Lead in Diesel engine oil

[Russf]

I was looking at a boat with a Cummins diesel engine 330 HP and in the boat saw an engine oil analysis which was "normal" in all respects but one. One of the reports was labelled "critical" and said that the level of lead was extremely high. The engine only has about 900 hours. Can someone tell me what the concern is here.

Thanks

 

[RickB]

Lead usually comes from bearing wear. It is also possible that you have corrosion of the solder joints on the oil side of your lube oil cooler ... if the cooler is an older shell and tube type with lead-tin solder.

I would do a change and look at the oil again since high lead readings without high readings for copper or silver and tin would point to a soldered cooler.