Just got my oil analysis back in...

[Hitchhikingmike]

2002 Explorer with the 4.0 I ran 7k miles on Amsoil on this report. Plan to do 10k miles on the next oil change. Everything looked good, except for the silicon. Anyone know how silicon gets into the oil and how a dirty air filter would influence it?

I enjoy traveling all around Texas in this explorer. Granted the next several years from now we still have cheap oil, America still retains its democracy and sovereignty, and Jesus has not returned in that time, I plan on running this engine well past 150k miles. Hopefully the Amsoil will allow me to do just that.

Just wondering if any oil specialists on the form would care to further comment about the condition of my engine. Thanks.

 

[EasyRhino]

Silicon in oil can go high from having a leak somewhere in your intake, including poor air filter seals, tears in your air filter matrix, leaking gaskets in your ine system, and vacuum leaks that suck in or allow in fine sand, hence = silicon. I would check this fiirst.

What confuses me more is your Boron and Calcium.

What did your lab say about the three high results?

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

The only commentary the lab gave me is at the top of that paper. I question the boron and calcium too, but apparently it didn't merit any mention in the commentary. But I don't know anything about this kind of stuff. I might just give the lab a call Monday and see if I can talk to someone about the report.

Last I checked the air filter the frame of it was warped/bent. Maybe that could prevent it from sealing properly against the air box? I also took off the intake manifold earlier this summer to replace the valve cover seals. But I put on new seals on everything I took apart and changed the oil right after that.

 

[EasyRhino]

Last I checked the air filter the frame of it was warped/bent. Maybe that could prevent it from sealing properly against the air box? I also took off the intake manifold earlier this summer to replace the valve cover seals. But I put on new seals on everything I took apart and changed the oil right after that.

One way that I check for an airtight intake system is to trace an UNLIT propane torch over all systems that communicate with the intake with the engine at idle (be careful)(i.e. air box, intake tubing, vacuum hoses, IAC valve gaskets, etc). If there is a vacuum leak the engine will suck in the propane and rev up, revealing the leak.

 

[MrQ]

Wow. I never knew you did this, Mike. That's a good test for Amsoil. Unfortunately, my engine prefers the taste of regular over synthetic...

 

[Albino 94LTD]

I also took off the intake manifold earlier this summer to replace the valve cover seals. But I put on new seals on everything I took apart and changed the oil right after that.

There's your silicon. Even though you changed the oil, minute amounts will still disolve into the oil but check your air filter anyway. Amsoil makes excellent air filters too.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

hmm, I am tempted now to get the amsoil air filter http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/eaa.aspx. Its about $39, but I already splurge with the oil, why not for the air filter? Looks like it would last me 4 years too. I almost blindly believe that everything amsoil makes is superior. The video series on the filter sold me! lol

Apparently its the same air filter technology the army uses on some of their tanks's engines. If its good for the army's tanks, its good for my tank!

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

Just purchased an amsoil absolute efficiency air filter. I'm just now making out my college schedule for next semester and realized that I'm going to by driving about 9,000 miles over the semester, all over about 4 month. So this air filter WILL be used and tested. Hopefully this will net me a lower silicon count in the next oil sample.