Just got my oil test results, seems like the Copper level is high
(213) fuel was <1, soot 0.1 this is my first Analysis. Im using amsoil 15w40 and double bypass filters. Report said no corrective required? I had approx 10 K miles on this oil changed. Does this sound right?
Have a great day.
FourEyes

213 is pretty high. How many total miles on your truck, & how many times has the oil been changed previously? Might be just normal break-in.

it is normal for breakin. It typically comes from the oil cooler. I have a 2002 and because of oil analysis, I have not had my drainplug removed in 39,000 miles.

Yes, copper is high during break-in, but not that high. My copper reading was 20 at 1,457 total miles, & down to 3 at 15,000 miles.

I have a 2002 and because of oil analysis, I have not had my drainplug removed in 39,000 miles.

I had a 2004, & because of oil analysis, I never wasted my money on Amsoil & a by-pass system.

The copper is from the oil cooler. If it was bearings, other metals would be high also. It will go down as you put more miles on it.

Mine was down to 4 after 21,000 miles.

still waiting on mine it is been almost a month i don't think the guy i used sent it in and is just stalling me how long does it usually take

how and where do you get this done? I have never seen anyone say where to send it or the best way to get the sample? dipstick tube/drain plug or what.

still waiting on mine it is been almost a month i don't think the guy i used sent it in and is just stalling me how long does it usually take

It shouldn't take that long. Mine have taken anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks. Depends on if the post office flags it as hazardous when you send it in. (They shouldn't, but that's another story!)

how and where do you get this done? I have never seen anyone say where to send it or the best way to get the sample? dipstick tube/drain plug or what.

AVLube (http://dieselplace.com/forum/vendor_redirect.php?id=8):rolleyes: , Blackstone (http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free_test_kit.html), or your local Caterpillar dealer. The best way to take a sample is with a Fumoto drain valve, available from a few of the supporting vendors here at the Place, or you can just catch a sample when you're draining your oil during an oil change if you want.

The best way to take a sample is with a Fumoto drain valve, available from a few of the supporting vendors here at the Place, or you can just catch a sample when you're draining your oil during an oil change if you want.

Don't forget, your sample is suppsoed to be taken in mid-drain. Don't take it at the beginning or end and iirc the oil is suppposed to be warm.

Yes, copper is high during break-in, but not that high. My copper reading was 20 at 1,457 total miles, & down to 3 at 15,000 miles.



I had a 2004, & because of oil analysis, I never wasted my money on Amsoil & a by-pass system.

I don't really understand your logic. One could conclude its as DEAD as a furrow... however, maybe your just having a bad day.

It shouldn't take that long. Mine have taken anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks. Depends on if the post office flags it as hazardous when you send it in. (They shouldn't, but that's another story!)



AVLube (http://dieselplace.com/forum/vendor_redirect.php?id=8):rolleyes: , Blackstone (http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free_test_kit.html), or your local Caterpillar dealer. The best way to take a sample is with a Fumoto drain valve, available from a few of the supporting vendors here at the Place, or you can just catch a sample when you're draining your oil during an oil change if you want.

Really the BEST place to take your oil sample is from the pet**** attached to your AmsOil ByPass filter. Another place to get your oil analyzed is from Oil Analyzers, (715) 395-0222

I get mine done at Staveley Services, and it usually takes about two weeks from when it's mailed until I get the results, which are available online.

I've been using AvLube for years http://store.avlube.com/oilandfuanki.html

Takes about 3 days for the kit to arrive after ordered online. I capture and ship a sample on drained oil on every oil change for 100,000 miles now. I get an email with the analysis results attached as a *.pdf file in about 2 or 3 days after shipping the sample to Ohio. My results are posted in the SPREADS link in my sig.

I don't really understand your logic. One could conclude its as DEAD as a furrow... however, maybe your just having a bad day.

Why would I want to use Amsoil when my wear rates, viscosity, & TBN are at least the same (& usually worse) when using a synthetic over a conventional oil?

Really the BEST place to take your oil sample is from the pet**** attached to your AmsOil ByPass filter.

How is a Fumoto any different than the drain valve on your bypass filter?

How about extended drain intervals?
If you had a bypass filter on your truck, there would be no need for a Fumoto Valve.
I am right at the 50,000 mile mark. Drain plug not out of truck for 39,000 miles so far.

Good for you DB2. You sound very proud of yourself, since you already mentioned that in post #3.

With single digit wear rates on 10k mile OCIs using Delo & an M1-303 filter, why would I want to spend hundreds on a by-pass filter? :confused:

I am sorry for not understanding your comments on here. Does someeone on here say that they do not change their dello oil? That is a first for me.

