D6lc

lucky you didnt send your "terminal' engine off for repair originally!!, great news its running fine

Ahsai

I was not even remotely considering that with zero symptoms, quiet and smooth running engine

RDCR

So you've gone 2 changes now, 8K+ miles with good OA's? That's good news! I expected to see something on the filter or possibly stuck to the housing where my filter mag is attached but nada when I cut open the last one.

Ahsai

Yes, 2 oil changes 8k+ miles with good numbers. Still can't explain the high numbers I got initially as I've been using the same oil many years BEFORE my 1st UOA and the car has always been my DD.

I have a magnetic oil plug and it has a light coat of metal dust on it but it's minimal. No flakes on the filter at all.

BTW, I've plotted the metal content vs time and mileage. You can see that the metal content is proportional to mileage. This makes me believe the (normal) metal wear is mechanical as opposed to chemical.

UOA.pdf

Macster

Whether the metals show up due to suspected acid action or mechanical wear it still disturbing to me to see bearing metals showing up in an oil analysis.

The presence of those metals indicate wear is taking place and leads me to think the oil is not up to the rigors to which you are subjecting it, or you are running the oil past its change by date.

Ahsai

But the metal levels are down to average now (11 - 13 ppm). They will not go to zero for any engine, right? Or you think 11-13ppm is still very high?

alpine003

Congrats on not overreacting and letting things play out. Does your motor use any oil in between the 4k change?

Ahsai

Thanks Alpy. Yes, it uses ~1qt oil/1400 miles since new (I bought the car when it was 2yrs old and had 2500 miles on it).

KrazyK

Wow. Im kind of jealous at the thought you might get to rebuild yours soon. Kind of wish mine would shed some metal so I could drop it again and rebuild it!

Ahsai

Just don't tell the guys with blown engines!

I don't think mine needs a rebuild anytime soon though. Hope I don't jinx myself haha

fpb111

Ahsai,
Congrats on the 2 good UOA results.

Ahsai

Thanks, Frank

Flat6 Innovations

I'd follow up with visual sump and filter inspections at every oil service for a good while. Its not common for an issue to be that pronounced and then just fade away.

Or perhaps you got someone' else's results the first time around.. That wouldn't new the first time thats happened.

Ahsai

Thanks Jake for your suggestions. I've been inspecting the filter for a long time, way before my first UOA and I've never found anything. I've never opened the sump though. Can I stick an inspection camera into the drain hole and check? Will the debris (if any) collect close to the drain hole? i realize the oil baffle is there so I can't see the whole bottom.

I think it's unlikely I got someone else's samples as both of my first two UOA reports (1yr apart) indicated high metal content.

Ahsai

Latest UOA here. Everything looks normal. The extra make up oil could be due to the defective AOS (22" H2O) I ran for a short period of time.

2015-05-11 03 CARRERA-051115 edited.pdf