oil analysis help please
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 109
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From: Toronto
CL55, S550, 450SL
oil analysis help please
I was getting the low coolant warning so I would add around 2 cups of coolant, after a few thousand km, the light would come on again and I would need to add more. I added dye to the coolant and could not find any leaks (I have not checked the heater core yet).
Thinking that it could be a headgasket or pitting in the engine, I decided to send off a motor oil sample for an analysis and the results were: 0-glycol, but... Sodium level is 642ppm.
Before I removed the oil for the sample, I pressurized the coolant reservoir and it would drop from 15psi to 5psi in a couple of hours. I pumped it up a few times while looking for the leaks. I then turned the motor on for less than 1 minute for the oil to circulate and then pulled the oil sample.
Oil is Mobil 1 0w40, Euro formula with 4,000 km at time of analysis.
Is the high sodium level from coolant?? If so, besides the headgasket and pitting, would there be any other ways of coolant to get in the oil??
Thanks
Thinking that it could be a headgasket or pitting in the engine, I decided to send off a motor oil sample for an analysis and the results were: 0-glycol, but... Sodium level is 642ppm.
Before I removed the oil for the sample, I pressurized the coolant reservoir and it would drop from 15psi to 5psi in a couple of hours. I pumped it up a few times while looking for the leaks. I then turned the motor on for less than 1 minute for the oil to circulate and then pulled the oil sample.
Oil is Mobil 1 0w40, Euro formula with 4,000 km at time of analysis.
Is the high sodium level from coolant?? If so, besides the headgasket and pitting, would there be any other ways of coolant to get in the oil??
Thanks
Last edited by MagCL; Mar 17, 2014 at 02:02 PM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Sodium comes from 2 places. Sodium Sulphonate in the oil additive pack & coolant.
The standard Sodium level in virgin Mobil 1 0W-40 Euro Formulation is 3ppm. You must have a coolant leak & it is pretty likely head gasket related. You can buy indicator strips that will detect combustion by-products in the coolant to confirm. I would check this.
The standard Sodium level in virgin Mobil 1 0W-40 Euro Formulation is 3ppm. You must have a coolant leak & it is pretty likely head gasket related. You can buy indicator strips that will detect combustion by-products in the coolant to confirm. I would check this.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
CL55, S550, 450SL
Turns out the oil cooler gaskets were where the oil and coolant were mixing. I changed both of these, did a pressure test on the coolant tank and the pressure didn't drop. Hopefully that was the only problem. I'll do an oil analysis again in a few months to make sure.
