Iron is up slightly...

I got my Blackstone report yesterday and iron was 16, up from a consistent 4-7 on previous reports. The universal average number is 9ppm. Same oil and change intervals, and no hard driving. I'm pretty sure this is not a terrible number, but I do wonder why it is up. So my question is: Which components on the 3.6 would possible generate iron? I suppose camshafts and the crank, but beyond that I don't know. I believe this engine came with the "Lokasil" coated pistons...does Lokasil contain any iron??? Any input, much appreciated! Or, do you think this is just a big nothing-burger? At what ppm should a guy be concerned about higher than normal numbers? Thanks a lot! -Tom

This is why I choose not to send my oil to Blackstone. I really don't want the added stress. I'm happy being blissfully unaware. However, curious to hear other's responses -- maybe I'll actually send mine in?

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And that is a question I have often asked myself. I have never done an oil analysis in almost 50 years of vehicle ownership...cars or motorcycles. And some of them have had high mileages. For the fun of it, I'd love to send an oil sample from a drain to two different oil analysis outfits and see if I get the same numbers. Having been in the calibration business (electrical), I like to question the numbers I get. If I get a cal certificate without any traceability to NIST or what have you, it is meaningless.

I agree with you on sending in oil for an analysis. I prefer to have some insight on what's happening inside the engine. I'm not one to look away in blissful unawareness.....but that's just me. Different strokes for different folks. The idea of sending off two oil samples is intriguing. Never done two. If you want a second opinion, look for your local Caterpillar Heavy Equipment dealer. They usually have an oil analysis lab on premises. I get mine done locally and I believe it's around $18 if I recall. As a point of reference for you, the last oil sample I sent out for my engine came back with an iron reading of 4 on an engine with 36K miles. If that goes up substantially over two or three samplings, I'd probably start to investigate. Like I said, that's just me. As usual, there's the usual caveat here. All of this is all just my opinion and I could be wrong and YMMV. JC 96 TT

If my memory serves, the Wix and Balckstone labs use the same testing equipment and methodology so the results are "apples to apples". Speed Diagnostics uses a different method of testing and the results will not be on the same playing field as the others. In fact, Speed Diag. tells you up front to stick with your lab of choice and do not switch labs if you want to have results you can compare over time. I do 100% agree with you...better to learn the trends in an engine than to be ignorant of what might be going on in the engine. My iron #'s may be nothing, but at least now I know to keep an eye on them at every oil change.

Just a note; you have a Lokasil block vs Lokasil coated pistons. I am an advocate of pulling UOA samples.

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No matter what method or system you use, when you have 9 ppm of a material in your oil, you should see that in any report from any company. If SpeedDiagnostix tells you not to switch labs, that is pure BS and provides you with a relative number to the last test done with them, but it may not be accurate. Any lab that takes any type of measurement has to be traceable to a standards lab or what they are providing is garbage. Also, 9 ppm of iron means nothing. What does it mean in real world wear on an engine if you take an oil sample once a year over a ten-year cycle. Isn't it wonderful to capitalize on "fear". Look at any oil thread.

Tom, I feel a bit sorry that you didn't receive any useful replies to your actual question. With that in mind, did Blackstone comment on the change in iron level in your latest sample? I have used Blackstone for my 997.1 911 and my E60 M5, both fantastic cars with known engine reliability issues, and Blackstone has consistently commented on any changes, or lack thereof, in the oil analysis results. Your iron level change seems notable so, if Blackstone didn't mention it, my first step would be to ask them directly for their assessment of the change. Good luck, hope this helps, Grant

Thanks, Grant. Yea, I was hoping somebody would know the source of iron in this engine in particular. I'll try to post the Blackstone report here but not sure if it will post or not. Anyway, they did mention the valve train and the cylinders, but I don't think this engine has iron cylinders. I'm wondering if their comments were to just engines in general and not Porsche 3.6 specific. I'm sure I could research this elsewhere, but mark that down to me just being lazy! Appreciate your input! file:///Users/tomfitch/Downloads/S034880.pdf

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Hey Tom, You can post PDFs directly on Carpokes. Just use the regular Attachments tab > Add Files and navigate to the PDF on your PC that you wish to share, the same as you would do for photos. It will post as a file, similar to what you did above but will be an actual link that will open in whatever PDF reader the person who clicks it has on their PC or device. It'll look and behave like the weekly Autoweek race schedules from the web that I "print to PDF" and save via my PC's printer menu, like this: Autoweek Racing on TV Listings week of 2024-03-25.pdf (1.04 MiB) Downloaded 98 times The Blackstone report is probably too large for a decent screenshot but if it happens to be a single page, a screenshot might also be a possible work-around as an image post. It's what I use when necessary. Like this partial page from the GT4's Racing on the Circuit manual: GT4 'Race Circuit Driving' engine oil screenshot 2023-08-22.png (142.47 KiB) Viewed 1014 times

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Thanks for the feedback and welcome to Carpokes!

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Same change intervals by mileage, not time, I would assume. And what exactly is a "universal average number"? Is that based on that particular engine and for the same mileage intervals? The higher numbers all of a sudden could be due to breaking through a hardened surface coating providing low numbers into the slightly softer metal underneath it now providing higher numbers. Just a guess. Contact surfaces on rocker arms?

Tom, You are correct that iron would be from camshaft or crankshaft and not Lokasil cylinders (which are not iron). Could also be rod/crankshaft bearings but would expect to see some increased copper too if that were the case. My opinion depends on mileage on engine. Concerned if 20k miles and less concerned if 100k+ miles on engine Consider adding 2 oz. ZDDP per oil change and monitor with UOA. Best wishes.

FWIW, I’ve attached the last report from my 99 996. You can see that there were a couple of high iron numbers, which correspond the oldest readings, but overall they just tended to fluctuate. I wouldn’t worry until/unless you see consistently high numbers over multiple changes. IMG_0745.jpeg (72.67 KiB) Viewed 604 times Here is an example of iron that is too high (not mine): https://www.blackstone-labs.com/wp-cont ... Report.pdf

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Very helpful, thank you! Interesting report on that engine that blew. I'll bet he wishes he'd heeded the report from 4 years prior and maybe addressed the IMS with those high numbers. Of course, you never know for sure what is going on, I suppose. But then, that is why we do the oil analysis, isn't it?! Same reason I get a blood work-up every year!