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

[RealWing]

Oil: BelRay EXL 20w50 API SG
Oil Filter: stock BMW
Oil added: none
Additives: none
Analyzed by: Wear Check Canada

Sample Date 05/15/06 06/19/06 Current UOM
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 % Glycol --- --- NEG
Water % 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.
EDIT: Sorry guys - I should have posted this on the Motorcycle UOA section. I've posted there so this post can be deleted.

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?

[ July 18, 2006, 10:29 PM: Message edited by: RealWing ]

 

[Jim 5]

You've got a whopping amount of sodium in your oil.

From the Na & K sticky at the top of the UOA section: (re: BMW Coolant)

BMW OEM ethylene glycol/blue Virgin Coolant analysis:

- 9800(Na) 19(k)

So you're looking for High Na to indicate a coolant leak with the BMW blue coolant.

Looks alot like a BMW blue (G48) coolant leak to me. This is glysantin, which may or may not show up in a "glycol" test, which I understand to be quite inaccurate.

Here's the value of UOA's!!! you got your money's worth (on the elemental analysis, but perhaps not on the commentary).

I'd track down that leak.

 

[Jim 5]

Also, for further evidence, see your increase in lead (bearings) and copper (bearing overlays) which, if I'm not mistaken would typically accompany a coolant leak.