Castrol Euro 5W40 | 3.2k mi | 2003 Civic EX

[himemsys]

Ever since I got the headgasket changed 30k miles ago my iron rate has tripled (from ~2ppm per 1k mi to ~6ppm per 1k mi). I suspect shoddy workmanship from the place that did it, but not sure what exactly they could've done that would increase the amount of iron showing on an oil report. Otherwise, the engine runs normally and the vehicle has been very reliable.

This is the 2nd of two runs with Castrol Euro 5W40. This time I switched to VRP 5W30 and will run it for at least 4x OCIs. The Castrol had tons of life left but I was itching to get started with the VRP regiment.

For those who are curious, sample #1 was Pennzoil Euro L 5W30 and #2 was M1 EP HM 5W30.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Ever since I got the headgasket changed 30k miles ago my iron rate has tripled (from ~2ppm per 1k mi to ~6ppm per 1k mi). I suspect shoddy workmanship from the place that did it, but not sure what exactly they could've done that would increase the amount of iron showing on an oil report.

Your suspicion would be incorrect as the variance is just "noise".

 

[himemsys]

Your suspicion would be incorrect as the variance is just "noise".

You are not seeing all the data. I have UOAs from prior to the HG change that are not in the first post.

 

[fantastic]

Shows how tough that 5w-30 Euro L stuff is (Viscosity is fairly close to this 40). Heck, maybe the R&P will get you back to 2 PPM.
Slightly higher fuel brought the viscosity down as you've seen.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

You are not seeing all the data. I have UOAs from prior to the HG change that are not in the first post.

So what. 16-21 ppm iron on an engine with 185k miles on the odometer and you think it's because of the HG change? oh lord.

 

[himemsys]

So what. 16-21 ppm iron on an engine with 185k miles on the odometer and you think it's because of the HG change? oh lord.

Prior to HG it got 5-8 ppm iron per oil change consistently. After HG it took a few oil changes for the iron to settle where it’s currently at at about 20 ppm.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Prior to HG it got 5-8 ppm iron per oil change consistently. After HG it took a few oil changes for the iron to settle where it’s currently at at about 20 ppm.

And oil consumption?
How about OCI?
Fuel Dilution?

What makes you think a HG change could cause more iron?

 

[himemsys]

And oil consumption?
How about OCI?
Fuel Dilution?

What makes you think a HG change could cause more iron?

Oil consumption was nil prior to the HG. About 5k miles after, it started to leak from the front seal at about 1qt per 3000 miles.

I specifically stated "my iron rate has tripled (from ~2ppm per 1k mi to ~6ppm per 1k mi)." to account for OCI. But if you'd like specifics:
In the first 25k miles of this car's life, I have two UOAs:
1. 6ppm iron in 5100 miles
2. 4ppm iron in 6000 miles
Granted, these had much more highway miles.

The OC just prior to the HG at 157k miles was:
10ppm iron in 3500 miles. The HG was already leaking here, as aluminum and copper were also elevated above normal. This OCI was at my current driving pattern.

Then by 163k miles, break-in completed and iron had settled at about 20ppm per 3500 miles average over the last 7 UOAs.

So early in the engine's life, with lots of highway miles, it was at 1ppm per 1000 miles. Just prior to the HG, with my current driving pattern, it was 2.9ppm per 1000 miles. Then after the HG, it is 6ppm per 1000 miles.

Universal Averages for this engine per BS are 9ppm iron per 5800 miles, or 1.6ppm per 1000 miles.

Fuel dilution you can see in the first post. Always close to 2%. Prior UOAs were done by BS, so I can't say what it actually was.

The guys who did the HG forgot to install several bolts during the HG job. One on the wiring harness to the coils, and three or four on engine mount brackets. Every time I'd find another missing bolt, I'd take it back, they'd apologize, and replace it. Needless to say, I gave these guys a horrible Google review complete with photos of missing bolts, and I've told everyone I know never to take their car to these guys.

Who knows what bolts might've been missed internally?