Am I facing a problem here?

[Mark Franz]

Hi,

These counts are from a 2001 VW 24VR6 engine. It's non turbo. The daily drive is primarily stop and go, suburban Chicago.

My concern is the Aluminum and Iron counts. What do these levels indicate?

I've used primarily Mobil 1 Super Syn 5w30. The dealer used Castrol Syntec 5w50 at the 20000 mile service.

Here are the counts for the last 3 oil samples:

(0) - 5/3/03 5044 30934
(-1) - 1/11/03 5304 25840
(-2) - 10/06/02 5587 20119

(0) (-1) (-2) UA
Aluminum 9 5 6 5
Chromium 2 2 1 1
Iron 79 38 25 27
Copper 3 3 6 5
Lead 1 1 1 1
Tin 0 0 0 1
Molybdenum 60 12 57 40
Nickel 1 1 1 1
Manganese 1 1 1 5
Silver 0 0 0 0
Titanium 0 0 0 0
Potassium 0 1 2 1
Boron 126 20 76 52
Silicon 7 5 8 5
Sodium 7 5 6 5
Calcium 2653 1375 2418 1877
Magnesium 132 518 12 275
Phosphorus 813 718 736 766
Zinc 931 843 844 909
Barium 0 1 1 0

From the last analysis, viscosity value given is sus and it's 57.9.
The flashpoint is 365, the fuel % < 0.5, no antifreeze or water found, and the insolubles % is 0.4.

The engine does not smoke or use oil between changes.

Thanks for any insights you can provide.

Mark

 

[Patman]

It would seem to me that the iron is mostly due to corrosion as your lead wear is super low. Do you shut down your engine sometimes with the oil not fully warmed up and then leave it parked for a while?

 

[Mark Franz]

Thanks for the response!

Yes, that's often the case. My wife drives the kids to school every day, each round trip < 1 mile, and then the car may sit for half a day or so.

Is this wear considered normal then, for the type of driving she does? Would a different weight oil help?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Bror Jace]

Mark, I used to live in Lombard and worked in Oakbrook Terrace ... at the time of Desert Storm.

I agree with Patman. The iron is due to corrosion ... a relatively whopping amount of it. A TBN analysis on these tests would be helpful as I expect that (somehow) the additive package is being pushed past its limits from the short trips.

Otherwise, everything seems to be working well. No signs of contamination or emissions plumbing problems that I can see.

No, I don't think a different weight of oil would help at all. Aside from your wife changing her shuttling habits, I would go with more frequent oil & filter changes. This may cause you to switch brands/types of oil if you don't want to dump out $4+ per quart M1 after "only" 3,000 miles.

--- Bror Jace

 

[Al]

Yes your numbers are higher (mainly iron). But as Patman suggested it is probably your (wife) driving habbits. The absolute worst thing for a vehicle is to sit after being started up in very cold weather without being warmed up. Your silicon is very low so that's not an issue. Also your bearing wear is super good and the Al is not really bad.

I would really expect those numbers to get better in warmer weather (like the first sample).

I personally like the 10W-30 better than the 0W. We have seen darn good reports with the 10W stuff. But at your relatively short drain intervals - either is fine.

Welcome to the boards.

 

[Mark Franz]

Thanks for the responses. I'm relieved to know a problem doesn't appear to exist.

Mark