MAN 1550 CR oil sample...high iron and copper

I also had another oil sample that had high coolant. We weren't losing a lot of coolant, very little actually, almost not enough to notice but since I knew the boat extremely well, and it never used any in the overflow bottle, adding an inch after every trip was weird. It also wasn't enough to change the color of the oil but the oil sample did pick it up. Turns out the head gasket was starting to go bad on a C15 CAT, took 2 months to finally get the dealer to act, they had to put die in the coolant, had to run it 40 hours with the die etc. etc. etc.

I was one of those who had a 12v71n rebuilt because of oil analysis alone...6500 hrs, running smooth, started great, but analysis showed extreme high chrome content, did the teardown, bad camshaft, well worn liners etc etc, was well worth the oil sample.

The motors were not fitted with drain plugs.

And, the coolers were changed ONLY because of oil analysis.

I'm at a loss in understanding the relationship between high chrome content and bad/worn camshaft or liners.
To my simple mind, sounds like you would have found similar problems (or possibly also others) on any 6500 hours engine regardless of oil.
And in spite of that, you are saying that the engine was running just fine.
See why I said oil sampling is overrated? Out of sight, out of mind...

High chrome can come from camshafts, the lobes. And piston rings.

Mmm... Are you sure? Never heard of chromed camshaft lobes.
They are rather made in cast hardened iron, and if worn out you should see high iron more than chrome, in an oil analysis.
And also rings, they are either made in cast iron or steel, AFAIK.

By using that theory you could also state that the Oil pressure gauge is useless too.......because a motor always has pressure, unless it's about to have a catastrophic failure!!!!!!!!!!!!

I may be misinformed about chrome in the oil analysis being a telltale for the camshaft issues, I will have to go back and ask the mechanic that told me that.
I am not, however, mistaken about chrome as a wear metal with regards to piston rings.

https://www.brighthubengineering.co...-for-failure-and-replacement-of-piston-rings/

Am I the only one that notices you use the phrase, "never heard of" a lot in your posts? Just curious.

To your question about lack of replies, I've heard of many, especially those found during survey. I find oil analysis to be an excellent indicator of current or potential issues. You go to the doctor and your labs indicate your WBC is high. The doctor uses that as an indicator of problems and looks further. It often means infection but they then determine more specifically. It may mean a minor issue or may lead to uncovering something major. It's a diagnostic tool. That's what oil analysis is. It's an outstanding tool when done regularly.

And why did I not initially reply? Because I knew you'd just dig in deeper and harder and you'd fight every one who disagreed with you. Then you'd post such ridiculous posts as the one I'm now responding to. You don't want a discussion. You want to show you're smarter than everyone else here.

All this from the OP asking about high iron and copper. I agree not a serious matter to worry about but I strongly disagree with oil analysis being overrated. Why? Because I've surrounded myself by some very capable people and they all believe in regular oil analysis and it's value.

Among all forumites, you're the one who's less entitled to make such accusation.

A year ago, after I wrote that I didn't want to enter into the details about why I didn't like a specific Manhattan model, you insisted via PM that you were interested to hear about that.
In hindsight, I'm now wondering if you weren't just curious to cross-check if I was just trolling for the sake of it, but... Hey-ho!
Eventually, after taking the time to translate the notes I took after inspecting two of those boats and seatrialing one of them, I emailed them to you.
It was a 3 pages document, divided into 6 sections, with 53 points in total where I found the boat either poorly built in absolute terms or inferior to most others in the same segment.
A document you mostly agreed with.
And now, you come up with a comment like this?

I'll tell you what. I'm old enough to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff, and rest assured that I'm only here for the former, even when I see a fair share of the latter.
So, feel free to bash my views further attacking the person rather than the content, I sincerely don't care one bit.
After all, if everyone would have said that oil analysis is totally useless (and if you actually read the thread you would know this ain't what I said), then by definition it would NOT be overrated, would it?

Not sure of what you think is wrong with that.
I only used it because I'm not a mechanic myself, but I happen to have spoken with many who are - some of them for up to 40 years, and counting.
Besides, English ain't my mother language.
If you can think of a better expression, I'm always willing to learn.

I just read that article.
I don't think it points in any way to the possibility that chrome content in oil can be affected, also because they specifically mention chrome plating for the top ring only, and even for that, they say "may" be used.
Besides, what dennismc mentioned were actually worn liners.
But an interesting reading anyway, thanks for the link.

I give up. Go along your merry way, and I will just cue up a song by the Spin Doctors that just came to mind .... Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.

Oh yeah, and just for the record I am another one that believes in the value of a properly managed regimen of oil analysis.

I'm sorry to see that right after I thanked you for your post, you are now jumping on the bandwagon of chest thumping against myself rather than debating actual content, that olderboater started.
I was genuinely looking forward to hearing about your checks with the mechanic that told you what you previously admitted to have been misinformed about.
Your call, anyway.
You can also go along your merry way, of course - that is always a given, for all of us little misses.

You just can't help yourself, can you?

Pretty much as yourself, I see.

What do you say guys? I think we can all agree to disagree here. Nobody is going to change anyone's mind but I think there's enough debate here to help people decide for themselves.

Sharing an excellent article with regards to oil analysis in a preventative maintenance program, lots of very good information here. One of the most important aspects I have adhered to is that it is imperative to draw the sample to be analyzed THE SAME WAY EVERY TIME. You are using data to draw inferences, and if the data is skewed because you have used a different sampling method, it pretty much negates the time, effort, and money spent in getting the samples analyzed.

https://www.petersoncat.com/sites/cat/files/downloads/training_handout.pdf

Absolutely. You'll get the highest concentrations from the pan of a cold motor but the best real world sample will be through the dipstick on a recently run motor.

I have heard of strip downs for high copper , the main bearing shells as mentioned above and the “Chrome “ for camshaft wear .They add chrome to harden steel .
Another hobby is classic cars and the engines wear the same except obviously you don’t see sodium in road vehicles.
If you can keep consistent records emphasis on consistency then with bigger ( read expensive) machinery that needs to do huge hrs then oil analysis is the way to go .Personally only doing 50/80 leisure hrs , but always fresh oil + filters annually regardless I do not do it .But understand and respect others who choose to do .It’s harmless and at the time of sale sends out positive signals to the prospects if there’s a wad of oil analysis results stuffed in the bulging history file.