German Castrol 5,502 Miles 2009 Ford Expedition

[redrocker55]

Hey Guys,

My most recent oil change showed a higher amount of lead and tin vs my previous oil analysis. This OCI DID include some very tough towing...75 MPG into a 25 MPH wind for about 700 miles. The engine was working VERY hard during this tow. The truck was loaded down to near max payload and the trailer weight was 5,000 lbs and was shaped like a box. The engine ran in 5th and 6th gear (6 sp tranny) for most of the trip and averaged 9.5 MPG.

I'm wondering if this oil change interval showing higher wear on the lead and tin might be due to the aggressive towing or if there is something else I need to keep my eyes on like the bearings.

The first 3 oil changes in my results below are with AMSoil Signature Series 0w30 (arguably AMSoil's best oil) and my the OCI showing the higher wear was German Castrol.

Thank you for your help!!!

Code:


Miles on Oil 5,502 4,704 5,281 4,703

Miles on Unit 44,466 38,964 28,979 24,276

Make up oil None None None None

Oil Type GC First 3 were AMSoil Signature Serious 0W30



Aluminum 3 2 2 2

Chromium 1 1 1 1

Iron 17 11 11 13

Copper 4 4 5 6

Lead 30 0 1 0

Tin 13 0 0 3

Moly 4 2 2 2

Nickel 0 0 0 0

Manganese 1 0 1 1

Silver 0 0 0 0

Titanium 0 0 0 0

Potassium 1 1 3 3

Boron 5 7 6 8

Silicon 30 22 24 24

Sodium 7 5 6 6

Calcium 1816 3717 3664 2813

Magnesium 445 15 19 72

Phosphorus 809 684 653 587

Zinc 942 675 703 714

Barium 0 0 0 0



Sus Visc @210 63.6 58 58.2 54.4

Visc @ 100 11.23 9.66 9.70 8.59

Flashpoint 375 385 430 400



Fuel
Antifreeze 0% for all UOA

Water 0% for all UOA

Insolubles .2 .3 .3 .8



TBN 5.8 6.5 5.6 3.6

 

[dtt004]

Hi.

Most likely the towing. Also, I believe your MPG is mistaken, although it has no relevance to the oil analysis results whatsoever.

More severe driving = more wear. There is no way to work around it.

Anyways, good report. I don't believe you have bearing problems...within the scope of this oil analysis of course.

 

[daves87rs]

Agree with towing...

 

[Jim 5]

Your silicon numbers are fairly large. Tin/chromium often indicates valve wear. Higher lead/iron could indicate silicon scuffing in the cylinder linings and abrasive wear at the bearings.

In my mind, alot in this UOA points to a need to look at your air filter. I would hazard a guess that you are running a K&N air filter? Alternatively, you should check your airbox to make sure everything is locked down and tightly sealed.

 

[OVERKILL]

This engine has bimetal bearings. There is no lead or copper in them. They are an aluminum/silicon bimetal assembly. Did you use any fuel treatments by chance?

 

[chubbs1]

I am gonna say stick with the SSO

(AZO now)

 

[redrocker55]

Originally Posted By: Jim 5
Your silicon numbers are fairly large. Tin/chromium often indicates valve wear. Higher lead/iron could indicate silicon scuffing in the cylinder linings and abrasive wear at the bearings.

In my mind, alot in this UOA points to a need to look at your air filter. I would hazard a guess that you are running a K&N air filter? Alternatively, you should check your airbox to make sure everything is locked down and tightly sealed.



I have checked the air filter and the plumbing for the air intake system. This is a factory OEM air filter. I can't figure out where the silicon is coming from. It's definitely not the intake system.

 

[redrocker55]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
This engine has bimetal bearings. There is no lead or copper in them. They are an aluminum/silicon bimetal assembly. Did you use any fuel treatments by chance?


I did use a fuel treatment...Lucas Fuel Treatment...about 4 tanks of gas before the oil change.

Is there something in the fuel treatment that could give a false reading?

Also...I'm not burning any oil at all. After 5,000 miles on this most recent OCI the oil was still at the top of the dip stick.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: redrocker55
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
This engine has bimetal bearings. There is no lead or copper in them. They are an aluminum/silicon bimetal assembly. Did you use any fuel treatments by chance?


I did use a fuel treatment...Lucas Fuel Treatment...about 4 tanks of gas before the oil change.

Is there something in the fuel treatment that could give a false reading?

Also...I'm not burning any oil at all. After 5,000 miles on this most recent OCI the oil was still at the top of the dip stick.



Yes, fuel treatments can have all kinds of exciting stuff in them. Including lead. When you get some fuel dilution (cold starts for example, idling...etc) that stuff gets into the oil. And then it shows up on a UOA. And people freak out

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: chubbs1
I am gonna say stick with the SSO

(AZO now)


Imagine that.

