Oil Analysis

Since the previous owner of my 2008 WR250X removed the air filter at some time in the bike's history, I decided to do an oil analysis on my latest run of oil. This was a fairly quick change, paranoia, because I was hoping to flush out any contamination that might have been trapped in the oil. While I was draining the oil, I captured a bit of it and sent it to Blackstone Laboratories for analysis. The results are either confusing or depressing. Neither I or the analysis tech can decide which, as yet.

I'm wondering if anyone else on the list has had their oil analyzed?

ALUMINUM 31
CHROMIUM 1
IRON 27
COPPER 95
LEAD 2
TIN 0
MOLYBDENUM 81
NICKEL 1
SILVER 1
TITANIUM 0
POTASSIUM 2
BORON 176
SILICON 10
SODIUM 4
CALCIUM 2310
MAGNESIUM 16
PHOSPHORUS 1427
ZINC 1534
BARIUM 2

The tech's notes were: "Aluminum, copper, and silver were on the high side in this first sample.
Universal averages show typical wear levels for this type of engine after about 850 miles on the oil.
Aluminum shows piston wear and copper is from brass/bronze parts. It's hard to say where that silver is
coming from. We've seen silver from bearing cages in some bike engines."

my experience with oil analysis results is that they give better information with time..
that means doing another test on the next oil change, with you as rider..
may give you a better idea what's going on (having said that, I don't know what a test costs..that may be a limiting factor)
the tech's notes say it best: some wear...
tech says high silver but sample says 1, I guess that's high...
if you can compare another sample, watch for diiferent oil additives which throw the results...

I've seen one other UOA for the WR250R/X : http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1273818

I've wanted to do that, but I never think of it in the midst of an oil change.

Sarah

craigq wrote:

I've seen one other UOA for the WR250R/X : http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1273818

That's an interesting comparison. My bike has about 8X the miles of this data. I'll get it check again at 7k, the next oil change. The analysis is $25 and worth the money for my peace of mind (or total frustration, whichever occurs).

You're spending your money on a test that neither you nor the tech's can fully interpret. If you don't know enough to interpret them then it is meaningless. Just because it's only $25 doesn't mean its worth doing.

By the time the impact of the noteworthy levels of silver are known you will have crashed or sold or had the bike stolen and will have learnt nothing. Still.

I agree that one test is meaningless, other than as a baseline. I expect to do at least one more test to see if the worrisome values change (either way) significantly. Knowing me, if crashing the bike is some sort of end point, the bike and I won't make it to the next oil change. However, if the WR holds up it will probably be my last bike and I'd like to do whatever it takes to keep it alive as long as I am riding. If the previous owner ruined the engine with his antics, I'll start looking for a replacement motor before I need one.