Mobil 1 5W-40 5-10000 miles Volkswagen Beetle TDI

[veryHeavy]

This car was maintained by a previous owner. I think it was 5000 miles, but it may have been 10,000 per the manual. He didn't tell me. The engine had faulty glow plugs, which were replaced by VW about 2000 miles before the oil sample.
Code:


11 aluminum

3 chromium

91 iron

9 copper

5 lead

0 tin

20 moly

3 nickel

1 manganese

0 silver

0 titanium

Code:


4 potassium

37 boron

7 silicon

6 sodium

1339 calcium

773 magnesium

994 phosphorus

1219 zinc

0 barium

3.7 TBN

7.9 TAN

81.0 SUS viscosity at 210F

15.8 cSt viscosity at 100C


TECHNICIAN: "Iron and copper are high compared to universal averages, which show typical wear after about
7,100 miles on the oil. Iron is from steel and copper comes from brass/bronze. Other metals are fine and no
contamination was present that might account for the wear. The viscosity was a bit thick, but that's probably
not the reason for the excess metals either. If engine work has been done recently, it could explain the iron
and copper. The TBN shows plenty of additive remaining, while the TAN of 7.9 shows some acidity. Check
back and we'll see how wear metals trend."

 

[Quattro Pete]

That's some high TAN right there.

How long was the oil in service, in terms of time, not miles?

 

[Popsy]

TAN is elevated, oil thickened a bit...maybe much soot contamination? Is is M1 5W40 turbo diesel?

I'll reduce OCI and monitor, also check the camshaft.

 

[4WD]

May have been 10k

 

[FowVay]

Which TDI engine is this? What is the vehicle model year?

 

[edyvw]

Iron is not an issue, it is VW after all.
But TAN? Holy moly!