5w-30, 5.6k mil; 1999 ES300 (1mz-fe), 66k mi ... Pb increasing

[bob_johnson354]

Hello I drive a 1999 Lexus Es300 with a 1mz-fe v6 and recently just got my oil analyzed. The lead in my oil jumped from 4 to 7 ppm. My copper is consistent but a bit high at 9ppm and has been increasing from 3ppm 15k miles ago. The motor has 67k miles on it right now. I also drive this car hard in the canyons and on the track. This newest oil sample only saw some canyon use but no track use. I also got my rear main seal replaced right before I changed the oil because it decided to go spectacularly one day. I want to know why this is and is it something I should be worrying about? Any advice or explanations are appreciated!

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

Could just be noise imo. The miles are different to boot. I would try to track down that silicon intrusion though

 

[ammolab]

I wouldn’t worry a bit. Check the metals down the road.

Now when the lead and copper on my 2002 BMW M Coupe increased by TEN fold all of a sudden at 64,000 miles …I had the rod bearings replaced. They were SHOT, a known issue.

 

[TomYoung]

I don’t like the trend on lead and would correct one poster wh sail the mileages were different, when they are close to 5 k. That said, I don’t know if there is anything to do other than drive on.

 

[bob_johnson354]

Thanks for the quick replies! One thing is that in the previous oil analysis lead was going up around 1ppm per thousand miles and has increased to 1 PPM per 800 miles. Here I'm just trying to understand is it wear from small bits of oil starvation, bad cold starts, or just driving at high rpm in the canyons

 

[WeyounDS9]

What oil are you running?
Where you live has winter already started during your last oil change?

 

[bob_johnson354]

What oil are you running?
Where you live has winter already started during your last oil change?

Okay well it doesn't get that cold here probably 40° F in the mornings but I say that because of an issue the 1mz has with oil not reaching the head fast enough causing some ticking. This ticking goes on in the head until the engine gets some rpm. It happens every so often so I've started giving the car a little gas just to bring the rpm up for a little bit and the noise will go away.

 

[bob_johnson354]

Okay well it doesn't get that cold here probably 40° F in the mornings but I say that because of an issue the 1mz has with oil not reaching the head fast enough causing some ticking. This ticking goes on in the head until the engine gets some rpm. It happens every so often so I've started giving the car a little gas just to bring the rpm up for a little bit and the noise will go away.

Also I run 5w-30

 

[WeyounDS9]

Maybe that revving was putting some extra stress on the bearings if the oil hadnt fully reached here yet?
How long do you wait from engine start until you rev it?

 

[bob_johnson354]

Maybe that revving was putting some extra stress on the bearings if the oil hadnt fully reached here yet?
How long do you wait from engine start until you rev it?

I don't rev it lol I slowly increase rpm from around 1,800 to around 2,300 rpm for a second or two and then let it idle to warm up all the way

 

[dnewton3]

You have increasing Pb and increasing Cu which coincides with abnormally high Si ...
You likely have bearing wearing due to Si contamination. I cannot assure you it is true, but all signs indicate as such.
If you've applied silicone sealer some miles back, that might explain the Si, but it would not explain the Pb and Cu. Further, if as BS claims, the Si is "washing out", it's taking too long. There is undue contamination in your sump, and it's residual.
About the only explanation of all three being present at the same time is a contamination problem resulting in excess wear.

Two things you can do ...
- first, check your intake tract thoroughly for leaks; start with the air filter and check everything downstream all the way to the lower intake. If you don't find something obvious, it may behoove you to have it done professionally; smoke machines can catch leaks that general observations cannot.
- second, do several very short OCIs to see if you can flush out the Si much quicker. Use inexpensive oil and run 100 miles, then OCI; do this three times in a row, then take another 5k mile UOA. The last thing you want is another 15k miles of elevating Pb and Cu wear. If there is contamination in the sump, you want it out NOW.

Once you get the Si under control, it's likely the Pb and Cu will settle.

 

[fantastic]

Like @dnewton3 stated the silicon is too high and could most likely be the root of the other wear. That is some low mileage for a 1999.

 

[Pablo]

Where is the latest Aluminum reading - this could be key?

What happened 45k-55K miles? It does appear as if there is an opening in the lower end engine breathing set-up. I suspect if your intake tract had a leak your Al would be high as well.

Any, hope it's something simple, but whoever looks at the engine will need to go all Sherlock Holmes on the plumbing

 

[bullwinkle]

Might need a better air filter-what are you running? K&N?

 

[Pablo]

Might need a better air filter-what are you running? K&N?

But Al is relatively low. Assume Al intake, head, pistons, yet Al is 3 ppm time before. What is it now?

 

[Fair enough]

25 years and 67000 miles, check under front valve cover for sludge. Check rubber air intake boots for cracks. Check pcv valve.

 

[bullwinkle]

But Al is relatively low. Assume Al intake, head, pistons, yet Al is 3 ppm time before. What is it now?

The high SI is bad, it’ll cause all kinds of wear. I’m still trying to understand a ‘99 Lexus with under 70K miles-that’s pretty rare. Wonder how the PCV is operating? Spectacular RMS failure? Dirt getting in bellhousing??

 

[Pablo]

The high SI is bad, it’ll cause all kinds of wear. I’m still trying to understand a ‘99 Lexus with under 70K miles-that’s pretty rare. Wonder how the PCV is operating? Spectacular RMS failure? Dirt getting in bellhousing??

Agree - so where is the aluminum?

 

[bob_johnson354]

Where is the latest Aluminum reading - this could be key?

What happened 45k-55K miles? It does appear as if there is an opening in the lower end engine breathing set-up. I suspect if your intake tract had a leak your Al would be high as well.

Any, hope it's something simple, but whoever looks at the engine will need to go all Sherlock Holmes on the plumbing

I emailed them about the AL reading. I'm not sure why it's not there

 

[bob_johnson354]

You have increasing Pb and increasing Cu which coincides with abnormally high Si ...
You likely have bearing wearing due to Si contamination. I cannot assure you it is true, but all signs indicate as such.
If you've applied silicone sealer some miles back, that might explain the Si, but it would not explain the Pb and Cu. Further, if as BS claims, the Si is "washing out", it's taking too long. There is undue contamination in your sump, and it's residual.
About the only explanation of all three being present at the same time is a contamination problem resulting in excess wear.

Two things you can do ...
- first, check your intake tract thoroughly for leaks; start with the air filter and check everything downstream all the way to the lower intake. If you don't find something obvious, it may behoove you to have it done professionally; smoke machines can catch leaks that general observations cannot.
- second, do several very short OCIs to see if you can flush out the Si much quicker. Use inexpensive oil and run 100 miles, then OCI; do this three times in a row, then take another 5k mile UOA. The last thing you want is another 15k miles of elevating Pb and Cu wear. If there is contamination in the sump, you want it out NOW.

Once you get the Si under control, it's likely the Pb and Cu will settle.

Well look what I found:
Intake hose going into my throttle body on the right side was crooked. No idea how or when that happened... Maybe explains the Si.

Also I had them send me the Aluminum reading looks like they forgot to put it