BelRay EXL 20w50 6860 miles BMW K1200LT Coolant leak??

[RealWing]

Vehicle: 2006 BMW K1200LT Oil: BelRay EXL 20w50 API SG Oil Filter: stock BMW Oil added: none Additives: none Total mileage: 10977 Km/6860 miles Mileage on oil and filter: 8777 Km/5485 miles Analyzed by: Wear Check Canada Sample Date 05/15/06 06/19/06 Current Time on Unit 896 3095 10977 kms 6860 miles Time on Oil 896 2200 8777 kms 5485 miles Time on Fltr 896 2200 8777 kms Oil Maint. changed changed changed --- Filter Maint. changed changed changed --- Silicon 33 10 9.1 Potassium 0.7 0.3 0.6 Sodium 2.4 0.1 204 Fuel % <2.0 <2.0 <2.0 Glycol --- --- NEG Water % <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 Soot % --- 0 0 Sulfation 29 10 11 Nitration 15 6 7 Boron 4.7 1.0 0.7 Barium 0.5 0.1 0.1 Calcium 1383 1643 716 Magnesium 5.4 6.2 515 Molybdenum 4.9 44 5.0 Sodium 2.4 0.1 204 Phosphorus 841 1337 1088 Sulfur 3297 6039 8006 Zinc 926 1360 1180 Visc@40°C --- --- --- Visc@100°C 7.9 13.7 13.7 Oxidation 8 9 11 TAN 1.30 2.45 2.12 TBN --- 4.52 3.71 Iron 12 8.4 22 Nickel 3.2 0.9 2.9 Chromium 0.2 0.3 0.4 Titanium 0.1 0.1 0.1 Copper 7.3 8.2 18 Aluminum 6.6 7.5 4.3 Tin 1.3 0.8 2.5 Lead 2.9 1.9 5.1 Silver 0.0 0.1 0.0 Comments: These results are for a 2006 BMW K1200LT motorcycle. This is the 3rd oil change on this unit. Previous results show very low levels of sodium. Wear Check Recommendation: Test for glycol is negative. Water treatment chemicals present, indicating slow coolant leak. We recommend that you drain the oil from the component if this has not already been done. We recommend an early resample to confirm this situation, however, a minimum of 10 hours, 500 miles or 800 kilometers on the oil is required before resampling to prevent false positive glycol reactions that can be experienced with new oil. Check for low coolant level. Question: Does the Wear Check conclusion of a small coolant leak seem reasonable?

 

[bruce381]

"Question: Does the Wear Check conclusion of a small coolant leak seem reasonable?" do not know always have a VOA done some add paks used in motor oil have sodium at that level even if this is the olny oil you have used Mfg change from time to time but with negitive for gylcol maybe not. bruce

 

[nicrfe1370]

quote:

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Originally posted by bruce381: "Question: Does the Wear Check conclusion of a small coolant leak seem reasonable?" do not know always have a VOA done some add paks used in motor oil have sodium at that level even if this is the olny oil you have used Mfg change from time to time but with negitive for gylcol maybe not. bruce

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Bruce, you been driking? Bruce is right though, might be just an additive, and the only way to know is ask Belray or do a VOA. I just had a quick check here and couldn't find the same oil. With the lack of Potassium and glygol it does seem like it might just be an additive, but better to be sure.

 

[Jim 5]

I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure you've got a good sized coolant leak. I responded here. http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=003624 BMW OEM blue coolant has tons 'o sodium. Also your lead and copper wear (bearings and overlays) is double last OCI.

 

[bruce381]

"Bruce, you been driking?" Not yet long hot day out here though mostly write kinda dis jointed. bruce

 

[RealWing]

quote:

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Originally posted by bruce381: "Question: Does the Wear Check conclusion of a small coolant leak seem reasonable?" do not know always have a VOA done some add paks used in motor oil have sodium at that level even if this is the olny oil you have used Mfg change from time to time but with negitive for gylcol maybe not. bruce

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The BelRay oil is the same oil that I had analyzed previously. The Na was 0.1 at that time - so it is definitely not an additive. Given that BMW coolant has very high Na levels - thanks to the post from Jim 5, it looks pretty conclusively like a coolant leak.

 

[IslaVistaMan]

Yeah, if this oil is from the same case especially, there's something wrong. Look at the magnesium number, too. Get a Dyson Analysis done so you have a professional opinion before seeing your dealer. Best approach if you can manage it is an entirely new engine -- simpler for your dealer, and safer. Brattin's in San Diego has done this in the past for a buddy's K1100RS -- for an oil leak, no less!

 

[RealWing]

My BMW dealer could not find any leak!!! They did a 1 hour pressure test of the cooling system at 2 bar and had zero pressure drop. Got the bike back now, so will carefully monitor the coolant level and wait for results of next UOA.