'04 Honda Element LX MT with 215k miles. I changed the oil after purchase at 210k and had a blackstone analysis done, which showed excessive potassium (122ppm) vs. the 2 it should have been. (Also showed iron at 10 ppm (s/b 9), alu at 5 ppm, and magnesium, phosphorous and zinc at elevated levels).
I've just changed the oil again, after 5k miles. I've only had to add maybe 2 pints of coolant, though when I checked at the oil change it was below MIN in the exp tank. No overheating episodes in those miles. No milkshake in the oil fill cap, and no froth or residue in the oil from the sump, even after sitting overnight. I am not burning oil, didn't have to add any since the oil change. There's no smoke from the tailpipe. I am going to check compression next.
With an engine this old, and since K24s are plentiful, I'm planning on running this one until it pops. But I don't want to have the HG go unexpectedly while on a road trip either.
Should I be concerned about my HG, or is there another place that I can lose a small but steady amount of coolant into the oil, without totally fouling it?
I've just changed the oil again, after 5k miles. I've only had to add maybe 2 pints of coolant, though when I checked at the oil change it was below MIN in the exp tank. No overheating episodes in those miles. No milkshake in the oil fill cap, and no froth or residue in the oil from the sump, even after sitting overnight. I am not burning oil, didn't have to add any since the oil change. There's no smoke from the tailpipe. I am going to check compression next.
With an engine this old, and since K24s are plentiful, I'm planning on running this one until it pops. But I don't want to have the HG go unexpectedly while on a road trip either.
Should I be concerned about my HG, or is there another place that I can lose a small but steady amount of coolant into the oil, without totally fouling it?