I have put the numbers on here before but I will agian if I can come close to remembering.
BMK -17 EA filters included $ 235
Series 3000 5W-30 2 -2.5 gallons bottles $162.50 ( enough for 5 years of filter changes)
EaBP100 (5) 188.25 (5 filters for 5 years of service at 30,000 miles a year)
Ea26 filter (10) $230 ( 10 filters to be changed 2 times a year based on above)

Total cost for system and 5 years of changes of filters, DRAIN PLUG NOT REMOVED = $915 for 5 years and 150,000 + miles

Now the average cost I have found for changing your own oil with Rotella T or Dello or anything else plus a filter would be $45 every 5,000 miles. That is 30 oil and filter changes for a toal of $1,350 plus 30 hours of labor. That is assuming you will go 150,000 miles in 5 to 6 years.

For $35 you can be a preferred customer of Amsoil and save like 15% I think. So now you all out there who justify paying that extra $350 to $500 on old dino oil and your so called synthetic is not worth the money crap.

Someone please explain to me how exactly it is I am WAISTING MY:ro) money???? That is right MY money??

Oh and buy the way, my oild prices for dino oil are on the assumption of what I paid 5 years ago for oil. My dad just reminded me that a quart of oil is around $2 now or more in some areas, plus disposal cost, in some places. SO my assumption for an regualr oil change may actually be low!:eek:

Using a discount rate of 6% the $45 dollar payouts every other month for 5 years has a present value of $971.

I don't think the bypass decision has anything to do with money or value. It's really a matter of personal preference and what makes you feel best.

Why does anyone worry about wasting money on an oil analysis? Change your oil on regular intervals and don't waste your money. Syn. the best.;)

Oil analysis is far from a waste. At $30 a pop, it's very little money to pay to trend wear products and especially coolant or fuel in the oil that could give you a chance to catch a BIG problem forming before it destroys your entire engine. But, hey! Save all that oil anlysis money and you can crack open the piggy bank when it's time to buy a crate engine or new truck!;)

eggsack,

Autozone currently sells Delo for $8.49 per gallon. An M1 filter there costs $10.99. So a 2 1/2 gallon oil change + filter costs me $34.47 with 7% sales tax in Ohio. (Still trying to figure out why you charge labor for a dino oil change but not your filter maintenance.) If you do an oil analysis on CI-4+ dino oil under normal driving conditions, you'll find that a 7500 mile change interval is very conservative. That's 20 oil changes in 150,000 miles at $34.47 = $698.40. Now if you want to trust your Oil Life Monitor & stretch it out to ~10,000 miles, which I do, you're down to under $520. That's quite a savings over your $915 in 150,000 miles & with my regular oil analysis, I still know it's working well in my engine.

And I won't even get into the fact that I stocked up on $1.75 Delo quarts & $7.99 M1 filters at Advance Auto a few weeks ago.

Oil analysis is far from a waste. At $30 a pop, it's very little money to pay to trend wear products and especially coolant or fuel in the oil that could give you a chance to catch a BIG problem forming before it destroys your entire engine. But, hey! Save all that oil anlysis money and you can crack open the piggy bank when it's time to buy a crate engine or new truck!;)

:exactly:

Just did my first 5 K mile change after switching to syn at 5 K total miles and have my sample bottle all ready to go. I am hoping to strech my intervals out based on the analysis, and may not add the secondary filtration based on the results I get.

So far I am at 68K miles and have never had the drain plug out yet. Oil analysis results have been great. Bypass filters definitely save money by not throwing all that oil away.

Right On EGGSACK! You forgot to add this term..."The Defense rests"

Oil analysis is far from a waste. At $30 a pop, it's very little money to pay to trend wear products and especially coolant or fuel in the oil that could give you a chance to catch a BIG problem forming before it destroys your entire engine. But, hey! Save all that oil anlysis money and you can crack open the piggy bank when it's time to buy a crate engine or new truck!;)


Not convinced that it is necessary. I still believe it is a waste. The only question I have is what problem will you CATCH before it destroys youir engine. What will you do change the OIL?
FOr $30 bucks I will just change! I have faith in my DMax, just as I had with all the GM products I have owned and have never let me down!:)

Just my feelings.

I travel 70-100,000 miles per year. I just started with a Kleenoil bypass. I will be sending in oil samples every 10,000 miles (first one is due now 5 weeks after install). After the first year I am establishing a baseline and going to do oil samples every half or quarter year.

With regular oil -vs- synthetic I have always used dino. I could not justify the synthetic price. I have always changed at 10,000 miles unless I got it hot prior to that. My old 7.3 Ford is still strong and uses 2 quart of oil between changes. It has 350,000 on it

I travel 70-100,000 miles per year. I just started with a Kleenoil bypass. I will be sending in oil samples every 10,000 miles (first one is due now 5 weeks after install). After the first year I am establishing a baseline and going to do oil samples every half or quarter year.

With regular oil -vs- synthetic I have always used dino. I could not justify the synthetic price. I have always changed at 10,000 miles unless I got it hot prior to that. My old 7.3 Ford is still strong and uses 2 quart of oil between changes. It has 350,000 on it

Ok, I understand, but what is the analysis going to tell you to do? My last truck had 250K+ and is still going. WHat is the baseline going to tell you and what is it going to tell you to do or need to do?

when I will do my oil samples and oil chages from there out and reduce my total # of samples to 2 or 4 a year instead of 10

Not convinced that it is necessary. I still believe it is a waste. The only question I have is what problem will you CATCH before it destroys youir engine. What will you do change the OIL?
FOr $30 bucks I will just change! I have faith in my DMax, just as I had with all the GM products I have owned and have never let me down!:)

Just my feelings.

