High Sodium??
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: AZ
High Sodium??
Did I spill some salted peanuts down my engine? Sodium is extremly high on my oil test. It says slight anti-freeze found in my oil, second time now. But the sodium is real high, WTF??? OK, what am I looking at, injector O rings, oil cooler, head gaskets, cylinder pin holes, ??? 
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Texas Coast
Glenn
What type of oil you been using?
What sort of fuels are around? Biofuels are commonly produced using a catalyst of sodium Hydroxide sometime KOH. But thats potasium.
Now most likely you have a coolant leak somewhere. My bet would be the cooler.
Cooler would be my guess since you (I think) just did your injectors. For it to be from the injectors you would have to be using high biofuels and have cup ring leaks for that to show up in the coolant. So rule that out-- I think.
So my wag is the cooler. So long as your not using the wrong motor oil in it and I doubt that.
What type of oil you been using?
What sort of fuels are around? Biofuels are commonly produced using a catalyst of sodium Hydroxide sometime KOH. But thats potasium.
Now most likely you have a coolant leak somewhere. My bet would be the cooler.
Cooler would be my guess since you (I think) just did your injectors. For it to be from the injectors you would have to be using high biofuels and have cup ring leaks for that to show up in the coolant. So rule that out-- I think.
So my wag is the cooler. So long as your not using the wrong motor oil in it and I doubt that.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: AZ
I use Schaeffer's 7000 15W40 and they give free tests. I've only put a couple of gallons of bio in mine, then they quit selling it around here. When I'm on the road I hardly ever see it. Potasium is normal. Seems like someone said the cooler would NOT put anti-freeze in the oil but IDK. Its probably been 80K sinse I did my injectors. I didn't think about the injector cups? I've never messed with the cooler yet so maybe.....
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Texas Coast
I dont think its the cups. If the cooler has a pin hole in a tube or the plate head it can leak into the oil. Not sure if these cooler have the baffle tube sheet supports inside of the shell or not. But I have seen those on larger coolers and the tubes are finned and the finned tubes are weaker. I imagine these are finned tubes.
Have you done anything other to the oil system than add the external cooler?
Have you done anything other to the oil system than add the external cooler?
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: AZ
NO, just the external oil cooler. So, your saying that if the internal plates are leaking that can put anti-freeze in the oil but if its the oil coolers seals leaking that puts oil into the anti-freeze?
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: San Ramon Ca.
From what little I know about oil tests high sodium is normally coolant or an additive in the oil. Did they specifically say they found traces of coolant? What were the specifics Glenn?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Texas Coast
Hi Pete
Glenn
Never mind about the other comments I just saw the inside of one of these coolers and if its a tube leak I think its pretty much trashed.
That said it may very well be a oil cooler head gasket leak by.
pic
This head could leak across from the two ports shown. Or its internal.
EDIT ADD ON
I havent heard of anyone doing this but if there was a tube leak the tube coule be harponed and then use poppet plugs on either end. Poppet plugs that small are hard to find.
Glenn
Never mind about the other comments I just saw the inside of one of these coolers and if its a tube leak I think its pretty much trashed.
That said it may very well be a oil cooler head gasket leak by.
pic
This head could leak across from the two ports shown. Or its internal.
EDIT ADD ON
I havent heard of anyone doing this but if there was a tube leak the tube coule be harponed and then use poppet plugs on either end. Poppet plugs that small are hard to find.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: AZ
Darin, what do you mean, the REAL santa? LOL
Pete, No additives in my oil. I tried to scan the oil test but its such poor quality it doesn't show up. It says "trace of anti-freeze" under contaminants as being A for adnormal being inbetween .5%-.99%. Under the heading additives (PPM 812, year ago it was 357, two years ago it was 9) it has sodium as being X which is extra severe. Every thing else is normal. Last year on the test it said "high sodium may indicate slight antifreeze leak, Glycol test is negitive".
Rocky, thanks for that info. I don't feel like tearing into that thing but I might have to. It sure seems to me that a year ago when I had a slight antifreeze in the oil I posted on here and was told that the oil cooler would not do that. There are no external leaks anywhere. If I had a memory someone gave a run down on the different leaks. Fuel in antifreeze, antifreeze in fuel, oil in antifreeze, antifreeze in oil, etc.
Pete, No additives in my oil. I tried to scan the oil test but its such poor quality it doesn't show up. It says "trace of anti-freeze" under contaminants as being A for adnormal being inbetween .5%-.99%. Under the heading additives (PPM 812, year ago it was 357, two years ago it was 9) it has sodium as being X which is extra severe. Every thing else is normal. Last year on the test it said "high sodium may indicate slight antifreeze leak, Glycol test is negitive".
Rocky, thanks for that info. I don't feel like tearing into that thing but I might have to. It sure seems to me that a year ago when I had a slight antifreeze in the oil I posted on here and was told that the oil cooler would not do that. There are no external leaks anywhere. If I had a memory someone gave a run down on the different leaks. Fuel in antifreeze, antifreeze in fuel, oil in antifreeze, antifreeze in oil, etc.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,773
Likes: 1
From: Texas Coast
Darin, what do you mean, the REAL santa? LOL
Pete, No additives in my oil. I tried to scan the oil test but its such poor quality it doesn't show up. It says "trace of anti-freeze" under contaminants as being A for adnormal being inbetween .5%-.99%. Under the heading additives (PPM 812, year ago it was 357, two years ago it was 9) it has sodium as being X which is extra severe. Every thing else is normal. Last year on the test it said "high sodium may indicate slight antifreeze leak, Glycol test is negitive".
Rocky, thanks for that info. I don't feel like tearing into that thing but I might have to. It sure seems to me that a year ago when I had a slight antifreeze in the oil I posted on here and was told that the oil cooler would not do that. There are no external leaks anywhere. If I had a memory someone gave a run down on the different leaks. Fuel in antifreeze, antifreeze in fuel, oil in antifreeze, antifreeze in oil, etc.
Pete, No additives in my oil. I tried to scan the oil test but its such poor quality it doesn't show up. It says "trace of anti-freeze" under contaminants as being A for adnormal being inbetween .5%-.99%. Under the heading additives (PPM 812, year ago it was 357, two years ago it was 9) it has sodium as being X which is extra severe. Every thing else is normal. Last year on the test it said "high sodium may indicate slight antifreeze leak, Glycol test is negitive".
Rocky, thanks for that info. I don't feel like tearing into that thing but I might have to. It sure seems to me that a year ago when I had a slight antifreeze in the oil I posted on here and was told that the oil cooler would not do that. There are no external leaks anywhere. If I had a memory someone gave a run down on the different leaks. Fuel in antifreeze, antifreeze in fuel, oil in antifreeze, antifreeze in oil, etc.
I understand that you dont wont get in there. But who ever said that the radiator fluid cant get in the oil from the cooler is mistaken.
Some have even had a pin hole at the water pump where the empeller is closest to the block.
Then there is the injector area.
With the levels continuing to run higher I suggest changing the oil more frequently. Until you dig into it.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,419
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From: AZ
Your right about that Rocky, Thanks! Been reading Travis's sticky, good info there. Sounds like the oil cooler should be looked at first, mine has almost 200K on it. Then behind the water pump and then injector O rings. Sounds like the order of things, O boy! I hope your having some luck Rocky!
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