Oil analysis results

[hiking_mike]

I have an 07 LMM Duramsx with 180k miles. Always changed the fluids when the wear life indicator shows 50%. 

I habve been sending in an anual oil analysis for a few years. 

Recently, I changed from Delvac to Synthetic Delvac 15w-40, with HOT SHots FR-3.

 

Anyway, my last test showed 250 parts per million of Potasium.

 

I have not added collant for almost a year.

I did a pressure test and the truck held presure for 15 min.

I did a test for exhaust gases in coolant and it was neg.

 

My question, is how bad is 250 PPM. I am not sure if I may have contanimated the funnel, etc or skewed the test results somehow.

 

I have oredered a new test kit, changed oil and put in no additives,.I will do a test every 1000 miles and pay atention to carefully keeping the test sample clean.

 

Any thoughts where most possible leake location. EGR cooler, water pump, head gaskets, intake gasket.

 

I have an appoitment in 2 weeks at my local GM shop to see if they can locate any possible location for any coolant contamination of the oil.

 

Any additional thoughts

 

 

 

[Niners 365]

Question I have, if you did a test that shows negative for fluids in the oil, then how are you asking about head gasket? My question is, when you start up truck, do you have constant steam coming out the tail pipe? You can tell difference between exhaust and steam by the smell, and the vapors it gives off. 

 

 

 

  If you do have steam coming out for more than a minute, let's say 2 minutes straight, then I would say your head gasket is blown. If you check your oil, and you have coolant in it, then your head gasket is blown, but I would also change out your header gaskets, since your right thier if it is head gaskets. GM engines are known to blow head gaskets  between 125K and 180K depending on the driving  that has been done. 

 Let us know what you find out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KARNUT]

I’ve had my avalanche now 3 years. The first two I added coolant not much about 1 qt every 6 months. No evidence on dip stick. The last oil change the service person said there was some sludge at the beginning of the drain. I added bars leak right after the change. No problem since. I actually drove it more this year. I’m almost at 180K. My model year has some problems with head cracks. I’m a big believer on not panicking and try easy stuff first. So far so good. 

[64BAwagon]

I had an LLY duramax that had blowouts in both headgaskets and still passed a test looking for hydrocarbons in the coolant. The oil also came back negative for coolant. The definitive test is if the upper radiator hose is hard after being run hard and then sitting all night. If you find that condition its full stop, always the head gaskets. 

Mine would push coolant out when towing. The engine would get up to temp and heat soaked and then you could watch the bubbles in the degas tank (overflow) 

[Z45]

[quote] HOT SHots FR-3[/quote]

^^^^^^^There's the reason.....

Using aftermarket oil additives with synthetic motor oils is not only unnecessary, it could disrupt the oil formulation and reduce performance. 

Edited January 26, 2023 by elcamino

[Niners 365]

10 hours ago, KARNUT said:

I’ve had my avalanche now 3 years. The first two I added coolant not much about 1 qt every 6 months. No evidence on dip stick. The last oil change the service person said there was some sludge at the beginning of the drain. I added bars leak right after the change. No problem since. I actually drove it more this year. I’m almost at 180K. My model year has some problems with head cracks. I’m a big believer on not panicking and try easy stuff first. So far so good. 

 

10 hours ago, KARNUT said:

Be careful adding these addadituve until your engine. I had an 03 S10 w 4.3L and 3 previous owners b4 me. One of them added this same oil leak stuff in the engine. When the head gasket blew on it around 125K, we found that stuff allover in the heads. Like hard rubber pieces some size of a qrtr. We drained the whole engine out with gas, got as much as that gunk out as possible. Those pieces can cause some major catastrophic events in your engine. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Niners 365]

3 hours ago, 64BAwagon said:

I had an LLY duramax that had blowouts in both headgaskets and still passed a test looking for hydrocarbons in the coolant. The oil also came back negative for coolant. The definitive test is if the upper radiator hose is hard after being run hard and then sitting all night. If you find that condition its full stop, always the head gaskets. 