Having your oil analized can save you allot. It can catch antifreeze leaks indicating head gasket or head problems, fuel dilution indicating fuel system problems thus preventing a crankcase explosion, (EVER SEEN ONE OF THOSE? VERY NASTY) silicon content showing air filtration problems, high solubles indicating filtration problems or incomplete combustion, lead tin or copper indicating bearing problems and on and on. Bottom line is most large diesels all change oil based on oil analysis and if you know what you are looking for an oil change is not always the answer. You look at TBN to determine change periodicities and wear metals to try and prevent premature catastropic failure. I change my oil in the truck when the DIC says to or pryor to a long trip towing the 5er if I'm getting close but when dealing with large engines and hundreds of gallons of oil at a time I am a big beliver in analysis. I use Black Stone Labs myself. My copper is 4. If you are comfortable extending the miles and using the truck to make money this can save allot in down time and time is money.
That's my feelings on it

Jim

that is pretty much why I am doing it Jim Thx

that is pretty much why I am doing it Jim Thx
I pretty much figured so. I feel very strongly about it and deal with it daily at work and use oil analysis results to troubleshoot and recommend repairs. I do it for my own truck because I always say pay me now or pay me later. It is usually cheaper to pay now.

As long as you are willing to tear down your pickup engine based on only an oil sample then it makes sense. Or perhaps sell it, but that would be a bit under handed. How much would it cost to have a Duramax rebuilt vs new? Is the ratio the same as an industrial/offroad diesel?

As long as you are willing to tear down your pickup engine based on only an oil sample then it makes sense. Or perhaps sell it, but that would be a bit under handed. How much would it cost to have a Duramax rebuilt vs new? Is the ratio the same as an industrial/offroad diesel?

As of now it's under warranty so I would have GM flip the bill. If it is something as simple as a head gasket letting antifreeze leak and it is out o warranty not a problem to to. I guess I feel like it would be simple as I do it for a living and some of the engine I work on have heads as big as the DMAX so no big deal to do a head gasket. I guess it all boils down to what you know and what you do. I do diesel inspections and repairs along with finding root causes of failures and the oil analysis is a huge part of it. Untill you see a failure because someone ignored oil analysis such as a crank case explosion or a whole crank line shot on an engine 26 feet long it would be hard to understand what you can prevent!!!!):h :D :o:

I always believe you can't make a decison without having information, therefore, an oil analysis makes sense.

I always believe you can't make a decison without having information, therefore, an oil analysis makes sense.
:exactly:

I believe both sides are right. But, oil analysis has been marketed to induvidual owners is a bit of a scam. It's not that helpful to a user who is not going to tear down their own truck using their own 'free' labor to fix a minor issue before it becomes a major one. Fact is if you pay labor to fix a main or head gasket going south, the labor is a major expense. When the problem is more advanced, the labor is the same, only the parts bill goes up -MAYBE. I'd venture to say most any problem oil anaylsis reveals is in fact detectable by a good mechanic also before catastrophy strikes. For fleets, it can save time. At work we no longer do it unless required by a warranty. It actually takes too long since the results may be 200 engine hours away, in which time the oil has been changed.
I do think bypass filters are a good idea, as is synthetic, as is extended intervals (less waste oil is priceless in my book, IMO, 5k changers irritate me). My truck is only driven by me, with my ears, nose, eyes, and fingers telling me all I need to know.

"It actually takes too long since the results may be 200 engine hours away, in which time the oil has been changed."

I should really add, or it already was caught, or it already blew up....

I believe both sides are right. But, oil analysis has been marketed to induvidual owners is a bit of a scam. It's not that helpful to a user who is not going to tear down their own truck using their own 'free' labor to fix a minor issue before it becomes a major one. Fact is if you pay labor to fix a main or head gasket going south, the labor is a major expense. When the problem is more advanced, the labor is the same, only the parts bill goes up -MAYBE. I'd venture to say most any problem oil anaylsis reveals is in fact detectable by a good mechanic also before catastrophy strikes. For fleets, it can save time. At work we no longer do it unless required by a warranty. It actually takes too long since the results may be 200 engine hours away, in which time the oil has been changed.
I do think bypass filters are a good idea, as is synthetic, as is extended intervals (less waste oil is priceless in my book, IMO, 5k changers irritate me). My truck is only driven by me, with my ears, nose, eyes, and fingers telling me all I need to know.

I agree, I do all my own work. I wait till warranty is up but otherwise I do all my own work. Also I sent my last sample in and I had an e-mail of the results in 5 days. 225 hours if you are running 24/7. 50 hours if you let your truck run 10 hours a day. Mine was ran about 10.