High Lead (Pb) with M1 10W-30 after 5k Miles....why??

[lilslyk]

Got an oil analysis report back from Blackstone Labs, and I had really high lead values.

I always use unleaded 89 from Chevron gas stations in California. I changed the filter at 3k miles and oil at 5k miles. The engine is a 2.5L I-6 with 6.9 quarts of oil (M50 engine??) in a BMW with 91,000 miles.

Any suggestions on what to do? I was considering using a different type of fuel, one with less additives in ait, for the next few thousand miles and seeing if that lowers the lead.

Here's the report from a different forum:
http://glocktalk.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=4892671

 

[SSDude]

Is this the first time that you have used M1. If it is the first time it could be a chemical reaction.

 

[FowVay]

Did you use 5w30 or 10w30? The title of your post states one viscosity and the lab report states another.

Neither of these Mobil products meet the minimum requirements for your engine though.

 

[Spector]

Although slightly elevated it is not that bad IMO. I have a 92 Camry that has average 27PPM of lead over its 13 year life. Without a trend it is difficult to see what is normal for your engine, type of driving etc. 16 is nothing although most on this board will say it is way to high I see 16 at 3000 miles sometimes. I have come not to get too excited about UOA, they are simply tools and indicators, like high blood pressure, it does not mean you or the engine are going to die soon

 

[shanneba]

Lead at 16 is not a major problem. If you run the car hard this would not be bad.
Neither Mobil 1 5w30 or 10w30 are BMW LL-01 or ACEA A3/B3 rated.

The BMW synthetic 5w30 would be a good oil for your car. It is thicker at about 12 cst, ACEA A3/B3 and BMW LL-01 rated.

Other good choices would be Mobil 1 0W-40, Castrol syntec 5w-40 or German Castrol GC 0w-30.
These are all thicker than the Mobil 1 5w30 or 10w30, BMW rated (the Castrol 5w-40 is BMW LL-98) and all are ACEA A3/B3. The A3/B3 rated oils will have a higher HTHS rating than the Mobil 1 oil you are using, usually above 3.5.

You might also try using a 91 octane gasoline, your BMW should spec a 91 AKI gasoline.

 

[ATS-V]

If this is not the 1st UOA on M1 10w30 then I would run M1 0w40 and compare.

 

[lilslyk]

Hey guys, thanks for the responses. To clear some things up:

Yes, this if the first time using M1 or any synthetic from what I know (first time I changed oil)

I used M1 10w30, despite what the oil report says.

Is AKI the same as octane? I always thought AKI was a different measurement/test. I have no problem using 91 though, did it with my talon because of the turbo...

So I should switch to M1 0W-40 or one of the other above mentioned oils? What is the problem with my oil now, not protecting enough?

Thanks for the comments guys.

 

[TallPaul]

Do you get ignition ping at all? That I have been told can cause high lead levels from stress on the bearings. BTW, 16 is not excessivly high (my last UOA has lead at 476 ppm--found the PCV breather hose unhooked from its air filter

).

 

[haley10]

Oil is too thin for the application = higher lead. What Shanneba said, and I bet you see some lower Pb numbers.

 

[vwoom]

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilslyk:
I always use unleaded 89 from Chevron gas stations in California. I changed the filter at 3k miles and oil at 5k miles. The engine is a 2.5L I-6 with 6.9 quarts of oil (M50 engine??) in a BMW with 91,000 miles.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilslyk:
Yes, this if the first time using M1 or any synthetic from what I know (first time I changed oil)

---

Why not try Delo 400 15w40..now running smooth in my 190E. Plus it cleans the engine better than any other oil I've used.

 

[TR3-2001SE]

I would be willing to bet money that the Mobil 1 10w30 is just cleaning out your past residue. I think 16 is high but I will bet the next UOA using the same oil will show lower lead. Why? I have seen this before.

 

[Darryl]

Not another "I used Mobil 1 and my lead is high" post, followed by the usual posts' with all the various excuses why M1 has failed again.

Just kiddin' M1 faithful, don't blow a lead gasket!

Darryl

 

[Russell]

interesting that high lead and mobil 1 seem to go together. Is there some problem here that no one talks about?

Several Blackstone UOA results on my bmw just indicate that the lead is high, 23-40 ppm, and Dyson suggests there are fuel dilution issues which I am trying to track down.

Even so, I am concered there is a Mobil 1/high lead relationship that is unknown and gives strange/false UOA readings. I am just a bit confused. Even so, it will be figured out by someone.

 

[Terry]

Retail available M1 of ANY weight does not do well in fuel dilute and abrasion(chem or dirt) ingress issues. Add high insolubles or CCV deposits or blowby in excess and it really sucks. Look at the low flash readings on M1 to verify.

Vis is not the issue that the owner manual reading legalists ascribe above.

THINGS like fuel, chems, dirt getting in between the fluid and EP layers affect wear, NOT simple vis reasons.

Terry

 

[Russell]

Terry,
Think I am going to use a different synthetic oil than Mobil 1 in my BMW after the Auto=RX procedure. Also, I will change 3 of my coils as soon they are delivered. other 3 coils later on.

I will be looking at what is available at retail outlets. Anyone have any oil suggestions for a 95 BMW 525i m50 engine with 115,000 miles?

 

[Whimsey]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Terry:
Retail available M1 of ANY weight does not do well in fuel dilute and abrasion(chem or dirt) ingress issues. Add high insolubles or CCV deposits or blowby in excess and it really sucks. Look at the low flash readings on M1 to verify.

Vis is not the issue that the owner manual reading legalists ascribe above.

THINGS like fuel, chems, dirt getting in between the fluid and EP layers affect wear, NOT simple vis reasons.

Terry

---

That's interesting because I noted that Mobil 1's flashpoint decreases rapidly versus many other oils

. I mean they start out at 410+/- and after 5000 miles they are 355+/-. What gives with Mobil 1? If I recall correctly the Schaeffer's Supreme Blend 5w30 held it's flashpoint much better. In fact the Motorcraft 5W-20 used in my last 5,179 mile OCI still had a flashpoint of 410 even after 8 months of the worst of winter and the worst of summer.

Just because it's 100% PAO based oil doesn't mean it's the best in all catagories.

Whimsey

 

[buster]

True. All oils have their +'s and -'s. RL's TBN drops fast and Amsoil thickens. Take your pick.

 

[Russell]

I also have high lead (23-40 if I remember correctly) and some fuel dilution on my 95 bmw m50 engine (115,000 total miles)as well with M1 0w40 and 5w40 oil with mostly 93 octane chevron fuel with FP60. This is over 3 UOA/filter & oil changes and about 16,000 miles.

I am checking things to see what is causing the issue. Coils are next to be replaced.

I am also, today, starting an Auto-rx treatment. Just my observation at this point.

 

[johnd]

I changed to M1 on my 5.7 LT1 Camaro and lead levels went way up. Blackstone said that they had seen this happen before on a change to M1. The why I can't give you but apparently it is not all that uncommon.

 

[shanneba]

With all due respect to Terry, I don't see high insoluables (0.2) or excessive fuel dilution (0.5%) in the report. I also do not see any wear above averages except Pb.

I can say with 100% confidence that neither the fuel or the oil used meet the specs called for by the manufacturer.