Engine Oil Analysis

[5390john]

Just curious if anyone has ever had engine oil analyzed and what, if any,  benefits from doing so.
John Adams

[David Greenburg]

I have not personally done it, but it is popular in certain circles in the sports and import world. If you want to go deep on the subject, take a look at the Bob the Oil Guy site. We will look forward to hearing back from you in a year or so!

[Lexi]

Yes, I would also like to hear of your testing results. Clay/Lexi

[Big Fins]

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/

[5390john]

There was a link to Blackstone Labs in the today's Hagerty News e-mail, that's what caused me to ask the question.
I am about to put my '55 up on jack stands for the winter and do routine maintenance and thought it might be something interesting to look into.
Anybody dealt with them? Any useful results?
John Adams 

[Big Fins]

I used them all the time when I had a small fleet of trucks. One sample will establish a baseline in which to follow. Doing just one will give you valuable information, but following samples will help you to find out the true internal condition of the engine. They also do coolant analysis.

When an in-frame freshening up of a 14-16 liter engine costs then, $10,000 a few dollars for the oil analysis was money well spent. They give you an entire breakdown of every kind of metal and contaminant in the engine. You know exactly what to expect. Today, a full rebuild of a big truck engine can be upward of $25k-$30k.

[bctexas]

Here is another view of oil analysis, recorded by a fellow named Lake Speed Jr.  You may recognize the name - his father was a noted race driver.  He is a Certified Lubrication Specialist.  He is a big proponent of oil analysis and provides a detailed explanation of what it provides and why to do it.  He has recorded many other fascinating YouTube videos about motor oil.  His views are based on science and testing, not marketing and opinion.

What info oil analysis provides:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyxFKqrbPHQ

How to read the report:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgP1V3a4CPo

Happy Motoring!

[tcom2027]

I used them all the time when I had a small fleet of trucks. One sample will establish a baseline in which to follow. Doing just one will give you valuable information, but following samples will help you to find out the true internal condition of the engine. They also do coolant analysis.

When an in-frame freshening up of a 14-16 liter engine costs then, $10,000 a few dollars for the oil analysis was money well spent. They give you an entire breakdown of every kind of metal and contaminant in the engine. You know exactly what to expect. Today, a full rebuild of a big truck engine can be upward of $25k-$30k.

 


I did oil sampling too,for same reasons. Especially when I bought a new(er) unit. It gives a baseline.THe Oil sampling kits from NAPA and CAT show the levels of nasties in parts per million. Also coolant intrusion.The reports also show acceptable levels and based on the results suggestions for future sampling. I sampled every other oil change. When using eleven gallons of oil and fifty bucks for a pair of filters, the twenty buck for a sampling kit was pretty insignificant.   

Sampling the oil in a thirty year old automatic transmission is probably more important than sampling the engine oil. THat oil is probably twenty plus years old.

tony

 
 

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

They are routinely done on airplanes too. They tell you what metal is in there and you can determine if it's bearings, cam, etc.
It can also tell you if you have intake leaks bypassing the filter, and if you are running too rich.

[Lexi]

Sounds like a very useful test. Always wanted to have one done. Clay/Lexi

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I had Valvoline test the oil in my Dragster, and I was shocked when the result came back saying that I had way too much Alcohol in the oil.   Turns out I was running the fuel system way too rich.

Bruce.