Master UOA (used oil analysis) thread. Post your analysis results here!

[River_Rat]

I've been running Mobil 1 EP since the first oil change. I have about 22,300 total miles, with 5,150 miles on this oil. K&N filter on DDMWintake. Also, I have recently topped off the coolant reservoir.

Here are the findings:

We've got a couple interesting finds in this first report. Elevated potassium could indicate the
presence of coolant, but usually when there's coolant, sodium will read high too and it looks fine here.
Silicon was also high. That could be abrasive dirt. Wear looks good compared to universal averages (typical
results for this type of engine with ~5,700 miles on the oil), so we think it might just be from harmless
silicone sealer/spray. You might check the air filtration system. The TBN shows lots of active additive left.
Change this oil and check back in 5,000 miles.

 

[ahtoxa]

Interesting. Could it be pointing to the K&N letting more dirt through than expected? I think most people take that as fact, but whether it's enough to cause any long-term damage remains unproven.

How much coolant were you losing? I have noticed that I have to infrequently add some coolant and I'm losing perhaps a cup ever 2k miles. Maybe less than that; less than a cup.

 

[River_Rat]

I've added about a quart of coolant in total. Silicon could be pointing to the K&N, which is why I mentioned it. Admittedly, it's also possible that I contaminated my sample with a speck of dirt. Extracting oil from the dipstick tube was more difficult than I expected.

 

[ChrisJ]

So all of the arguing over K&N and it might actually be true that they suck as a filter?

I'm not saying you argued, all of us did.


BTW is pulling a sample from the dipstick considered acceptable? I thought the best way was to pull the drain plug, wait a bit and then catch some. Obviously you have to be changing it at that point, but I figured there was a reason they said to do it this way.

 

[ahtoxa]

I'm pretty certain any filter that flows better than OEM just about has to let more dirt in as nature of the design. You're removing some flow restriction, which means you have to make the 'passageway' larger, thus allowing more dirt.

I've just never seen anything concrete on it. Even still, it's mostly speculation. And once again, it's not certain whether that increase in the contaminant level is negligible or can cause long-term damage.

 

[ChrisJ]

I'm pretty certain any filter that flows better than OEM just about has to let more dirt in as nature of the design. You're removing some flow restriction, which means you have to make the 'passageway' larger, thus allowing more dirt.

I've just never seen anything concrete on it. Even still, it's mostly speculation. And once again, it's not certain whether that increase in the contaminant level is negligible or can cause long-term damage.

Guess it depends and the only way anyone could know is to do an experiment with a bunch of identical engines all being run under the same exact conditions all with different filters from none at all to K&N to factory.

We do know for a fact no filter at all will increase wear but I bet you'd still get 50-75K out of an engine.

 

[River_Rat]

Yes, pulling it from the dipstick is acceptable. I think it woudl be rather difficult to use the Analysis for extended drain interval purposes if you had to drain it before you got the sample. I did not use one of their pumps, but rather a large syringe and some IV tubing because that's what I had easy access to. I don't know, maybe the syringe or tubing had some silicon in it. Vacuum Pump

I don't think that joined in on the K&N debate, although I did observe it. Anyhow, the filter is only one possible source for the silicon. Wear numbers are good, so I'm not concerned. I'll change the oil next week and maybe take another sample in 5k while draining the oil. An oil change is the same price as the analysis anyway.

Edit: Contrary to recent trends, the link to the "vacuum pump" is not actually spam.

 

[Opticon]

I'm pretty certain any filter that flows better than OEM just about has to let more dirt in as nature of the design.

I agree with this considering the primary focus of the OE is filtration while the primary focus of aftermarket performance filters is increased flow. If you are not willing to sacrifice filtration for flow then you should be running and routinely replacing OE filters.

That said, the relationship of filtration to flow performance is NOT linear across filters in the aftermarket. Different filtration methods (oiled, dry, foam, etc) will have different deltas between flow and filtration dependant on things like inHg on the filter surface, direction of airflow through the shape of the filter, air temp/humidity, etc. So you can't simply say that the more a filter flows the worse it filters.

 

[xsonicLTZx]

I would have to agree on the fact that some contaminants could of come from using the surgical tubing. You would be really surprised how a small minute amount of contaminants do show up in tests.

Thanks for posting up the findings and doing the test. It is defiantly informative.

 

[Gsrdude]

We should get a sticky thread here for UOAs.

Running the same oil. Car is 100% stock with just about 12k. I'll have to send a sample in next change. Be about the same mileage.

Looks good.

 

[ahtoxa]

I agree with this considering the primary focus of the OE is filtration while the primary focus of aftermarket performance filters is increased flow. If you are not willing to sacrifice filtration for flow then you should be running and routinely replacing OE filters.

That said, the relationship of filtration to flow performance is NOT linear across filters in the aftermarket. Different filtration methods (oiled, dry, foam, etc) will have different deltas between flow and filtration dependant on things like inHg on the filter surface, direction of airflow through the shape of the filter, air temp/humidity, etc. So you can't simply say that the more a filter flows the worse it filters.

Yes, I agree with that. The ratio of flow vs. filtration will not always be the same when looking at the after-market filters designed for better flow. I absolutely agree with that.

 

[$ub$onic]

I've been running the k&n for awhile now. My last oil test was spotless. Not one thing to watch.

So it would be interesting to see if that has changed.

Unfortunately I just changed my oil. So in 4500 more miles I will let you guys know

 

[ranvette]

I use dexos or mobil one which ever one i have free access to.Change the oil every 4 to 4500 and the little engine will last for a long time ! And i Run a K&N panel filter.And by all means a very free flowing filter is going to let something past.Its the nature of the beast

 

[Sonic]

I am going to go ahead and retitle this thread as the "Master UOA thread" and sticky it.

 

[$ub$onic]

This was my last. I cropped out my address, #number, ect.

 

[ChrisJ]

This was my last. I cropped out my address, #number, ect.

You cropped out your address and stuff?
How will all of the beautiful ladies contact you now?

 

[$ub$onic]

Doh! I did not think about that!

 

[Blue hedgehog]

I've added about a quart of coolant in total. Silicon could be pointing to the K&N, which is why I mentioned it. Admittedly, it's also possible that I contaminated my sample with a speck of dirt. Extracting oil from the dipstick tube was more difficult than I expected.

I don't know about Blackstone labs, but the 2 labs I'm familiar with (Cat S.O.S and Komatsus K.O.W.A) ignore larger debris in the oil. If it settles to the bottom of the oil jar quickly it must have come from an outside source. Since it couldn't have been sucked up through the sample tube if it was taken correctly. The correct way to take one of their samples is to insert the tube only as far as the dipstick can go. That way you dont suck off the bottom. Also they measure in parts per million (ppm) so I tiny bit of dust that may have gotten in wont have a huge effect on the analysis.

On the down side of doing uoa. I know someone who did a sample on his raw water cooled boat engine. It came back saying there were high levels of coolant in the oil. If that sample was on anything but his boat he would have been worried that he had a ticking time bomb on his hands.