 

[tinmanSC]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: redrocker55
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
This engine has bimetal bearings. There is no lead or copper in them. They are an aluminum/silicon bimetal assembly. Did you use any fuel treatments by chance?


I did use a fuel treatment...Lucas Fuel Treatment...about 4 tanks of gas before the oil change.

Is there something in the fuel treatment that could give a false reading?

Also...I'm not burning any oil at all. After 5,000 miles on this most recent OCI the oil was still at the top of the dip stick.



Yes, fuel treatments can have all kinds of exciting stuff in them. Including lead. When you get some fuel dilution (cold starts for example, idling...etc) that stuff gets into the oil. And then it shows up on a UOA. And people freak out

Yup. The fuel treatment calls all of these numbers into question. The UOA after a fuel treatment gives all kings of wacky results. In fact, the Lucas brand fuel treatment specifically has lead in it. The guy that posted a similar UOA about a year go called Lucas about this and they swore up and down that it didn't have lead it in. But this has been reported in more than a few UOAs and has sent people running for cover thinking something was wrong when it fact it was just a Lucas fuel treatment. The UOA doesn't lie. It has lead.

 

[friendly_jacek]

Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
In fact, the Lucas brand fuel treatment specifically has lead in it. The guy that posted a similar UOA about a year go called Lucas about this and they swore up and down that it didn't have lead it in. But this has been reported in more than a few UOAs and has sent people running for cover thinking something was wrong when it fact it was just a Lucas fuel treatment. The UOA doesn't lie. It has lead.


I like your flow of logic here. The part about IN FACT the Lucas has lead in it because someone posted bad UOA. Cause and effect are really obvious here.

If that was indeed true, Lucas killed cats and people paid for that?

 

[OVERKILL]

Exactly tinman.

The knee-jerk reaction is to freak out over all the "wear". The comments about bearings are an example. People see elevated metals and go ballistic.

However, this engine has no copper or lead in it. So the material had to have come from a foreign source.

Fuel treatment? Yepper! Fuel treatment that has been known to show these symptoms before in other UOA's? Yepper!

And we have our culprit.

Unfortunately, this UOA is now next to worthless because of the skewing the fuel treatment did to the numbers.

 

[friendly_jacek]

The fact that you have both lead and tin is not a coincidence, clearly bearing wear.

Some extreme situation call for extreme measures. No wonder Toyota and Subaru worn owners to use thicker oils in very severe service. The 18 wheelers should give you a clue: 15W40.

The energy conserving oils are great for 99% US drivers, but your towing put you in the 1% category.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
In fact, the Lucas brand fuel treatment specifically has lead in it. The guy that posted a similar UOA about a year go called Lucas about this and they swore up and down that it didn't have lead it in. But this has been reported in more than a few UOAs and has sent people running for cover thinking something was wrong when it fact it was just a Lucas fuel treatment. The UOA doesn't lie. It has lead.


I like your flow of logic here. The part about IN FACT the Lucas has lead in it because someone posted bad UOA. Cause and effect are really obvious here.

If that was indeed true, Lucas killed cats and people paid for that?


It's a perfectly reasonable flow of logic actually. This engine has bi-metal bearings for the crank and rods. The cams ride on a machined surface in the heads themselves with no bearings there at all. There is no "bearing" source for lead or copper in this engine.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
The fact that you have both lead and tin is not a coincidence, clearly bearing wear.

Some extreme situation call for extreme measures. No wonder Toyota and Subaru worn owners to use thicker oils in very severe service. The 18 wheelers should give you a clue: 15W40.

The energy conserving oils are great for 99% US drivers, but your towing put you in the 1% category.



THIS ENGINE HAS BIMETAL BEARINGS.

THEY ARE MADE BY CLEVITE.

THEY ARE SILICON AND ALUMINUM.

THERE IS NO LEAD, COPPER OR TIN IN THE BEARINGS IN THIS ENGINE.

Originally Posted By: Clevite

Clevite BiMetal engine bearings feature a 100% lead free aluminum silicon bi-metal material; this includes 60% more silicon than leading competitor's bi-metal material for better conditioning of journal surfaces. These BiMetal bearings also offer greater wear resistance than leading competitor's bi-metal material, as well as greater seizure resistance than the leading competitor. Clevite BiMetal bearings feature 100% bored ID's for precision and surface characteristics and where appropriate - straight shell main bearings utilizing an "umbrella" groove that allows for superior oil control and improved pressure.

 

[friendly_jacek]

OK, I stand corrected. My bad.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
OK, I stand corrected. My bad.


So let us revisit the Lucas fuel treatment then

 

[HTSS_TR]

I don't use fuel treatment(mostly Techron) very often, about once every other year before smog test. I then change oil after using fuel treatment 2-3 gas tanks later.

 

[redrocker55]

Awesome information guys. Thank you!!!

Do you have any thoughts about the tin. The tin jumped along with the lead.

Is there tin in the Lucas fuel treatment also?...or is the tin something I should be concerned about.

Thanks again!!!