Blackstone report in, need advice

[DanFromTucson]

I just got my first Blackstone report. My car isn't tracked or abused and it only had 36K miles (<5K on the oil in the sample). Unfortunately my lead is already at 14 PPM. I'll do another report when I hit another 5K miles and hope this one was a fluke.

[KevinM]

Originally Posted by DanFromTucson

I just got my first Blackstone report. My car isn't tracked or abused and it only had 36K miles (<5K on the oil in the sample). Unfortunately my lead is already at 14 PPM. I'll do another report when I hit another 5K miles and hope this one was a fluke.

Common Blackstone report with S54s...if all seems well engine wise, you are on the right course. Even if the copper levels remain high, if the lead and other metals are normal and you are not tracking/abusing the car, it's hard to get too worked up. Most people don't get these analyses and just drive the car. I get Blackstone reports on my Ms, but not other cars.

[bignosejim]

I had a high initial lead on my first Blackstone report. But since then, they have come down. For me, keeping the revs below 4k until warmed up might be the biggest factor. Also don't use Techron fuel additive until after you draw an oil sample. I went ahead and got their sample pump so I could draw samples from the top and before I change my oil so I can still use techron and not have it affect my oil sample results. I also change my oil every 5,000 miles.

[jdoublehcubed]

wtf is up with that molybdenum? is it a typo or something?

[bignosejim]

Part of the new additive package in TWS. Titanium is also higher.

[StickMon]

Just got my 3rd:

[SCHMOUPE]

Originally Posted by StickMon

Just got my 3rd:

Attachment 1056619

Congrats! Looks like you are still in the clear

[kdphan]

100k miles

very nice StickMon!

[redhot91gt]

Here is my last oil change for comparison. I didn't go quite long enough (I'm so use to changing every 3k)

Will be doing another this month at 115k. Hope it still looks good.

[David70]

It's good to see these higher mileage cars without problems.

[SCHMOUPE]

This has turned into an awesome thread. Keep posting your reports guys!

[SCHMOUPE]

Got my 2nd Blackstone a year after the first and about 3500 miles later. Looks like I am still good as far as the rod bearings go. Can someone chime in about the Molybdenum?

[NickyC]

Looking at these reports (I've had two done myself so far, with a third currently in the mail since I purchased my car last July), it seems what's really important are the copper/iron/tin levels. If copper is high, the bearings have worn to the point you're into the copper, and if iron/tin is high, you're into the crank as well. If the lead level is a bit higher than expected, but the copper/tin/iron levels are OK, I don't think there's anything to worry about.

For my new Z4M, I ran an initial report which showed like 66ppm lead, but the copper/iron/tin levels weren't that high above average. I ran another report 2k miles later, and the lead was way down 17ppm (of course from the lower mileage possibly, but honestly, I have NO clue how many miles the initial sample had on it) and the other three metals were within averages. I guess this third sample I've sent in will tell more of the story, as the oil had exactly 6k miles on it. However, what I think happened is that prior to buying my car, the dealer or whatever put in some type of fuel injector/octane booster or something which drove the lead levels up to an insane amount. If my lead was really *that* bad, this motor should have theoretically blown some time ago, but I've put 8k miles on the motor since this initial high test reading.

My car is an 06, and it's run perfectly without a single issue since purchase in July. I've looked into this issue quit a bit on the M3 forums, and there are many, many M3s now with 130k+ miles still on the original bearings. As far an I'm concerned, all bets are pretty much off on ANY motor with 130k miles, not to mention our high performance/revving S54s.

I think this issue is pretty well overblown if your car is an every day driver, street machine. I feel the only people who need to worry are those who track their cars heavily, but at that point, which engine would you not worry about?

If there was a serious issue, you'd hear people all these over forums and others talking about premature engine failure in their Z4Ms. In all my years of browsing this site and others, I've heard of ONE guy (Z4M) who got the unlucky surprise engine grenade at like 45k miles. I really feel this issue is overblown.

Also, to the answer the question above about the Molybdenum, I think it's an additive that is completely harmless. I believe I had some in one of my reports and Blackstone mentioned that.

[bignosejim]

Originally Posted by SCHMOUPE

Got my 2nd Blackstone a year after the first and about 3500 miles later. Looks like I am still good as far as the rod bearings go. Can someone chime in about the Molybdenum?

Molybdenum (almost easier to say than spell, almost) is an additive. The new TWS uses it and so do some other oils. I'm not sure what oil you used here, but that is where it came from. Here is an article from Bob is the Oil Guy
The gist is that moly platelets are attracted to metal surfaces and forms an overlapping protective coating like armor on all of your engine parts.

Originally Posted by NickyC

Looking at these reports (I've had two done myself so far, with a third currently in the mail since I purchased my car last July), it seems what's really important are the copper/iron/tin levels. If copper is high, the bearings have worn to the point you're into the copper, and if iron/tin is high, you're into the crank as well. If the lead level is a bit higher than expected, but the copper/tin/iron levels are OK, I don't think there's anything to worry about.

Iron could be the crankshaft but there are a lot of other engine parts made out of iron also. I wouldn't be too quick to blame the crankshaft (could be vanos or camshaft wear also, sleep tight). Tin is from the bearings, they are made of babbit and tin, lead, and copper are part of that.

[schobyb]

Here's mine on my '06 at 25,000 miles total, 5000 on the oil. I'm usually under 4000 RPM until fully warmed up, but I'm sure I've been impatient several times and I do drive generally aggressive once warmed up.

[KevinC]

How do y'all feel about LiquiMoly 10W-60 as a TWS substitute? It's available via Amazon Prime for far less than TWS, and now we have Shell supplying the OEM oil, and who knows how much different that stuff is.

An earlier post from a year ago stated his car was built 11/8/06 - same exact date as mine (LL93707). I'd really like to know if the updated VANOS bolts were in use by then, does anyone know when the cutover was?

[inTgr8r]

Sorry but I don't agree with your indi Vanne.
I've done sampling right from the beginning.
It provides a great historical trend on how the engine is doing.
For such a minimal cost I don't understand why more people don't do this.

[Vanne]

Thats ok InTgr8r i agree on the trend, just having a shit day, ill remove said post..

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Vanne

Thats ok InTgr8r i agree on the trend, just having a shit day, ill remove said post..

Lol... I know how those go.

One other thing that I have found on this topic is it really helps resale.
I've done testing on my other cars as well & prospective buyers LOVE to see these reports.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

I've done testing on my other cars as well & prospective buyers LOVE to see these reports.

They've got to LOVE these reports...only an OCD person would do such things I shouldn't comment as I'm in same boat

[bibbly]

attached find the oil analysis of the car i received with 45k miles on it. decided to do the rod bearings. glad i did...they were all shot and getting into the copper. attached find the BEST one...#6 upper.

bearings are far cheaper than restoring a crank...however, if you did pull the crank you could revise the journals to resolve the early wear issue....maybe.

[SCHMOUPE]

Originally Posted by KevinC

How do y'all feel about LiquiMoly 10W-60 as a TWS substitute? It's available via Amazon Prime for far less than TWS, and now we have Shell supplying the OEM oil, and who knows how much different that stuff is.

An earlier post from a year ago stated his car was built 11/8/06 - same exact date as mine (LL93707). I'd really like to know if the updated VANOS bolts were in use by then, does anyone know when the cutover was?

I just put in LM 10W-60 in my car this year so I can get you an answer hopefully next year this time when i get the blackstone report. I can only manage to put 3-4k a year on this car

My build date is November of 06 but can't tell you about the updated vanos bolts.