Factory oil analysis after first 1100 miles, results inside...

[hokiez28]

I changed the oil for the first time in my 2012 SS L99 a couple of weeks ago at 1125 miles. I sent a sample of the used oil to Polaris Labs to be analyzed (we use them to analyze oil in industrial machines where I work).

I have attached the oil analysis for anyone who would like to give their thoughts/opinions/advice.



The first thing you will notice is that as expected, wear metals such as iron and copper are at above average levels. With a new engine breaking in and the left over particles from the machining processes, I presume this is normal. The comments indicate the copper may be coming from the oil cooler (copper coils?).

I am more concerned about the other two abnormal contaminants, silicon and fuel.

Silicon is most likely dirt/dust (although it is possible that it could be gasket material). The question is, how is dirt getting into my engine and why was the factory AC Delco oil filter not doing a very good job of filtering it out? Is there a problem with my air filter? Is it simply left over "dirt" from the machining/assembly process? I am hopeful that the Mobil 1 filter I installed will do a better job at filtering out the silicon particles as I believe it is a smaller micron rated filter than the AC Delco, someone correct me if I am wrong.

Finally, I am showing about 2.3% fuel dilution in the oil, in fact when I gave the sample to my oil distributor, he smelled it and said "there is gas in that oil". The gas in the oil also likely led to the drop in viscosity. I found some lists of things online that can cause fuel to get in the oil and the two that stand out to me are blow by and short trip driving. Obviously with a new engine there is going to be some degree of crank case blowby through the PCV system and I didn't install my RX catch can until about 700 miles. Also most of my driving is back and forth to work every day, which is only 6 miles each way.

Any idea how concerned I should be with the silicon levels and the fuel dilution levels? My oil rep suggested resampling in about another 1000 miles and going from there.

By the way, my break in has been "spirited", meaning about one time a day (once all fluids are up to operating temperature), I'll do a hard pull from about 5-70 mph, shift into neutral and coast back down to the speed limit. The rest of my driving is normal stop and go city driving, very little cruising at highway speeds.

[NavyDood]

Not a thing to worry about IMO since it was a new engine and only 1100 miles. When do you plan on doing your next oil change?

[hokiez28]

I am planning on changing again at 5k miles, OLM @ 20%, or a year, whichever of these comes first. I will probably pull a sample again at 2500 miles and have it checked.

I am completely comfortable with extended change intervals, oil analysis of Mobil1 5W-30 in my 05 Trailblazer always showed the oil was in great shape at my 9,000 mile change interval. The salesman thought I was crazy when I pulled out these reports when negotiating my trade in value!

[NavyDood]

Here's mine with 13,504 miles on the oil.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196829