I'd noticed that the Antifreeze was needing topped off a couple of times over the previous year, with no visible leaks, so I sent an oil sample off to Blackstone.
Blackstone Comments:
Quote:
These 3.4L engines are known for lower intake manifold gasket issues, and that's probably what you've got here. The excess copper, lead, and tin show that the coolant is doing quite a bit of damage to your engine's bearings. Your engine should recover once the issue is addressed but you'll want to do something sooner, rather than later, to avoid spinning a bearing. Suggest going no more than 2,000 miles on the next oil and then resample to monitor. Caution! Antifreeze and poor bearing wear!
Code:
Make/ Model: GM 3.4L V-6 2001 Chevy Venture Van
MI on Oil: 3,493
MI on Unit 66,502
Sample Date 05/08/11
Universal
Averages
ALUMINUM 16 3
CHROMIUM 1 1
IRON 43 14
COPPER 100 12
LEAD 25 4
TIN 25 1
MOLYBDENUM 64 58
NICKEL 1 0
MANGANESE 6 1
SILVER 0 0
TITANIUM 0 0
POTASSIUM 359 12
BORON 37 32
SILICON 19 14
SODIUM 648 32
CALCIUM 2420 950
MAGNESIUM 19 96
PHOSPHORUS 689 652
ZINC 794 797
BARIUM 0 0
SUS Viscosity @ 210°F 61.2 56-63
cSt Viscosity @ 100°C 10.55 9.1-11.3
Flashpoint in °F 395 >365
Fuel %
Antifreeze % 1.30 0.0
Water % 0.0
Insolubles % 0.5
Sure enough, lower intake manifold gasket leaking.
The bill was about $1200....not quite what the entire vehicle is worth.
Blackstone Comments:
Quote:
These 3.4L engines are known for lower intake manifold gasket issues, and that's probably what you've got here. The excess copper, lead, and tin show that the coolant is doing quite a bit of damage to your engine's bearings. Your engine should recover once the issue is addressed but you'll want to do something sooner, rather than later, to avoid spinning a bearing. Suggest going no more than 2,000 miles on the next oil and then resample to monitor. Caution! Antifreeze and poor bearing wear!
Code:
Make/ Model: GM 3.4L V-6 2001 Chevy Venture Van
MI on Oil: 3,493
MI on Unit 66,502
Sample Date 05/08/11
Universal
Averages
ALUMINUM 16 3
CHROMIUM 1 1
IRON 43 14
COPPER 100 12
LEAD 25 4
TIN 25 1
MOLYBDENUM 64 58
NICKEL 1 0
MANGANESE 6 1
SILVER 0 0
TITANIUM 0 0
POTASSIUM 359 12
BORON 37 32
SILICON 19 14
SODIUM 648 32
CALCIUM 2420 950
MAGNESIUM 19 96
PHOSPHORUS 689 652
ZINC 794 797
BARIUM 0 0
SUS Viscosity @ 210°F 61.2 56-63
cSt Viscosity @ 100°C 10.55 9.1-11.3
Flashpoint in °F 395 >365
Fuel %
Antifreeze % 1.30 0.0
Water % 0.0
Insolubles % 0.5
Sure enough, lower intake manifold gasket leaking.
The bill was about $1200....not quite what the entire vehicle is worth.