[Buggman]

I recently analyzed my engine oil from my first oil change done at 1500 miles. I noticed some metals that are not normally associated with oil additives. These foreign metals were aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, lead, silicon, and titanium. I won't give concentrations because I did not take a control sample of my original oil when I bought the car new. However, I was wondering if the metals could be from engine wear, and if so, what engine components might be giving up each metal. I guess the various bearings throughout the engine and the cylinder walls are the likely candidates for the metal sources, but I was hoping someone could be very specific as to where each metal may be coming from. Thanks for any help.

 

[Buggman]

I am an analytical chemist for a specialty chemical company. I use inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy to determine concentrations of metals in all kinds of materials. I like to analyze stuff like motor oil on the side. There are good laboratories around the country that would be willing to analyze your motor oil for a fee. I'm sure you can find some by doing a search on Google. You might try Galbraith Labs as a start.

 

[Buggman]

I recently analyzed my engine oil from my first oil change done at 1500 miles. I noticed some metals that are not normally associated with oil additives. These foreign metals were aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, lead, silicon, and titanium. I won't give concentrations because I did not take a control sample of my original oil when I bought the car new. However, I was wondering if the metals could be from engine wear, and if so, what engine components might be giving up each metal. I guess the various bearings throughout the engine and the cylinder walls are the likely candidates for the metal sources, but I was hoping someone could be very specific as to where each metal may be coming from. Thanks for any help.

Are there any engineers out there who can tell me where the metals listed in the above note are coming from? I suspect most, if not all, are coming from the engine and not from the motor oil. I am not in a panic because of finding the metals. I know all things wear out at a certain rate. I was just hoping someone could be ***very specific*** as to where each metal may be coming from to satisfy my curiosity. The knowledge may even help me trouble shoot some engine problems that may occur after three-or-four hundred thousand miles. Thanks for any help.