Oil Sample Results For My ISL 400

[Lukeaa]

I sent an oil sample to Blackstone Labs, one of the sponsors on IRV2.com and here is my report. The first two numbers under each metal is my coach and the third is the Universal Average. Good engine!

This is for my Cummins ILS 400 with 11,566 miles. It is a 2007 model.
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/


LAB NUMBER:
D67640
UNIT ID:
DIPLOMAT
OIL
REPORT DATE:
2/26/2009
CLIENT ID:
34714
REPORT
CODE: 1/284
PAYMENT:
CC: Visa
MAKE/MODEL:
Cummins ISL 400
OIL TYPE & GRADE:
Chevron Delo 400 15W/40
UNIT
FUEL TYPE:
Diesel
OIL USE INTERVAL:
Miles
ADDITIONAL INFO:
2007 Monaco Diplomat RV
LUKE ALEXANDER
PHONE: (408) 398-5182
CLIENT

FAX:
SAN JOSE, CA 95139
ALT PHONE:
EMAIL: rvluke@gmail.com
LUKE: Except for the mildly high silicon, everything looks good in the first sample from this engine. Silicon
COMMENTS
can show dirt getting past the air filter; however, we suspect it may be from a harmless silicone sealer
rather than dirt since your wear looks so good. Universal averages show typical wear metals from this type
of engine after about 9,000 miles on the oil. This oil was run 6 months and we don't know how many miles
that adds up to, but judging by the wear and insolubles (solids in the oil), we don't think it was too long. No
fuel or coolant found. Nice report.
MI/HR on Oil
UNIT /
MI/HR on Unit
11,566
UNIVERSAL
LOCATION
Sample Date
02/12/09
AVERAGES
AVERAGES
Make Up Oil Added
0 qts
ELEMENTS IN PARTS PER MILLION
ALUMINUM
2
2
2
CHROMIUM
3
3
2
IRON
28
28
24
COPPER
8
8
10
LEAD
2
2
2
TIN
0
0
1
MOLYBDENUM
4
4
33
NICKEL
0
0
0
MANGANESE
2
2
1
SILVER
1
1
0
TITANIUM
0
0
0
POTASSIUM
5
5
2
BORON
4
4
56
SILICON
11
11
6
SODIUM
4
4
8
CALCIUM
3366
3366
2894
MAGNESIUM
41
41
99
PHOSPHORUS
1297
1297
1070
ZINC
1446
1446
1252
BARIUM
1
1
0
Values
Should Be*
SUS Viscosity @ 210°F
72.1
69-82
cSt Viscosity @ 100°C
13.50
12.7-16.3
Flashpoint in °F
425
>405
PROPERTIES
Fuel %
<0.5
<2.0
Antifreeze %
0.0
0.0
Water %
0.0
<0.1
Insolubles %
0.4
<0.7
TBN
TAN
ISO Code
* THIS COLUMN APPLIES ONLY TO THE CURRENT SAMPLE
416 E. PETTIT AVE.
FORT WAYNE, IN 46806
(260) 744-2380
www.blackstone-labs.com
©COPYRIGHT BLACKSTONE LABORATORIES 2007
LIABILITY LIMITED TO COST OF ANALYSIS

[Stretch]

Glad you found a good lab to check you oil. As the lab stated the silicon reading being high could be a problem. I was in the trucking industry for thirty years b4 retirement. If we receive a lab report that showed high silicone we imediately checked the complete air intake system. That includes all tubing rubber hose connections and clamps for a loose connection. We also took out the air filter and examined it using a light bulb inserted into the center of the filter. Then we looked for bright spots that showed holes in the filter media which may have caused the high silicon reading. Of course a high silicone reading really could mean dirt getting into the engine which will eventually cause damage to the piston rings and the bearings......
You need to also understand that the initial oil sample is really useful only as a baseline or fingerprint of your engine. (most engines show slightly different values on the various minerals found in the sample). Send in another oil sample a year from now and no doubt the reading will be different. The big one to watch is the silicon sample. If that value goes up it indicates dirt getting into your engine.......Thats not so good.

[Lukeaa]

Ross,

Thanks for your input on the oil sample report. This is my first diesel and I am going through a large learning curve. I will pull the air filter and look it over and go over the ducting, etc. After this oil sample, we did 1,200 miles in Baja Mexico and there is serious dust there. Again, thanks for all of your suggestions.

Regard from the KOA in Gallup, NM,
Luke

[Stretch]

When you remove the air filter element from the filter canister do two things. 1. carefully tap the element against something hard like a block wall or such to remove loose dust and dirt. Tap the metal end caps and dont bang on the paper portion. 2. carefully wipe out the insides of the canister with a damp rag. Then when you reinstall the element nothing will have slipped by and gotten on the "clean" side of the plumbing.........

[Bill2]

Hello members,
I just received my oil report back from Blackstone labs in Ft. Wayne In. on my oil from the 2006 HR Endeavor 400ISL. The only thing that stands out is a high Copper level of 116 which they say should be around 9. Has anyone else had this happen? They say since it is fairly new 32,000 miles that it is probably from the lingering wear-in at the brass/bronze parts. They say to just watch it on the next oil change. What do you all think?
Bill O.

[Stretch]

Ben: I have some experience with diesel fleets using oil analysis. One test results wont tell you much. It s really just a baseline. At some further point in time when you turn in another sample and get the results back now you can compare. If you see copper continuing to rise or some other value continuing to rise then you might want to worry. It is really just a trend tool. One exception is Silicone....Sand (dirt) if this is high just once you have a situation where dirt is getting by the air filter and into the engines oil system. Must fix that post haste.