1st Blackstone lab report: High sodium/potassium?

[musc]

Hey guys. I just received my 1st Blackstone lab analysis on my BMW 335is with 42k miles. I have been running the Castrol BMW brand 5w30 with free dealer oil changes. The car is modified running on 65% ethanol and making about 5-10 psi boost over stock. The sample stated that wear was normal for interval except the levels of sodium and potassium were abnormal. They alluded to contamination from coolant. My car has never required any coolant except once over a year ago during the summer I had to add a small amount. That was over 10k miles and 2 oil changes ago. The car never runs hot and in fact has an auxiliary radiator from the factory as well as a separate oil cooler. Coolant temps have been running about 210-215F even in 100 degree summer temps. Oil temps are usually 210-220F on average.

Is this something to be concerned about? I dont drive the car daily and my trips tend be shorter potassium issue is one to be concerned about.

Thanks!

 

[bubbatime]

Did you drop a banana in your oil by chance?

 

[musc]

Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Did you drop a banana in your oil by chance?

 

[901Memphis]

Something to keep an eye on and a good reason to do a used oil analysis to monitor the levels of coolant in the oil. Start paying extra close attention to coolant level in the reservoir.

 

[Danh]

Nice Blackstone pointed out that "Iron is from steel." Wouldn't have know...

The potassium/sodium levels are still pretty modest and I suppose could indicate a very slight coolant leak, but I wouldn't think a big enough leak to cause excessive wear. Have you had your cooling system pressure tested?

The wear metals numbers are high, but don't seem catastrophically so. Rather than being caused by a coolant leak it's more likely they're a result of the extra boost you've dialed in and your willing ness to use it.

You may want to do a pressure test and send another sample in to Blackstone after another 4k. Keep in mind that we're measuring a few parts per million, which is a lot to ask from a $ 25 test. Neither Blackstone or anyone else is infallible at this price point.

 

[musc]

There hasn't been any indication (other than possibly this) that there is a problem with the coolant system. I've only added a small amount of coolant in 40k miles. Car does not run hot, etc.

I think I may just check the next sample in 4k before I go on a wild goose chase. If the levels are still present or higher with a different oil then maybe there is a lurking issue.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Did you drop a banana in your oil by chance?


LMAO! He should tell blackstone that!

 

[timeau]

High piston wear (Al), high iron, not impressive copper. I would not use any budget oil on this car: Redline 5W30 or 5W40, Motul X-Max should be fine for you.

 

[Al]

16 is enough to suspect a problem. Keep your eye on it for sure.

 

[musc]

Would Mobil 1 0w-40 be considered ok? I have some Motul 300v 5w-40 on hand that i am going to use next. I think I may change at 3k miles just to monitor this potassium/sodium sooner. I don't put a lot of miles on my car so it could take a few months to hit that anyhow. I went over my coolant hoses etc and didnt see any leaks cracks. Nothing to suggest a head gasket.

Who knows, maybe the BMW techs did drop a banana it!

Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Lubener]

I would talk to your dealer about the likely coolant leak into the engine.

 

[musc]

Originally Posted By: Lubener
I would talk to your dealer about the likely coolant leak into the engine.


I don't really suspect there is a leak. My coolant levels are normal. Interestingly on a BMW forum I saw another person with an elevated potassium and sodium after getting a indy dealer oil change where he previously didn't have any elevated levels on prior reports. That was with Valvolne SynPower 5w30. I assumed I'd get decent stuff from the dealer but who really knows as they are just pumping it out of a barrel. I did the last change myself with Mobil 1 0w40. I am just going to change it a lot sooner than needed to see if there is a persistent elevation of sodium/potassium. If it looks normal, i will continue to monitor. If it is still elevated then I will dig into the cooling system. I am now probably going to change the Mobil 1 at 2k miles. May be a waste of oil but I am too curious too wait 3k or more.

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: musc
I don't really suspect there is a leak. My coolant levels are normal. Interestingly on a BMW forum I saw another person with an elevated potassium and sodium after getting a indy dealer oil change where he previously didn't have any elevated levels on prior reports. That was with Valvolne SynPower 5w30.
According to a VOA performed by PQIA, Synpower has both sodium and potassium in the additive pack, but does not match the numbers that you are showing. VOA = K (6) and NA (66) versus UOA = K (16) and NA (20). At this point it is just something to keep an eye on and to remember it will take a few OCIs with a non-sodium/potassium oil for all of it to flush out.

