‘99 Jeep Wrangler 4.0, 141k mi ; Pennzoil Plat HM 10W30, 3.2k mi

[TXCarGeek]

Sent in a sample on my 99 Wrangler that I last changed the oil on 2 years and 3200 miles ago. The Jeep doesn’t get driven much but when it does, it’s usually on longer trips.

The only thing they flagged was the sodium level. Is that a pennzoil additive? Don’t have coolant burning issues and I haven’t added anything else to the oil.

 

[fantastic]

Any work done to it recently? That is quite a bit of sodium & Pennzoil product doesn't come anywhere to that flagged number. I think perhaps single digits in VOA. There's no Potassium so possibly other than antifreeze causing this. Keep monitoring & go from there. Thanks

 

[6.7 CTD]

Long shot but any chance of saltwater contamination?

 

[burbguy82]

I would cringe to see my 4.0 oil test!

 

[TXCarGeek]

Any work done to it recently? That is quite a bit of sodium & Pennzoil product doesn't come anywhere to that flagged number. I think perhaps single digits in VOA. There's no Potassium so possibly other than antifreeze causing this. Keep monitoring & go from there. Thanks

The only work I’ve done to it since the last oil change in March of ‘23 was a new caliper, a new fuel pump, and sway bar links lol.

Not at all concerned that it’s coolant (zerex g05) either. Coolant level has remained steady for years.

Going to be changing the oil next month on it and will send off another sample in 2027

 

[TXCarGeek]

Long shot but any chance of saltwater contamination?

None. The only thing I can think of is that I live on the Texas gulf coast so high humidity and plenty of salt in the air. I’ve never had high sodium levels reported back on other vehicles in the household that I have sent samples in for.

 

[KCJeep]

That is thinner than I would personally want for a 4.0 at barely still a 30 grade but your “wear numbers” are great.

 

[TXCarGeek]

That is thinner than I would personally want for a 4.0 at barely still a 30 grade but your “wear numbers” are great.

Plan to do an oil change on it early this coming month with some pennzoil 10W30 and a carquest premium filter!

I’m thinking I’m going to send off a report on one of my other vehicles to see if any of them show elevated sodium levels as well just out of curiosity.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Those wear metals look pretty high to me. That short of OCI miles wise I would expect iron to be in the 4 to 8 range.

 

[Chris142]

Those wear metals look pretty high to me. That short of OCI miles wise I would expect iron to be in the 4 to 8 range.

The 4.0 has always thrown iron with a 30 wt.

 

[KCJeep]

Anything in the teens for iron in a 4.0 at 3k is pretty good.

 

[himemsys]

Can you think of any other ways sodium could've been introduced to the sample during the process? Say you just ate a bunch of salty french fries, then your finger got into the oil sample. I've heard a story of someone using a turkey baster that they hadn't washed since they actually used it for basting a turkey, and sodium levels came back super high in the UOA.

 

[TXCarGeek]

Can you think of any other ways sodium could've been introduced to the sample during the process? Say you just ate a bunch of salty french fries, then your finger got into the oil sample. I've heard a story of someone using a turkey baster that they hadn't washed since they actually used it for basting a turkey, and sodium levels came back super high in the UOA.

Was thinking about this last night and the best I could come up with is that I may have been sweating while pulling the sample so perhaps sweat got in the sample somehow!