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Oil Analysis Report

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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 05:32 PM
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Default Oil Analysis Report

This is the second analysis done on Betty Boop, and they are telling
me there is a lot of copper, and lead on the oil.

The engine runs great, I don't hear any internal noises so I wonder
why this is happening. Is the 19 year old LT1 dying?

Give me your two cents.

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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 06:59 PM
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Maybe its time for a rebuild before hard parts are necessary.
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 07:08 PM
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Lead and copper = bearing shells, IMO.

Yes, I'd guess it's an old engine wearing. If it has good pressure though, and no noises, I'd keep driving it.
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom400CFI
Lead and copper = bearing shells, IMO.

Yes, I'd guess it's an old engine wearing. If it has good pressure though, and no noises, I'd keep driving it.
Sounds like a great advice. Pressure is always above 40 even at idle. Let's see if I can get 20K more, and get busy. I got all the tools to do that surgery.
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 07:57 PM
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I feel I should add to this. *I* would keep driving, b/c I would be "O.K." w/a rod knock "forcing" me to to upgrade to a 383 (or whatever). Not everyone may feel that way, and a nice feature about the 'Vette is that it's easy to drop the pan and look at some bearings. You can replace bearing shells w/o removing the crank, and prevent damage to the crank or rods...and greatly extend the life of the engine too.

Dropping the pan and inspecting bearings should be a couple hour job. Dropping the pan and replacing bearing should also be a few hour job...maybe 3-4 hours at most. I used to have a V8 Jeep that I could drain the oil, drop the pan, replace bearing shells, pan back on fill w/oil and have it running again in 20 minutes. Don't ask why.
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 10:24 PM
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Have you been doing 8-10 thousand mile oil changes for a long period of time? At least this time was a lower content of copper and lead than the previous oil change. They feel like you should extend to 12K mile oil changes. To me that's nuts. The oil may not degrade, but the additive packages does. And when the additive packages delete, the oil can turn to an acid. Not saying this is happening with your oil, just saying.
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 11:05 PM
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When reading oil analysis reports I was instructed to "trend" each metal type.
Am I correct that your report is based on just two analysis'?
Hardly enough time to support a trend unless a catastrophic failure is eminent.

Just curious, whats your procedure for taking a sample?
Are you sampling the fresh oil?
Have you considered taking a sample every 2-3 thousand miles from the same oil change?

Last edited by JrRifleCoach; Oct 28, 2013 at 11:15 PM.
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 11:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom400CFI
I used to have a V8 Jeep that I could drain the oil, drop the pan, replace bearing shells, pan back on fill w/oil and have it running again in 20 minutes. Don't ask why.
I won't ask, just tell us
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 11:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom400CFI
Lead and copper = bearing shells, IMO.


Originally Posted by Tom400CFI

Dropping the pan and inspecting bearings should be a couple hour job. Dropping the pan and replacing bearing should also be a few hour job...maybe 3-4 hours at most. I used to have a V8 Jeep that I could drain the oil, drop the pan, replace bearing shells, pan back on fill w/oil and have it running again in 20 minutes. Don't ask why.
Ive done this before. C3 and C4. My 87 is probably easier than your LT1 car but its crazy easy. Headers, mini starter, nothing in the way. Only the front main is hard to get to. A few years ago I did mine in a couple hours including plastigaging a couple rods and mains. Well worth the time spent. 167000 miles on this bottom end and it still has killer oil pressure.
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Old Oct 29, 2013 | 01:12 AM
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Originally Posted by l98tpi
Have you been doing 8-10 thousand mile oil changes for a long period of time? At least this time was a lower content of copper and lead than the previous oil change. They feel like you should extend to 12K mile oil changes. To me that's nuts. The oil may not degrade, but the additive packages does. And when the additive packages delete, the oil can turn to an acid. Not saying this is happening with your oil, just saying.
Normally around 7,500. The last two changes were two cross-country trips



I agree

Originally Posted by JrRifleCoach
When reading oil analysis reports I was instructed to "trend" each metal type.
Am I correct that your report is based on just two analysis'?
Hardly enough time to support a trend unless a catastrophic failure is eminent.

Just curious, whats your procedure for taking a sample?
Are you sampling the fresh oil?
Have you considered taking a sample every 2-3 thousand miles from the same oil change?
Yes, two

I followed their instructions, drive the car until it reaches operational temp. I drove it to 185°F oil temp, and don't use the first oil that flows from the pan. I used around the second quart.

I could do that
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Old Oct 29, 2013 | 11:23 AM
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Pete, wish I knew you were going to be in my area I would have met up with you for a cruise.
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Old Oct 29, 2013 | 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 96 Vette CE


Pete, wish I knew you were going to be in my area I would have met up with you for a cruise.
That was a bad day man. It was raining, and I was fng mad LOL

Next time

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Old Oct 29, 2013 | 04:19 PM
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Yeah Pete, you were with in 4 miles of my house on 90 as you went thru the last leg of NY going into Mass, I would have even bought you a beer!
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Old Oct 29, 2013 | 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by FWC
Yeah Pete, you were with in 4 miles of my house on 90 as you went thru the last leg of NY going into Mass, I would have even bought you a beer!
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Old Oct 29, 2013 | 06:17 PM
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[QUOTE=96 Vette CE;1585295079]

Now those look like healthy road trips

astepup said that
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