 

[musc]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: musc
I don't really suspect there is a leak. My coolant levels are normal. Interestingly on a BMW forum I saw another person with an elevated potassium and sodium after getting a indy dealer oil change where he previously didn't have any elevated levels on prior reports. That was with Valvolne SynPower 5w30.
According to a VOA performed by PQIA, Synpower has both sodium and potassium in the additive pack, but does not match the numbers that you are showing. VOA = K (6) and NA (66) versus UOA = K (16) and NA (20). At this point it is just something to keep an eye on and to remember it will take a few OCIs with a non-sodium/potassium oil for all of it to flush out.


My oil was BMW 5w30 which was made by Castrol at the time (the other person had Synpower). Blackstone said that my oil didn't have Sodium/potassium as an additive that they know of.

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: musc
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: musc
I don't really suspect there is a leak. My coolant levels are normal. Interestingly on a BMW forum I saw another person with an elevated potassium and sodium after getting a indy dealer oil change where he previously didn't have any elevated levels on prior reports. That was with Valvolne SynPower 5w30.
According to a VOA performed by PQIA, Synpower has both sodium and potassium in the additive pack, but does not match the numbers that you are showing. VOA = K (6) and NA (66) versus UOA = K (16) and NA (20). At this point it is just something to keep an eye on and to remember it will take a few OCIs with a non-sodium/potassium oil for all of it to flush out.
My oil was BMW 5w30 which was made by Castrol at the time (the other person had Synpower). Blackstone said that my oil didn't have Sodium/potassium as an additive that they know of.
Then I would be concerned about a coolant leak if the oil you used did not have sodium or potassium in it. There is only one place it can come from if it is not in the additive pack of the oil.

 

[musc]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: musc
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: musc
I don't really suspect there is a leak. My coolant levels are normal. Interestingly on a BMW forum I saw another person with an elevated potassium and sodium after getting a indy dealer oil change where he previously didn't have any elevated levels on prior reports. That was with Valvolne SynPower 5w30.
According to a VOA performed by PQIA, Synpower has both sodium and potassium in the additive pack, but does not match the numbers that you are showing. VOA = K (6) and NA (66) versus UOA = K (16) and NA (20). At this point it is just something to keep an eye on and to remember it will take a few OCIs with a non-sodium/potassium oil for all of it to flush out.
My oil was BMW 5w30 which was made by Castrol at the time (the other person had Synpower). Blackstone said that my oil didn't have Sodium/potassium as an additive that they know of.
Then I would be concerned about a coolant leak if the oil you used did not have sodium or potassium in it. There is only one place it can come from if it is not in the additive pack of the oil.


I am not sure if it does or not. Just going by what Blackstone said. I have a quart here I could send in for a virgin sample but there is no guarantee it is same oil that the dealer used from their huge barrels. Some suggested that even using the same funnel that they topped off someones coolant with could be to blame as well. The coolant level has not changed in over a year. I check it about every 2 months when I check air pressure in the tires. I am going to keep an eye on things for sure.

 

[Garak]

And they think we BITOGers are OCD for having a different funnel for everything.

 

[alarmguy]

Honestly, feel bad for you as this is your first report. It is a [censored] report, right across the board.
My son is on his second new BMW, in fact now works for BMW here in SC. But never ran a used oil analysis.

Me personally, I would discount the notion of a coolant gasket leak if you have not added any more coolant and the level is exactly the same since adding some.
Its very possible your oil contains those elements, then add in a margin of error in these tests and then the POSSIBILITY some coolant got past a gasket while the engine was newer/breaking in and possibly some traces left after the change ... and since a VOA was never done on the oil, all is speculation about a possible coolant leak, plus if you aren't adding coolant and not losing any anymore, dont worry about it. Im kind of grabbing at straws here.

Lots of metals in that oil though ,,, I'm clueless, except maybe tempted to try Valvoline Or Amsoil but not a believer that the BMW labeled oil would be bad and certainly do not think changing to a viscosity not recommended would make any difference for the better.

 

[MolaKule]

I would run a BMW approved oil of the speced viscosity and send in a VOA for analysis.

Then, at about 3k, sample and send to Blackstone.

Without a baseline VOA of the oil you're running, you're shooting in the dark.

 

[Garak]

Agreed, and bouncing around brands isn't going to do any favors, either.