1995 Buick Park Avenue Havoline 5w-30 5,699 miles

[DC44]

This is my first UOA. I got it done because I'm trying to figure out if my head gaskets are leaking.Didn't/Don't want to invest in the car anymore if that is the case. I really only want to put the minimal amount of money needed at this point to keep the car running. OLM "Change OIL" light went off at 5,028 miles (10% oil life remaining) but I changed it at 5,699 miles which puts me -2.6% past the max oil life. It is an early edition of the OLM and is calibrated to go a max of 7,500 miles. My daily travel is interstate about 25 miles one way but rush hour traffic so a lot of stopping and moving. I changed my UIM gasket during this run but did not change the oil, i had just changed it, which is why I got the response I did. It was leaking even though I just changed it last year but UIM itself was ok. The LIM gaskets are metal so I'm not worried about them. But I'm loosing coolant at a pretty steady rate and can't pinpoint it.Reservoir gets low in about a 1.5 to 2 month frame.The radiator and hoses were changed last year also. I'm impressed with the wear numbers. Will follow the OLM for now. Don't now how high potassium and sodium levels should be for me to be crazy alarmed. Blackstone must not see to much concern to suggest 5,000 miles.

What are you guys thoughts?

 

[pbm]

If you don't want to put much $$$ into the car I would throw a bottle of Barsleaks into her to slow/stop the coolant leak.
I think that's a great report and I'm impressed with Havoline Dino. You went nearly 6K and the TBN still had life in it.
Was that the SM or SN Havoline?

 

[simple_gifts]

wasn't SL the high moly havoline?

 

[DC44]

SM that I got on sale 1.99qt. I have 4qts left but have Penzoil Plat. in now that I got at walmart for $15 because they mixed the prices up.I'm impressed also. Wear levels seems to be below Universal averages or at least trending them. It did help that I have to add 1qt of oil every 1800 miles.

 

[FZ1]

Looks good. 5k oci.

 

[chubbs1]

I agree with adding the BarsLeak. I don't think it can hurt anything. Keep on keepin on with the cheapest major conventional you can find.

Thanks for posting.

 

[gib]

Wear looks outstanding considering the coolant presence.

Depending on how carefully you want to investigate things, you could do a short OCI this run as a flush to see if the K and NA were merely leftovers from before the gasket replacement.

Otherwise, tossing in some Bar's Leaks, running ~5k, and seeing where you're at would be a fine option.

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: DC44
Wear levels seems to be below Universal averages or at least trending them. It did help that I have to add 1qt of oil every 1800 miles.


I can't imagine what the results would have looked like had you NOT added any oil. 3 quarts is a LOT of makeup in only 5k miles.

 

[addyguy]

I'd say for the contamination, oil did very well.

Havoline is tough stuff. Looking at reports like these make me think i should forget pricy syns, and just run Havoline 5W-20 in my Tribute this coming winter.

 

[vwthingman]

If you are not seeing signs (i.e. puddles) of leakage, have your radiator cap pressure tested, or try a new one. I have seen many of them over a couple of years old get a weak spring and not hold pressure and cause coolant loss with no puddles. Just a thought. Nice analysis, just had a run of Havoline myself and got good results.