First UOA results with Motorguard TP filter

[96 Cherokee]

Received the UOA results from Blackstone. 14,000 mail route miles on the OCI at the time of sample and everything looks good except copper. I may have a problem. Would post it in the UAO forum, but that would require computer skills.

At least they did not tell me to drain the oil.

Gary, I have the UOA scanned and on my e-mail now if you want to see it I can e-mail it to you.

 

[Gary Allan]

Please do.

 

[96 Cherokee]

I just spoke with Blackstone and they said the high copper could definitely be from the copper parts inside the Motorguard filter housing. Maybe I don't have an imminent failure pending after all.

 

[Gary Allan]

Sure ..if Ralph used copper for his adaptive parts then additives will probably kick some out in it's own seating process.

There's nothing to get nervous about in that UOA.

 

[96 Cherokee]

Quote:

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Sure ..if Ralph used copper for his adaptive parts then additives will probably kick some out in it's own seating process.

There's nothing to get nervous about in that UOA.

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Thanks Gary.

 

[RalphPWood]

I use mostly aluminum alloy now.
Interesting quote from the CAT S.O.S oil analysis program.
"Copper is an element that can cause problems for the interpreter. Besides additive packages that can contain copper levels of up to 120 PPM another phenomonon has appeared over the last several years. It is that copper levels can be elevated for no apparent reason.
Investigations suggest that a chemical reaction of copper parts in a component (usually cooler cores) is being caused by a combination of some oil additive packages and high (but not necessarily excessive) temperatures. These copper parts are not wearing, actually oxidizing (oxidation of copper is a normal process that usually occurs over time). At some arbitrary point in the oxidation buildup, some of it leaches out into the oil. Thus, tests indicate copper oxides, not raw or pure copper particles.
The sporadic nature of this phenomenon is caused by the "mix" of the oil additive package, temperature and time (to allow for oxidation to build up). All three of these variables have to interact just right for high copper readings to occur."

 

[96 Cherokee]

Ralph,
I noticed that some of my 4 Motor Guards have copper center tubes and some do not, although I don't recall how many. The tech at Blackstone agrees with your quote, as that is what he explained to me about heat and oxidation.
Even though the copper level is way higher than before, it is still only 20 ppm, so it's not a huge concern at this point.

Thanks,
Neal

 

[RalphPWood]

My reasoning for using the copper is that a lot of oil coolers are copper. I once sent a sample of new Mobil 1 to a lab. I was told the Moly was too high and there was glycol in the oil. Since then I have found that the main thing is to watch for the numbers to start rising. The numbers should stay steady when using the "no routine oil drains system". When I say "no routine oil drains" I don't mean when you drain the oil because of a problem other than poor filtration. I have an instrument that zeros on new oil. It compares the used oil to the new oil. I started getting a high reading on the tractor. It turned out rain water was getting in the engine thru a leaky oil fill cap gasket.