Blackstone results: Bodhi's first report card
 

OK, so I got my first oil report frm Blackstone today. I had sent them a vile of oil that was sitting on my shelf for 4 months, but I figured that would not be a problem. Here's what they said. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated:

"Your 213,399 mile MB engine is 'watchable' for an anti-freeze contamination problem since we found potassium slightly higher than expected. Universal averages show typical wear for metals for an oil from this type of engine after about 8,715 miles run on the oil. Your oil was in use for only 3,100 miles, and we found wear at around average levels and in correct balance to show normal mechanical parts inside. Air and oil filtration appear normal. This was 14W40 diesel-use engine oil with no fuel or moisture in it. Try 5,000 miles use and check back."

Aluminum 2 (Universal Avg., 3)
Chromium 1 (2)
Iron 17 (27)
Copper 1 (11)
Lead 0 (2)
Tin 0 (0)
Molybdenum 4 (14)
Nickel 3 (2)
Manganese 0 (1)
Silver 0 (0)
Titanium 0 (0)
Potassium 10 (8) :(
Boron 42 (28) :confused:
Silicon 3 (6)
Sodium 1 (2)
Calcium 3323 (2797)
Magnesium 13 (278)
Phosphorus 1086 (1130)
Zinc 1192 (1328)
Barium 0 (0)

SUS Visc. at 210F: 79.4 (69-78)
Flashpoint: 435 (>415)
Fuel%: <.05 (<2)
Antifreeze: 0 (0)
Water: 0 (<.1)
Insolubles: .4 (<.8)

I need to go back and read the "what it all means" section of the Blackstone site, but I'm wondering how much I should be concerned about the K level. Does it mean I have a cracked head looming? I noticed there is no actual antifreeze in the oil, per the percentages at the bottom of the report. They suggest I try 5,000 miles on the next oil batch, but I've always done 3K and that seems to be the recommended interval among MBers. Should I try a 5K batch to see what results it yields?

Those numbers look great.

The Potassium is not an issue. The '86 has been running with much higher potassium (25-30) and sodium (35-40) but there is no evidence of anti-freeze in the oil.

You have no sodium and very low potassium so you should not have the slightest concern about a cracked head.

The engine also shows very low soot levels.

This oil could easily go another 2K-3K.

Mine has shown low levels of potassium for a long time. Nobody seems to know where it comes from. There is some suspicion that it might be from fuel addatives. If you had coolant getting into the oil, the sodium would be up also. Just take another sample next time and if there is no big change, don't worry about it. 10 ppm is not a high level.

i have heard
 

that eating oatmeal helps with the potassium levels too.

tom w

I would like to know the acidic level of used oil. Is there any way you can find that out from your sample?

Danny

I'm not sure what the pH would tell you about the engine.

I was more concerned about burning used motor oil.
There are people here who claim that the acid in used oil will harm injector pumps.
Of course no one has been able to come up with any proof for this claim.

I was just curious what the PH level really is.

I had some litmus paper but it got wet :(

Danny

how much does it cost to send those in?

where do you send/take it?

how fast is the turnaround?

Sorry for dumb questions.. :o

Thanks!

After reading that list of metallic contaminates you are only worried about the pH?:confused:

Those numbers look pretty good. I'd just keep an eye on the Potassium, however I would be more concerned if it suddenly spiked.

You would have no problem going 5k between changes.

What do you think is in your fuel oil?

No I am not worried about microscopic contaminants. If you can call them that.

Check out www.blackstone-labs.com. They have all sorts of info there. They also offer a free "collection kit" that you can sign up for online (go to "order" on the top menu and select "free test kit"). It's real simple ... you fill up the little bottle on your next oil change, fill out the little sheet with it, and add a $20 check. For $20 you get the whole workup that I posted above. The turnaround was quick ... they e-mailed that to me just a couple weeks after I sent the oil.

I have a vile sitting on my desk for the last four months as well.. never sent it in to blackstone :)

:D I've got two at home in the garage as well! More of a hasle getting the postage than it is to collect the oil. :P

Doing an oil analysis is great to see inside the engine. That is the way the oil should be changed anyway. Its just too expensive to do it that way.