UOA - High Copper

[desert_porsche]

Just got my first Blackstone used oil analysis on my '01 boxster S. Everything came back great except for over double the universal 3.2L boxster average for copper. Blackstone suggests a possible bushing/bearing issue. I found a post Jake Raby made many years ago where he said that only the main and rod bearings have copper, and that copper is alloyed with manganese, of which the UOA found none. Any thoughts on what it could be? If nothing else, I'm probably just going to ignore it for now.

'01 Boxster S, 36000 miles, 4,800 miles on oil, Mobil 1 5W40

[Flavor 987S]

This is only 1 UOA. It is your baseline. You don't know if copper is going up or coming down. Don't fret about it. Do another test in about 5,000 miles.

Are you sure you are using Mobil 5W40? The only 5W40 Mobil I know of is the Turbo Diesel, and that does not look like the additive package for the Mobil 5W40 TD.

Your zinc and phosphorus are low. Look into another oil selection that is higher in those, like Joe Gibbs DT40 5W40 or Motul 5W40, or Mobil 5W50.

[BYprodriver]

Need to remove the oil sump plate to inspect the oilpickup for debris blocking oil flow to the oil pump.

[steved0x]

Did you buy your car from this guy? With Sam B it's a guarantee.

[Jake Raby]

That sample looks very odd to me.. No tin and no lead at all is odd, and what I'd be more concerned with is what's eating up the anti- wear package in the oil. When wear goes up, the package is consumed.

Its possible that the particles of lead and tin that may be present are to large to be detected in a standard UOA. In this circumstance a particulate test is required.

More reasons why a generic UOA isn't valuable. Its all unicorns and rainbows with most.

[Flavor 987S]

And where's the titanium coming from?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

And where's the titanium coming from?

Titanium salts are now a commonly used compound to offset the loss of ZDDP.

[desert_porsche]

Thanks for the responses. I will probably drop the oil sump during the next oil change to see what I find. I've also switched to PP Ultra Euro 5W40 (Porsche A40 approved). For what it's worth, when I replaced the oil filter, I examined the oil filter medium and didn't see any particles.