| METALS | ORIGIN | CAUSE | |
| Iron | Fe | Liners,rings,cams,tappets,etc. Dust |
Wear(upper engine) |
| Chromium | Cr | Chromium plated rings Chromium plated liners Cooling water (Na or K chromate anti-corrosion additive) |
Wear(upper engine) Leak in cooling circuit |
| Silicon | Si | Atmospheric dust Pistons All Al-Si parts Cast Si liners Anti-foam additive in the lubricant Silicon gaskets Anti-corrosion additive |
Defective air filter or supplementary air Engine wear Gasket wear Leak in cooling cicuit |
| Aluminum | Al | Pistons Al-Sn bearings (Fuel contaminant) |
Piston wear Bearing wear |
| Boron | B | Lubricant additives Anti-corrosive in the cooling water |
Leak in cooling cicuit |
| Lead | Pb | Cu-Pb bearings Residue of fuel combustion |
Bearing wear Tinning of containers |
| Cooper | Cu | Cu-Pb bearings Bronze bushes |
Bearing wear |
| Tin | Sn | Cu-Sn, Al-Sn or tin flashed bearings |
Bearing wear |
| Silver | Ag | Bearings | Bearing wear |
| Barium | Ba | Lubricant additives | - |
| Calcium | Ca | Lubricant additives | - |
| Magnesium | Mg | Lubricant additives Sea water |
- |
| Zinc | Zn | Lubricant additives | Bearing wear |