UOA: High Iron/ 2%fuel at 2500 miles

[Invasivore]

Sent my used oil analysis to Blackstone this week. My truck has 52000 on the odometer and 2500 on the oil. Iron read 38 and fuel was 2%. Should I be concerned? All other metals were in spec. I use 5W-40 Rotella Synthetic with a Mobil 1 oil filter. I live in hot South Florida. I switched to Valvoline Cummins Premium blue 15w40 and will retest at 2500 miles on the oil.

I originally sent the oil in analysis because i thought the oil level was higher than normal. I have an H&S programmer on the truck, and use the truck for short trips a lot of times. Also, when i took the sample, I drove the truck only 5 min after being cold all night, but it did reach operating temp when i arrived home to take the sample. Not sure if it takes more driving to burn off residual fuel. I drained the oil and took the sample in the "middle" of the draining.

Jeff

 

[Eddie]

Without seeing the results we can't tell if good or bad as "within specs" says nothing. 2% fuel is on the high side and could very well be the results of short trips.

 

[gathermewool]

With out more information, the data is meaningless. I'm a proponent of using UOA results for OIL ANALYSIS, primarily. Unless I see an unexplained spike, then I disregard "wear" numbers. Also, fuel will affect other oil properties, so as long as your flashpoint, viscosity and TBN/Oxidation are ok, then don't worry about it.

Also, unless your motor is really screwed up, no oil will be done after only 2,500 miles.

 

[chubbs1]

5 mins is not enough time.

If you feel the oil level rose, sodium and potassium are important numbers because it could indicate coolant getting into the fuel.

Please post the UOA.

 

[Invasivore]

 

[chubbs1]

That isn't the greatest UOA (only because of the short run) BUT...if you were towing and working it hard that really isn't a bad UOA. A FP of 390 is hardly "low" as B_S states in their report. When you do your next UOA expect sodium because Valvoline uses it as an additive in most of their oils. I would have no worries about the "health" of your engine...especially if it sees bouts of towing and hauling.

Thanks for posting!!

Matt

 

[oggb]

Five minutes is barely enough time for your coolant to come to temp - much less the oil. The iron is hardly anything to be worried about. Considering you live in FL I'd just use a quality 15w40. No need for the cold-start properties of a 5w-40.

 

[Invasivore]

Thank you for all the replies guys. I'm new to the UOA world and look forward to learning all i can. Does anyone have good links of reading material so i can get up to speed?