Sodium as an additive in Oil Analysis ??

[PaulR3]

Hey folks.
05 F150 5.4 v-8 20K

I've been having Blackstone do my analysis 3-4 now since the truck was new, and the last 2-3 have been coming in with high sodium and they are getting me worried about it. Sodium was 31, 33, and 53 over the last three.
They told me to drop the redline, which has sodium as an additive but it still increased.
Last 2-3 changes I've done 4 Motorcraft syth blend 5-20's, 2 Castrol Synthetic Blends and one Green GC M02.

Maybe Motorcraft has sodium in it now?? cannot find a VOA for it after a brief search.

Saw that someone else posted that Blackstone was saying they (Castrol) use sodium in their synthetic blends now? I've got their latest bottles from auto blown.

Sorry for the discombobulation, I'm a tax accountant (no time to be coherent), wondering if I should ditch this new F150 before the warranty runs out.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Every MC used oil analysis I've seen has not had Sodium in it unless there has been a problem... (sorry to say)

My 99 ford had a used oil analysis with high SI @ 61k and it needed head gaskets from a leak.

Then @ 108k it did it again... So Head gaskets 2 times within 50k miles.

The used oil analysis caught it in time before damage, but it did find a problem each time..

I'd go in and have the Stealership do a test in the coolant and see if there is a problem. At least then they are on notice.

Also, do a quick OCI with a Pennzoil or Valvoline (known NO sodium adds) oil for 1k, then run the same oil for another 2-3k and get a used oil analysis. Then you can atleast see where you are at.

Or, send in a VOA on the MC...

Take care and good luck.. I've had to play with Ford on head gaskets and its a hobby...

Bill

 

[Winston]

I had Sodium in my Motorcraft 5w20 used oil analysis, but I assumed it was left over from the Mobil 7500 that I had used previously. However, it was quite high to be a remnant. My analysis is in the used oil analysis section. Search for Mitsu Montero.

 

[bruce381]

basic Oil test deal RUN A VOA ON the oil you are using you may have a leak or NOT but will not know if you did not baseline the oil ALWAYS send in a VOA with used oil to get any meaningful data.
bruce

 

[PaulR3]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I guess great minds think alike, I swapped out the MC and Castrol mix and I'm running straight Valvoline and will send that to Blackstone.

They did also tell me to inform them what brand of oil I was using, I'm going to do that after this 1-2K run with the Valvoline. :crossing fingers: and hoping its just the add-packs in the oil.