Oil analysis results - '96 E300D (OM606NA) w/ Mobil-1 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jeremy5848 · #1 04-13-2008, 12:08 PM

I just received back from George Murphy's Performance Analysis Company the results from an engine oil analysis. The numbers are good and I want to share them with everyone as an example of what an old car can still do.

1996 M-B E300 Diesel w/OM606 NA engine (EGR defeated at 251,496).
252,638 total miles on the original unrebuilt engine.
4418 miles on Mobil-1 5W40 synthetic (this oil is still in the engine) and the dipstick shows "full" or sufficiently close that I haven't added any oil.

Numbers:
Iron=19, aluminum=2, copper=1, chromium=0, lead=2, tin=0, sodium=2, dirt=4
The viscosity was 148 and soot was "light." The oil was free of water, fuel, glycol, and "solids."

These numbers are about half the numbers in the first oil test by the same people. This earlier test was done on Chevron Delo-400 oil with an unknown number of miles, soon after I got the car last November.

I plan to test the oil again in another 4000 miles.

Jeremy

thebenzbar · #2 05-01-2008, 03:54 PM

Can you translate or decipher the analysis for "us" who aren't too well-versed in oil analysis... I can see the importance of less contaminants (like dirt & soot), but what about the other elements there described in the analysis? What are the standards or tolerances (or whatever) for each of the elements? I guess what I'm basically asking about is the "basic 101 course for engine oil analysis". Thanks in advance!

In addition, I heard that George Murphy (owner of George Murphy Performance Analysis Co. in TN) is planning to retire soon, so that could be one less expert out there in oil engine analysis. George Murphy has been in MBCA Star magazine advertising his service since the early 80's! And he has been analyzing oil samples from 240D's to high-end newer AMG models... lots of experience there!

pawoSD · #3 05-01-2008, 03:57 PM

Wow...those 606 motors are clean-running!

My 617 showed "time to change the oil!" when I submitted a sample with 4,500 on it.

Hatterasguy · #4 05-01-2008, 03:57 PM

Copper is bad because thats main bearings, his copper is low.

Dirt or silcates(sp?) is just that dirt. Crappy air filters can raise that number IE poorly oiled K&N's.
Iron is block wear, his is low.
Tin is bad thats bearing wear, again nothing their.

All the numbers look good. When do you plan on changing it? My friend runs D1 8k-10k in his 606.

Soots useless since they didn't give him a percentage. With a 606 though you should be able to go 10k-15k miles before thats an issue.

Jeremy5848 · #5 05-01-2008, 06:21 PM

I'll test again in another 2,000 -- 4,000 miles and decide then when to change.

Diesel911 · #6 05-02-2008, 12:23 AM

Concerning the Copper reading. If there are any Bronze bushing type bearings in the engine (I am thinking in the Timer assembly/oil pump bushings on 617.952 engines) it would show up in the Copper reading.
Also Never-Seeze type compounds with copper can show up in the oil if they were used to assemel something that is exposed to the oil. (It happend where I used to work worked.)

Bio300TDTdriver · #7 05-02-2008, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

I just received back from George Murphy's Performance Analysis Company the results from an engine oil analysis. The numbers are good and I want to share them with everyone as an example of what an old car can still do.

1996 M-B E300 Diesel w/OM606 NA engine (EGR defeated at 251,496).
252,638 total miles on the original unrebuilt engine.
4418 miles on Mobil-1 5W40 synthetic (this oil is still in the engine) and the dipstick shows "full" or sufficiently close that I haven't added any oil.

Numbers:
Iron=19, aluminum=2, copper=1, chromium=0, lead=2, tin=0, sodium=2, dirt=4
The viscosity was 148 and soot was "light." The oil was free of water, fuel, glycol, and "solids."

These numbers are about half the numbers in the first oil test by the same people. This earlier test was done on Chevron Delo-400 oil with an unknown number of miles, soon after I got the car last November.

I plan to test the oil again in another 4000 miles.

Jeremy

Did they test the TBN?

Jeremy5848 · #8 05-02-2008, 01:13 AM

TBN costs extra so I didn't ask. I'm not sophisticated enough to understand what it would mean anyway.

ajcbgray · #9 05-02-2008, 03:51 PM

What's the procedure and cost for sending your oil in for a test?

Jeremy5848 · #10 05-02-2008, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajcbgray

What's the procedure and cost for sending your oil in for a test?

There are a number of places that will do this kind of a test. Performance Analysis was my choice because of good words said here and in the MBCA forums about George Murphy.

Quote from an email he sent me:

"Analysis kits are $14.95 each; 3 for $39.95 plus $5.95 S&H.
We accept Visa/MC . . .

You must use our sample bottles to avoid contamination and only our bottles fit the analysis machine . . ."

You have to send off for one of their kits, which contains a little bottle and a padded bag and labels, instructions, etc. You can send in either an engine or automatic transmission sample. They send back a report on what they found in the oil.

Best to run the car at freeway speeds and pull the sample before anything heavy has a chance to settle out of the oil. You can use a Mityvac or George will sell you an oil sucker that has the advantage of fitting their sample bottles. I used my Mityvac so I had to pour the oil from the Mityvac bottle into their bottle. I put the sample bottle in three layers of zip-loc bag and then in their padded envelope. Tell the post office what's in the padded bag; they won't object but do like to know.

You can buy three kits at a time to save a couple of bucks. Send a check to:

Performance Analysis Co.
969 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 258
Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Jeremy

[Disclaimer: I have no relationship with George Murphy and/or Performance Analysis except as customer]