I got my oil analyzed by Predictive Maintenance and everything looks fine except my copper levels are sky high at 194 (ppm i guess this is?).

http://cdevco.net/av.pdf is the PDF file of it.

I'm not really sure what this could mean (bearing wear? but they suggested bearing wear is not so likely because the tin levels are incredibly low).

Any guesses? I'm going to resample as soon as I get home which will be 7K miles after the last change (Delvac 1 here).

 

Without answering your question on possible cause of the copper level spike, a few thoughts come to mind:

1. How many miles on engine, and how many miles on the oil?

2. Is this the intial sample? Or has a trend been established?

3. Don't forget that nothing is perfect all the time, and sometimes samples are invalid for many reasons. Either in drawing/storing the sample, or somewhere in the oil shack.

As far as engine wear metals go, I was always led to believe that Iron, copper, and lead are normally the big ones to watch. Ideally fuel, antifreeze, and water should be zero (or very very low tolerances), and that the oil is expired when TBN reaches 2.

I'd be interested to see the next test.

 

Is this the first oil change? If so it is breaking in, some levels will be a litttle high, as equipment wears in. Are you using any additives in the fuel . Do another oil change at 4000 miles and compare the two.

 

NJ, if you're interested, here are some virgin oil analysis numbers I found for the new Mobil 1 Truck and SUV oil, which is supposedly Delvac 1 re-packaged that you can compare your numbers to:

Iron 2
Chromium 0
Lead 0
Copper 0
Tin 0
Aluminum 1
Nickel 0
Silver 0
Silicon 4
Boron 39
Sodium 0
Magnesium 458
Calcium 2023
Barium 0
Phosphorus 994
Zinc 1352
Molybdenum 0
Titanium 0
Vanadium 0
Potassium 0
Fuel <1
Water 0
Glycol NEG
Nitration 10
Oxidation 15
Visc100 14.6
TBN 11.2

Found here at Bob Is The Oil Guy:
http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/...;f=11;t=000202

 

Sorry I forgot to mention: It was the first time I did an analysis but mileage on motor was 51,222 and mileage on oil was 15,000... I've been changing the oil blindly at about 12K thus far with Delvac 1.

I ordered another test and I'll do that as soon as I get home (59,000 miles so about 8K on the oil) without changing the oil and see how it looks.

I heard about this new "truck and SUV" oil... I might have to give it a shot if it's cheaper than Delvac 1 !

Thanks for the input guys.

 

If it was the bearings I'd expect to see lots 'o lead and tin as well. I'm thinking oil cooler leachate. I don't think the other numbers look out of whack for the miles on the oil.

 

njoverkill:

I just had the oil analysed from my 99 (66,500 miles) for the first time. I use Amsoil, and had 15000 miles on the oil when drained. My copper was 89, which I was told was way "out of wack." Everythig else was in normal parameters. I was told that it might be a "bushing" that was wearing. My mech. said that it might be a bushing used to position the crankshaft. I have to submit another sample in about another 2000 miles (5000 since change) to see if there is a change. I'll post here when I get my re-analysis done.

DeWain

 

More often that not it is the oil cooler.The thrust bearing can be checked easy to rule it out.take a pry bar and pry the damper back and forth and see how much play there is.Should be about 12 tho.max

 

How long does it take for the cooler to stop adding high levels of copper in the oil?

Where from the oil cooler is it originating? From flushing the tubes? Are there moving copper parts in the stock cooler?

I would think that after 20,000 miles and 3-4 filter changes later, wouldn't most of those high levels subside?

 

katoiler, thanks for the headsup on the oil cooler. I'll check my damper like you suggested.

DeWain

 

The cooler tubes are where the copper comes from.There are no moving parts on or in the cooler.By the 2nd change you should see the levels going down.Sometimes they just keep leaching copper.

 

Thanks Katoiler.

 

What are some good places to get the oil sample kits. I have 24000 miles on my 2002 and figured it is a good idea. Thanks

 

I have used Blackstone Labs. They send you the sample kit free, you pay when you send it back. I got my results in 2 days.

 

Your ok. The copper levels are going to be high, this is normal for newer diesels. I had the same concerns on 2 550 Cat motors and one M-11 Cummins. I went BUGEYE when I saw the copper readings. I called several different dealers/mechanics, trucks were out of warranty, big bucks to be made if there was a problem! All said this was normal, don't sweat it. And don't ask me where the copper comes from, I can't remember. I have CRS disease, hopefully it is not fatal.

Mike, I think?