Mine would push coolant out when towing. The engine would get up to temp and heat soaked and then you could watch the bubbles in the degas tank (overflow) 

 

[KARNUT]

38 minutes ago, Niners 365 said:

 

 

I’ll go with a crate long block probably GM. 

[Niners 365]

This site is having problems quoting tweets. I was wanting to know from 64BAwagon the part you mentioned that your truck would blow coolant out while towing. Blowing it out where? The tail pipe or the Upper hose yo mentioned? If it is tailpipe, then that is as well a sure sign head gasket is shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[64BAwagon]

It pushed coolant into the degas tank, the auxiliary overflow coolant tank. It would over pressure it when towing and the tank would blow coolant out the overflow. https://www.gmpartscenter.net/oem-parts/gm-radiator-surge-tank-84257137?origin=pla&gclid=CjwKCAiA5sieBhBnEiwAR9oh2uZ-v4zTszzLXaCTvR_zOoZEIPrzSRuCURm3r-Wjd8Wh8zuhhtafjBoCxQwQAvD_BwE

 

The crazy part is that it never pushed coolant out the tailpipe or into the crankcase (I had an oil analysis done AND tested the overflow coolant tank for hydrocarbons)  The gasket blowouts were sort of like a reed valve, it would push  cylinder pressure at certain temps and heavy loads into the coolant jacket. The sad part was that both heads had the blowout in the same place on the rearmost cylinder. Shortly after mine was built they changed the headgasket design. Too bad mine wasnt the update because that was a $4500 hit a couple of months after I retired. 

It was at the dealership for a week and they couldnt verify it was headgaskets based on the symptoms. 

Edited January 26, 2023 by 64BAwagon

[hiking_mike]

When talking to the oil analysis people with Hot Shots Secrete. They stated that I should really start to plan to investigate after a second oil test.

They also stated that Potassium in oil normally indicates coolant in the oil. The good test was no Glycol was present. As they explained, the leak could be very minimal and possibly only sporadically.

 

My main concern is if anyone is familiar with a reading of about 250 parts per million of potassium, as how actually large or small a possible coolant leak could be.

 

I have another test result that should be received in a week or so. 

 

I plan on taking the truck to a dealer that would have better leak down test equipment than I have, in an attempt to see if they can rule out where any coolant leak could be.

 

Glycol in the oil is the main culprit of causing damage to the engine. So if there is a leak, hopefully catching before any real damage is caused.

[64BAwagon]

Mine was at the dealer for a week and they leak tested it for long periods and came up with nothing. This was months after it first exhibited symptoms of pushing coolant out the overflow and the hard upper radiator hose in the AM. 

[Niners 365]

Hiking_Mike, it would be a safe bet that your head gasket has blown. Before you cause more damage waiting on tests, I would just replace it. Also replace your oil pan gasket too. The stuff in that dextrose coolant, will eat the oil pan gasket.. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Black02Silverado]

How were all the other results.  Can you post it up here?

[customboss]

On 1/25/2023 at 6:27 PM, hiking_mike said:

I have an 07 LMM Duramsx with 180k miles. Always changed the fluids when the wear life indicator shows 50%. 

I habve been sending in an anual oil analysis for a few years. 

Recently, I changed from Delvac to Synthetic Delvac 15w-40, with HOT SHots FR-3.

 

Anyway, my last test showed 250 parts per million of Potasium.

 

I have not added collant for almost a year.

I did a pressure test and the truck held presure for 15 min.

I did a test for exhaust gases in coolant and it was neg.

 

My question, is how bad is 250 PPM. I am not sure if I may have contanimated the funnel, etc or skewed the test results somehow.

 

I have oredered a new test kit, changed oil and put in no additives,.I will do a test every 1000 miles and pay atention to carefully keeping the test sample clean.

 

Any thoughts where most possible leake location. EGR cooler, water pump, head gaskets, intake gasket.

 

I have an appoitment in 2 weeks at my local GM shop to see if they can locate any possible location for any coolant contamination of the oil.

 

Any additional thoughts

 

 

 

If you are getting annual oil analysis get the lab service to answer the potassium question. If they can’t get a better lab service.