Lead in oil

[Michael McLaughlin]

Thanks for the very thorough information. In looking over the report  
again, in both oil analysis reports there's been elevated levels of  
boron and molybdenum. I have no idea what that means.  :-)  Copper  
levels were below average for both reports.

We typically have pretty cold winters, so I'll look at going with a  
shorter oil-change interval in the winter.

-Mike

On Sep 6, 2010, at 7:21 AM, Louis-Alain Richard wrote:

> Just to be sure everyone knows about lead in oil.
>
> Engine bearings for crankshaft, rods and camshafts are made of a  
> special
> porous metal called "Babbitt" that contains lead.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babbitt_(metal)
>
> So, this explains why some lead could be found in oil analysis. In  
> normal
> usage, concentrations should be minimal (a few PPM) as bearings  
> should last
> hundreds of thousands miles before needing replacement. From what  
> I've seen,
> I've rebuilt a few engines, the bearings shells are steel-backed  
> with a thin
> layer of copper over which there is the Babbitt material. So maybe  
> copper in
> oil would be a more significant telltale for engine bearing wear ?
>
> Secundo, in Europe, in fair weather countries, oil changes intervals  
> could
> reach 30 000km (20 000 miles) and not just for diesel engines. Even  
> the
> lowly 2.0L ABA engine from the MK3 Golf as such an interval. So  
> you're not
> extending yours too much if you live where water don't freeze during  
> winter.
> Cold starts are very hard on oil, more than anything else.
>
> Louis-Alain
>
>
>> -----Message d'origine-----
>> la part de Michael McLaughlin
>>
>> Thanks for the response. I believe the engine block is indeed iron.
>> I've been running Mobil 1 5W-40 for the most part, and will look at
>> chaging the weight. The first oil change I went 10K on synthetic,  
>> then
>> bumped it up to 12.5K at the suggestion of Blackstone.
>>
>> The engine uses a bit of oil -- takes a quart or so every 1,500 miles
>> or so -- so I figure I'm adding so much oil that going with long oil-
>> change intervals isn't so bad.  :-)
>>
>> -Mike
>>
>> On Sep 5, 2010, at 1:38 PM, NIck Miller wrote:
>>
>>> Nothing that I can think of... The block in your car is aluminum or
>>> Iron, do you know?  I don't but I assume its iron.  Not sure.
>>>
>>> If it is in regard to bearing wear, do you run the proper weight oil
>>> for the engine?  perhaps go to a 20w40 and see if the number
>>> changes, this will offer better protection for the engine/bearings
>>> because of its increased viscosity, but will hamper the engine ever
>>> so slightly for the same reason, and it would technically lower the
>>> power output by a few, at most 2-3hp, in any test I've ever seen.
>>> So little so that its negligible and within the error range in some
>>> tests on some dynos...
>>>
>>> Anyway, I assume you're intervals for oil changes are around 8-10k
>>> if you are using analysis, not much I can think of other than do you
>>> use Cheap 87 octane gas, and maybe bump up the viscosity of the oil
>>> you use if you think the bearings are wearing too rapidly.
>