97 Pontiac GTP L67 3800, GC 0w30 4.3k

[ATS-V]

Same old story here. Slight coolant leak, next interval will tell the tale on where this is heading.

Interesting that coolant went up and lead went down. O2 sensor changed 1k into this interval due to a lean condition code, all has been well since then. For all those that comment, notice the first 2 intervals below.

Code:


OIL GC0W30 GC0w30 GC0w30 M15w30* M15w30* M15w30 M15w30EP M15w30 M110w30 M15w30 M110w30

MILES IN USE 4.3k 4.4k 4.6k 4.8k 5.5k 5.7k 5.6k 6.2k 8.7k 7k 5k Uni Avg

MILES 156.8k 152.5k 148.1k 143.5k 138.7k 133.2k 128k 121.9k 115.7k 107k 95k

SAMPLE TAKEN 2/9/08 10/27/07 7/21/07 4/7/07 1/6/07 9/2/06 5/7/06 1/7/06 8/21/05 2/28/05 6/6/04



ALUMINUM 3 2 3 4 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 3

CHROMIUM 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1

IRON 14 12 17 24 19 14 16 22 18 17 13 14

COPPER 14 14 13 12 14 14 13 15 17 13 16 18

LEAD 14 22 19 10 14 28 11 23 42 5 5 7

TIN 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 1

MOLYBDENUM 2 6 18 91 84 82 72 85 77 60 70 41

NICKEL 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0

MANGANESE 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

SILVER 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TITANIUM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

POTASSIUM 16 6 10 20 9 6 6 11 17 11 7 7

BORON 3 5 12 57 60 51 122 55 106 104 150 45

SILICON 8 7 9 11 11 11 11 12 9 9 11 11

SODIUM 35 19 24 46 20 6 9 10 14 12 19 11

CALCIUM 1896 1866 2013 2564 2308 2731 2294 2705 2780 2302 3134 2128

MAGNESIUM 563 525 424 20 15 14 19 19 19 25 23 131

PHOSPHORUS 870 842 797 737 658 673 698 677 745 592 831 741

ZINC 1066 1082 1041 932 818 834 870 838 946 694 983 901

BARIUM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0





INSOLUBLES 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5

WATER 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0

FLASHPOINT ºF 415 415 395 405 395 390 370 395 425 385 375

SUS VIS 210ºF 67.7 66.8 67.7 63.6 64.4 63.2 62.5 61.8 65.3 63 62.2

cSt @ 212ºF 12.35 12.11 12.33 11.22 11.44 11.11 10.91 10.7 11.68 11.05 10.8









* 4 qts M1 5w30 + 1 qt M1EP 15w50

 

[WishIhadatruck]

Not really a bad result considering your coolant leak seems to be getting slightly worse again. Looking at all the data it seems the wear in lead really doesn't trend much with the sodium/potassium ppm. The Iron and Potassium sort of track.

If things stay the same this next OCI, what do you plan to do?

I have high lead on my '01 GP GT. My first 2 samples were with Mobil 1 and I'm on my 2nd interval of PP and I plan to sample again this time. I haven't noticed a coolant leak yet.

 

[Al]

I'm sure its an intermitant leak. I wouldn't be using GC. I'd go with a dino oil and change more frequently or better yet, fix the leak.

Have you used the GM Tabs for coolant leakage?

 

[ThirdeYe]

Does this engine have the intake manifold gasket problem?

 

[ATS-V]

Quote:

If things stay the same this next OCI, what do you plan to do?

I have high lead on my '01 GP GT. My first 2 samples were with Mobil 1 and I'm on my 2nd interval of PP and I plan to sample again this time. I haven't noticed a coolant leak yet.


Maybe get it fixed and forget about it. I'd like to see you results comparing Mobil to PP.

Quote:

I'm sure its an intermitant leak. I wouldn't be using GC. I'd go with a dino oil and change more frequently or better yet, fix the leak.

Have you used the GM Tabs for coolant leakage?


I agree dino and more frequent changes, not sure how frequent.

Quote:

Does this engine have the intake manifold gasket problem?


I think all GM's V6 have this issue Since the gaskets are plastic they tend to fail at around 100k.

 

[Scimmia]

Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
Does this engine have the intake manifold gasket problem?


The issue doesn't seem to be as severe as the 60* V6s, but it's still a problem. GM released new gaskets with aluminum frames to finally fix it.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

Originally Posted By: 97 GTP
Maybe get it fixed and forget about it. I'd like to see you results comparing Mobil to PP.


I forgot to pull the sample when I changed my oil last time which was my first run with PP. I'll make sure and get it this time, 5k miles each run. Hopefully it looks better. I've got a stash of GC I'll try next if I don't like it. I'm about 4250 miles into the 2nd run of PP so it won't be long.

If I don't like the results of PP or GC then I'll probably try the yellow bottle next and stick with shorter runs. I'm disappointed I can't even get good results and I'm changing my oil before the OLM light goes off with synthetic. I'd really like to run closer to 10,000 miles if possible.

 

[lght1]

Originally Posted By: Scimmia
Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
Does this engine have the intake manifold gasket problem?


The issue doesn't seem to be as severe as the 60* V6s, but it's still a problem. GM released new gaskets with aluminum frames to finally fix it.


Hi

Why not just replace the LIM & SC gaskets and be done with this?

This constant ingress of coolant is really doing a number on those bearings..

Mine after 5k miles on Penz Plat.
The oil fill prior to the Plat was a brew of Mobil 7500 and 5000, hence the sodium. The original sodium was immediately after a LIM repair.

 

[ATS-V]

Quote:
Why not just replace the LIM & SC gaskets and be done with this?


I might just do that.

 

[Turk]

You're Moly keeps going down.............

 

[Scimmia]

Originally Posted By: tpitcher
You're Moly keeps going down.............


As it should with a switch from M1 to GC.

 

[lght1]

Hi

Originally Posted By: Scimmia
Originally Posted By: tpitcher
You're Moly keeps going down.............


As it should with a switch from M1 to GC.


Mine sometimes doesn't, but then it gets wacked with a shot of VSOT.

 

[REDDOG]

97GTP,

I definately would have fixed this a long time ago-your bearings are crying out for help.

Coolant reacts with oil and forms what are known as "oil balls"-small roundish abrasives with extremely high Rockwell hardnesses that grind away at bearing surfaces. There is no safe amount of coolant contamination, IMO.

REDDOG

 

[Scimmia]

Originally Posted By: lght1
Hi

Originally Posted By: Scimmia
Originally Posted By: tpitcher
You're Moly keeps going down.............


As it should with a switch from M1 to GC.


Mine sometimes doesn't, but then it gets wacked with a shot of VSOT.



haha, yeah, that could change things a bit.