ran oil a bit long, high iron #s - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

andrewjtx · #1 04-30-2010, 04:06 PM

Got my analysis back from Blackstone on this oil last oil change. Wasn't watching my odometer well and went 4000 miles on it with 1QT makeup. Iron was @ 75 where they say it should be around 35.

I'm about to send my next sample at 3000 this weekend (held on to the last oil for a while). We'll see what the numbers are now.

How worried should I be?

snookwhaler · #2 05-01-2010, 07:47 PM

Not much info. there... What about the report? What are you wanting to learn from what?

You did not even list what oil you are using?

Diesel911 · #3 05-01-2010, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewjtx

Got my analysis back from Blackstone on this oil last oil change. Wasn't watching my odometer well and went 4000 miles on it with 1QT makeup. Iron was @ 75 where they say it should be around 35.

I'm about to send my next sample at 3000 this weekend (held on to the last oil for a while). We'll see what the numbers are now.

How worried should I be?

How, many miles are on the Engine?

I do not know too much about Oil analysis but, I do not see how extending you Oil Change 1000 miles could be the cause.

Did the analysis show something that was in the Oil that would cause this excessive wear on Steel parts.

Is there something like you were towing a Trailer or your Injectors need rebuilding that could be the cause.

Or the analysis could be indicating that something is failing.

JHZR2 · #4 05-01-2010, 10:00 PM

Show me the report and we can talk.

Shedding iron isnt a big deal, but give the report and all the backgorund. What else has been done to the engine recently? Hard running lately/high speed/load?

Have you changed oil type recently?

andrewjtx · #5 05-02-2010, 09:32 AM

Sorry for the lack of complete disclosure.

I've had the car since 159k, bought at a police auction for abandoned vehicles. Absolutely no previous history, other than it was single owner and a mommy taxi. The family's oldest son was the last driver and I'm certain he didn't take good care of it.

All fluids flushed after purchase and I've running Rotella SAE30 every 3k ever since. I'm at 170k even right now.

Engine runs well. I've had a few issues over time that I've fixed with rack damper adjustment and new filters (3 secondary filters in this 11k miles). Will easily do 90mph and purr like a kitten doing it.

However, it's only averaging 20-21 mpg with mixed city/hwy daily commute of about 14m each way.

ALDA cap had been removed, so at some point I assume was altered. I will only soot when floored cold. Once engine it up to temp, no soot or other exhaust color whatsoever.

I have yet to pull injectors or perform comp test. This is the first analysis I've done on this engine.

Cranks like a champ and shuts down the same. This is the biggest reason I haven't done a compression test. Blowby at the oil cap has been minimal with very little movement of the cap.

it doesn't leave a puddle when parked. Although I do have the typical slow leaks at the turbo return line, oil filter to block connection, and at the IP to block. I also believe the main torque converter seal is leaking ATF slowly but has slowed with a little stop-leak and continuous use.

andrewjtx · #6 05-02-2010, 09:33 AM

Oil report attached. They have good comments, but wanted to run past the brain trust here.

fruitcakesa · #7 05-02-2010, 09:44 AM

Is that oil diesel rated?

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewjtx

Sorry for the lack of complete disclosure.

I've had the car since 159k, bought at a police auction for abandoned vehicles. Absolutely no previous history, other than it was single owner and a mommy taxi. The family's oldest son was the last driver and I'm certain he didn't take good care of it.

All fluids flushed after purchase and I've running Rotella SAE30 every 3k ever since. I'm at 170k even right now.

Engine runs well. I've had a few issues over time that I've fixed with rack damper adjustment and new filters (3 secondary filters in this 11k miles). Will easily do 90mph and purr like a kitten doing it.

However, it's only averaging 20-21 mpg with mixed city/hwy daily commute of about 14m each way.

ALDA cap had been removed, so at some point I assume was altered. I will only soot when floored cold. Once engine it up to temp, no soot or other exhaust color whatsoever.

I have yet to pull injectors or perform comp test. This is the first analysis I've done on this engine.

Cranks like a champ and shuts down the same. This is the biggest reason I haven't done a compression test. Blowby at the oil cap has been minimal with very little movement of the cap.

it doesn't leave a puddle when parked. Although I do have the typical slow leaks at the turbo return line, oil filter to block connection, and at the IP to block. I also believe the main torque converter seal is leaking ATF slowly but has slowed with a little stop-leak and continuous use.

JHZR2 · #8 05-02-2010, 09:55 AM

That was rotella 30wt?

First and foremost, you oxidized way out of grade for a 30wt. It is nearly a 50wt oil at this point.

Besides the Fe and the viscosity, the UOA actually looks really good. The Fe source could be the oil cleaning excess wear out, if the car wasnt taken well care of.

It could also be that using a straight weight oil doesnt flow fast enough in that engine, causing some iron wear due to the cylinders.

I'd start running a proper 15w-40 HDEO in there, fix the ALDA as much as you can, and let's take it from there... I don't see the Fe shed to be particularly severe, but I do see the viscosity increase to be strange - I'd say that if you're running too "hot", you could be inducing oxidative thickening causing the viscosity issues, increasing poor cold start flow, etc., etc.

andrewjtx · #9 05-02-2010, 09:58 AM

http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=rotella-en&FC2=/rotella-en/html/iwgen/products/archive/zzz_lhn.html&FC3=/rotella-en/html/iwgen/products/archive/product_rotellasingle.html

andrewjtx · #10 05-02-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHZR2

That was rotella 30wt?

Yes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHZR2

I'd start running a proper 15w-40 HDEO in there, fix the ALDA as much as you can, and let's take it from there...

That's the feedback I was hoping for. I'll switch to 15w40 when I change oil on Monday. This will be somewhat of an involved oil change as I'm replacing the seals around the turbo return tube.

JHZR2 · #11 05-02-2010, 10:10 AM

good, get all the stuff done, do one or two short OCIs and then we will go from there.

MPH · #12 05-03-2010, 02:47 PM

I see they do not run a soot test. Look at the viscosity number @ 100C. It is showing a high 50wt oil. The elevated iron levels are most likely coming from thick oil due to excessive soot(unburned fuel). I would not worry about the iron reading. No outside contamination are influencing the results such as fuel, water, antifreeze, or dirt entry through the intake.

JHZR2 · #13 05-03-2010, 04:29 PM

Agreed.

andrewjtx · #14 05-04-2010, 02:32 PM

Running Delo 15w40 in it as of last night. Seems to rev much better. We'll see if MPG improves on this oil after the first tank or two.

The SAE30 that I drained out of it yesterday was shipped off to BlackStone this morning as well. We'll see if the correct OCI of 3k did any better.

vstech · #15 05-04-2010, 07:43 PM

it'll take more than one change to get the oil where you want it with oil that gunky, I'd plan on changing the delo in 1500 miles or less, and then again in 3K, and see what that test results in. of course, then I'd go synthetic, but that's just me...