From Polaris Labs.
Truck Odometer: 235600 mi
Miles on oil: 24300
3 quarts of makeup oil added since 12k mile oil sample.
Oil filter changed halfway through OCI to NAPA Gold.
Wear Metals:
(Element, 12k, 24k)
Iron; 27 ppm, 42
Chromium; 1, 3
Al; 2, 4
Cu; 1, 3
Lead; 2, 9
Contaminants:
Silicon; 5, 6
Sodium; 8, 8
Potassium; 0, 62 (flagged)
Multi-source metals:
Moly; 70, 75
Boron; 42, 83
Additive metals:
Mag; 1239, 1333
Calcium; 900, 960
Phos; 1122, 1138
Zinc; 1316, 1439
Fuel Dilution; Soot; Water;
KV100; 15.0 cSt, 15.1
TBN; 7.3, 6.54
Oxidation; 13, 15
Nitration; 9, 10
Polaris' Comments: Flagged data does not indicate an immediate need for maintenance action. Continue to observe the trend and monitor equipment and fluid conditions. MODERATE POTASSIUM level could be a coolant indicator; Coolant leaks at this level will most likely not be detectable through normal diagnostics; Suggest MONITORING COOLANT LEVEL closely between samples; LEAD is at a MINOR LEVEL and may be overlay metal from bearings.
A somewhat interesting oil analysis on my Dodge. Polaris has detected Potassium, which has never been found in previous samples. They are saying it could be coolant, and to monitor coolant level. I have always monitored coolant level on this truck, and it has always used some.
I have made some engine modifications since the last oil sample, putting on a bigger turbo, and adding an Edge Comp tuning box. These mods have added ~150 HP at the wheels, and raised max boost pressure from 25 to 38 psi. I have done runs on a chassis dyno to verify the horsepower readings, and used the truck to set speed records at the Ohio Mile. Maybe I over-pressured the engine, lifted the head, and caused it to ingest coolant into the oil system? I doubt it. Cummins engines have a lot of margin for cylinder pressures.
I'm not very worried about it because the ultra-hard running only amounts to a small fraction of the 24000 miles during the OCI. When doing daily driver duty and for towing, I keep the power box either off, or set at level 2 of 5.
Residual TBN is quite strong, and I could have extended the OCI even further, but I wanted to change the oil and get a reading on what the engine modifications have done to the oil . I was worried that the relatively lazy turbo was going to cause more sooting. Apparently it hasn't.
So I am planning to go to 15k miles on the new oil, and take a sample then to see what the Potassium is doing. Maybe I can extend the next oil change to 30k if all is well.
Truck Odometer: 235600 mi
Miles on oil: 24300
3 quarts of makeup oil added since 12k mile oil sample.
Oil filter changed halfway through OCI to NAPA Gold.
Wear Metals:
(Element, 12k, 24k)
Iron; 27 ppm, 42
Chromium; 1, 3
Al; 2, 4
Cu; 1, 3
Lead; 2, 9
Contaminants:
Silicon; 5, 6
Sodium; 8, 8
Potassium; 0, 62 (flagged)
Multi-source metals:
Moly; 70, 75
Boron; 42, 83
Additive metals:
Mag; 1239, 1333
Calcium; 900, 960
Phos; 1122, 1138
Zinc; 1316, 1439
Fuel Dilution; Soot; Water;
KV100; 15.0 cSt, 15.1
TBN; 7.3, 6.54
Oxidation; 13, 15
Nitration; 9, 10
Polaris' Comments: Flagged data does not indicate an immediate need for maintenance action. Continue to observe the trend and monitor equipment and fluid conditions. MODERATE POTASSIUM level could be a coolant indicator; Coolant leaks at this level will most likely not be detectable through normal diagnostics; Suggest MONITORING COOLANT LEVEL closely between samples; LEAD is at a MINOR LEVEL and may be overlay metal from bearings.
A somewhat interesting oil analysis on my Dodge. Polaris has detected Potassium, which has never been found in previous samples. They are saying it could be coolant, and to monitor coolant level. I have always monitored coolant level on this truck, and it has always used some.
I have made some engine modifications since the last oil sample, putting on a bigger turbo, and adding an Edge Comp tuning box. These mods have added ~150 HP at the wheels, and raised max boost pressure from 25 to 38 psi. I have done runs on a chassis dyno to verify the horsepower readings, and used the truck to set speed records at the Ohio Mile. Maybe I over-pressured the engine, lifted the head, and caused it to ingest coolant into the oil system? I doubt it. Cummins engines have a lot of margin for cylinder pressures.
I'm not very worried about it because the ultra-hard running only amounts to a small fraction of the 24000 miles during the OCI. When doing daily driver duty and for towing, I keep the power box either off, or set at level 2 of 5.
Residual TBN is quite strong, and I could have extended the OCI even further, but I wanted to change the oil and get a reading on what the engine modifications have done to the oil . I was worried that the relatively lazy turbo was going to cause more sooting. Apparently it hasn't.
So I am planning to go to 15k miles on the new oil, and take a sample then to see what the Potassium is doing. Maybe I can extend the next oil change to 30k if all is well.
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