Oil report shows sodium, Pottasium, Iron, Aluminum

[Doug Dodge]

Got my oil report back. Thees are the comments.

UNKNOWN HOURS ON THE OIL. SODIUM AND POTASSIUM ARE ELEVATED. NO GLYCOL/WATER DETECTED. IRON IS HIGH AND MAY
INDICATE CYLINDER WEAR. ALUMINUM IS HIGH AND MAY INDICATE PISTON WEAR. CUT OPEN FILTER(S) AND INSPECT FOR DEBRIS.
PRESSURIZE COOLING SYSTEM TO CHECK FOR POSSIBLE SOURCES OF COOLANT ENTRY AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY.

The engine has 70 hrs since I did a major service. AC serviced with new housing, heat exchanger serviced, new oil cooler. Coolers rebuilt at Sea Board Marine.
Engine starts right up after sitting two weeks cold
Minimal smoke at start up, disappears when warm.

Were should I start the diagnosis? Report attached

Topic

[Clark Leighs]

I agree that you need to become familiar with all the guages and the normal reading when all is running well. 

I keep a mini log , separate from the  main  mtce. log, of readings that over time have told me very clearly what the readings should be if all is well. RPM, eng. hrs, oil press, coolant temp, voltage, gear oil press.  Add what ever you have.

One shot tests should not always be taken at their face value.   Tests can be contaminated easily, too easily.     At the very least with a report like you have  you might even consider another test, maybe with a different lab.

I do them regularly and I got  a warning of a high fuel level in the crankcase oil.  Combined with a lower that normal oil pressure for my temp and revs  I watched and waited, also lazy, but did another test some 40-50 hrs after the oil change and it said the same.   Darn, I had a fuel leak confirmed by the injector seal O rings falling apart as they were removed from the injectors.

Without the test and without awareness of normal oil pressure readings at normal revs I could easily have blithely carried on untill something bad happened.

Keep doing the oil tests.   Make yourself aware of “normal” readings at specific revs and if this shows again then “maybe something ” is going on.

[Francis Valerio]

Doug

It sounds like you are going to be doing long trips with your boat and exercising due diligence for preparing yourself is obviously a very smart thing to do.

I am not a big fan of diagnosing a normal running engine with an oil analysis test to see if it needs an overhaul…

If the engine had a problem that you could not positively identify then an oil analysis could def point you in a better direction of how or when to pull or tear down an engine for major work.

Engines are pretty simple (on the mechanical side of things).

compression, oil pressure, temperature, cooling system, fuel and timing (just for example). If these things are operating normal then I personally would not care what the analysis says.

This is just an example and does not apply to your situation (ie, if you had a little lower compression in one of your cylinders it could possibly be from a stuck piston ring and some damage on the piston that is shedding some aluminum (which caused the ring to stick)…thus showing up as a high aluminum in an analysis) That is one example. That is why I would do a compression test to eliminate that as a problem. If all came back AOK then I would know that my compression is in proper specification and no further action is needed there.

From the first start of a brand new engine they are starting to wear and “shed” all kinds of different metallic minerals that naturally wear down and these will show up in the analysis.

I am sure there are some on here that would say different but I feel the engine talking to us “mechanically” tells me the most about the engine. Monitoring your gauges (and having gauges) is paramount.

You should be monitoring EGTs, Oil PSI, Temperature, Fuel PSI and Fuel Vacuum readings. Make sure they are quality gauges and let them “talk” to you. Monitor you exhaust by looking behind you and know what “your boats” normal looks like.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Tony Athens

[Doug Dodge]

I did the analysis because one was done when I bought the boat March 2020. And it had raised aluminum. I’m getting ready to change the oil, so wanted to do another one.
The engine runs good, starts right up, no smoke,, good oil pressure.

[Doug Dodge]

I don’t fish yet, I’m preparing this boat to take us to Mexico then Pacific NW. Hope to cruise for 5 years. I’ve done everything you preach to these engines that I can. The DD Filter change should make it complete.

[Tony Athens]

A #1 set-up!

Do you fish or “Cheese and Wine” cruise?

[Doug Dodge]

I do have fresh water flush. Also just installed Pan heaters, will be turning them on tomorrow.

[Tony Athens]

Put the oil anaylsis in your “ingore file” & go fishing..

Try and set up a fresh water flush for the long term..

Tony

[Francis Valerio]

Is the engine running normal or do you have any symptoms or problems?

If your oil pressure is good and you dont have any blowby or smoking issues and is operating AOK then what was the reason for the oil analysis?

Oil analysis can be misleading sometimes. The forum is here to help so please post…

[Doug Dodge]

1. 6CTA 8.3 Diamond 450, year 2000

2. Yes frequent walk in.( we were talking yesterday in the shop about WIF sensor when I was buying a DD filter set up). Talk to Brandon mostly, but I think back then Jack was working on my coolers.

3. Said it tested good after we replace the housing.

4. Oil had 1.5 years and 70 hrs.

5. No it runs the same as it always has. I don’t use any coolant. This is the engine I talked to you about with a small coolant stain at the head gasket. You had me put two containers of Alumaseal stop leak in. No sign of coolant since.

I attached the original report I got when I bought the boat.

[Tony Athens]

#1–what exact engine

#2-I’m guessing you were a “walk-in” at the shop? Who did you work with as to the aftercooler?

#3–any comments when you picked-up the cooler?

#4–This oil report is from old oil in the engine? or new oil after the service, or ??—————-any oil samples from from the past?

#5– Had you not did an oil ( I’m guessing a random sample with “0” history) sample, would you notice anything different now than before?

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