like that?

 

[fantastic]

Get a pickup to tow 7000 lbs.

I'm happy someone said it.

 

[kschachn]

I'm happy someone said it.

Me too, finally.

 

[Bimmer]

Me too, finally.

Relax guys, the car is rated to tow 7,700 lbs. Thank you for the suggestion to use a truck. I am not a truck guy.