Oil analysis with high Silicon proportions in a IMS hybrid bearing engine
07-01-2011 | 08:14 PM
#19
Race Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,220
Likes: 35
From: Jacksonville, FL Duval County
I have an otherwise stock x51 engine with the IMS bearing installed. I've been using mobil 1 15w50 for the last 2 years with 5k mile intervals. The car has seen plenty of autocross use and a few long trips. I have since started using motul xcess, I believe 5w40.
Here are my results: note that I have only 2 parts per million of silicon.
Here are my results: note that I have only 2 parts per million of silicon.
Last edited by knfeparty; 07-02-2011 at 10:12 AM.
07-02-2011 | 11:03 AM
#21
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 6
From: Toronto, Canada
I think I see where this is going.
It sounds to me like someone doesn't do a lot of used oil analysis and doesn't know that RTV sealant that is used on cam covers, sump plates and etc shows up in UOA as SILICON!
I have HUNDREDS of UOA from retrofitted engines both before and after the IMSR is carried out, I will share a couple on Monday. I have never noted an increase in silicon levels when carryoing out UOA on a retrofitted engine. We pull samples from EVERY engine that we retrofit and build from scratch to build the database for purposes just like this post.
Silicon nitride ***** do not wear, not at all. When the material is used in Human prosthetic devices there are companies that have a hard time convincing the FDA that the results they see in testing and application are not fake. The amount of wear that is present is so low that it is unbelievable.
I've been using silicon nitride in engines since 1997 when we started making cam followers from the material. In engines that have all 8 followers made of pure silicon nitride I have never seen an increase in silicon in the oil and thats over a 14 year period.
If you have silicon in this sample, someone used too much RTV sealant bon some portion of the engine during reassembly- period.
I send 20+ UOA samples to our lab per month and have vast experience with what RTV can do to an oil sample. If you'd like I can have a CLS from the API give a more detailed account of why RTV shows up as silicon.
I do not see a percentage of fuel dilution in this sample, which can play a key role in the entire sample's accuracy. The TAN is also not noted, but perhaps these are done differently in Spain than here.
It sounds to me like someone doesn't do a lot of used oil analysis and doesn't know that RTV sealant that is used on cam covers, sump plates and etc shows up in UOA as SILICON!
I have HUNDREDS of UOA from retrofitted engines both before and after the IMSR is carried out, I will share a couple on Monday. I have never noted an increase in silicon levels when carryoing out UOA on a retrofitted engine. We pull samples from EVERY engine that we retrofit and build from scratch to build the database for purposes just like this post.
Silicon nitride ***** do not wear, not at all. When the material is used in Human prosthetic devices there are companies that have a hard time convincing the FDA that the results they see in testing and application are not fake. The amount of wear that is present is so low that it is unbelievable.
I've been using silicon nitride in engines since 1997 when we started making cam followers from the material. In engines that have all 8 followers made of pure silicon nitride I have never seen an increase in silicon in the oil and thats over a 14 year period.
If you have silicon in this sample, someone used too much RTV sealant bon some portion of the engine during reassembly- period.
I send 20+ UOA samples to our lab per month and have vast experience with what RTV can do to an oil sample. If you'd like I can have a CLS from the API give a more detailed account of why RTV shows up as silicon.
I do not see a percentage of fuel dilution in this sample, which can play a key role in the entire sample's accuracy. The TAN is also not noted, but perhaps these are done differently in Spain than here.
when I had my x51 pan installed we had a little too much silicon applied and it showed up in the oil analysis and then after we changed oil things went back to normal.
if you are worried about the silicon send your next oil in again and I'll bet it drops down to normal levels...
07-02-2011 | 11:21 AM
#22
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 952
Likes: 42
From: Madrid (Spain)
My engine has never been dismantled and reassembled
There's no chance to get silicon added in the engine due to a repair work because the engine is the same as comes OEM the first day.
I'll check a sample in this new oil to assure It's clean
There's no chance to get silicon added in the engine due to a repair work because the engine is the same as comes OEM the first day.
I'll check a sample in this new oil to assure It's clean
07-07-2022 | 10:17 AM
#23
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 1,307
From: the perimeter
Dredging another zombie from the depths. I received an oil analysis indicating high levels of silicon. I did have the sump plate off, so it could be from sealant, but I was also wondering if there was any chance of it being related to bore scoring. I believe one of the materials used when they coat the bores is silicon; "Alusil" and "Lokasil" and so on.
07-07-2022 | 10:28 AM
#24
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 1,892
From: Washington DC
If you removed the sump plate it's most likely that. I had a bump too once I removed mine. Only way to know is to run about 3k miles on the new oil and test again and see if things went down.
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07-07-2022 | 10:48 AM
#25
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,551
Likes: 1,207
From: Momence, IL
Agreed. We see higher silicon numbers from using RTV sealant in the subsequent UOA, so I'd expect that to go down next time you test the oil. If it doesn't go down or it goes up, then I'd be concerned.
The following 2 users liked this post by Charles Navarro:
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07-08-2022 | 09:58 AM
#26
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 448
From: The ATL
Dredging another zombie from the depths. I received an oil analysis indicating high levels of silicon. I did have the sump plate off, so it could be from sealant, but I was also wondering if there was any chance of it being related to bore scoring. I believe one of the materials used when they coat the bores is silicon; "Alusil" and "Lokasil" and so on.
07-09-2022 | 07:11 PM
#29
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 1,892
From: Washington DC
Mine went from 6 to 33 after resealing my sump. I still wouldn't worry. Run another test after next oil change and see if things went back down. Just shorten the change interval if it bothers you.
