BMW oil analysis after 2nd oil change

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Elements Avg 1/13/04 3/8/04
Aluminum 5 7 3
Chromium 0 0 0
Iron 10 12 8
Copper 6 8 4
Lead 1 1 1
Tin 0 0 0
Molybdenum 50 83 16
Nickel 1 0 1
Manganese 2 3 1
Silver 0 0 0
Titanium 0 0 0
Potassium 5 6 3
Boron 46 39 53
Silicon 6 8 4
Sodium 3 4 2
Calcium 2,412 2,463 2360
Magnesium 430 141 719
Phosphoros 837 779 894
Zinc 942 941 942
Barium 0 0 0

SUS Viscosity @ 210°F 56-68 58 63.1
Flashpoint in °F >365 370 415
Fuel % <2.0 <0.5 <0.5
Antifreeze % 0.0 0.0 0.0
Water % 0.0 0.0 0.0
Insolubles % <0.6 0.0 0.2

Comments welcom, I'm interested in other peoples analysis. I changed oil from Castrol Syntec to Amsoil during the first oil change and now have numbers to compare against. I very happy with the results so far. I also switch out filters every 5,000 miles with or without an oil change which seems to be positive action. Analysis shows very low insolubles which equates to excellent filtration.

4/23/047:16 AM

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Original Post

widmanMember

I don't see the mileage posted, but from your comment of changing filters at 5,000 I'm assuming you are using extended drain intervals. Personally I like to find ways of keeping the iron under 10 ppm in 4000 miles or so. So if you are over 5,000 miles, you have a good control of wear. Much of the silicon may be still be coming from the engine breakin. But Sodium should not be there. Maybe it is coming through the air filter from salted roads. If so, I wouldn't be looking for extended drain intervals during the winter. From the fuel I assume you used two different labs, the second using a more critical standard. <2% is often looked at as ok, but I prefer to know even if it is 1%. Same with insolubles.

5/2/045:06 AM

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