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Date:         Wed, 5 Jun 2013 17:48:03 -0500
Reply-To:     Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Oil analysis on worn engine
Comments: To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <046301ce6236$ca1da6e0$5e58f4a0$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The silicon tells me that you have dirty air leaking past the air filter. The last time I saw silicon numbers this high was when I installed K&N air filters in my two Mercedes 300E's. I immediately threw them out, installed pleated paper air filters and changed the oil. The numbers were back down to normal in the next analysis & the silicon levels stayed low during subsequent oil analysis. I will NEVER install a K&N air filter in a car again because of this.

The high levels of iron & aluminum tells me that the cylinder walls & piston skirts are wearing fast. Could this be related to the dirty air being drawn into the engine?

The high boron & sodium are coming from your antifreeze - not a good sign for your head gaskets.

Thanks, Tom Hargrave www.kegkits.com www.stir-plate.com www.towercooler.com www.grow-sun.com www.raspberryproject.com

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Stuart MacMillan Sent: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 4:51 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Oil analysis on worn engine

Just in case anyone is interested in what the oil looks like in a poorly maintained '85 Westy with 140k miles after 2000 miles: http://imgur.com/HLX3OUK

Good news is no coolant (probably)! Bad news-lots of iron, lead and aluminum. No surprise with the low compression in two cylinders. Iron could be from a worn cam and lifters as well as cylinders and rings. I'll install an oil pressure gauge next to see how bad the bearings are. Still hope to get 3000 miles out of it this summer.

Stuart


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