I remember reading somewhere on CF about sending oil samples out for analysis. They checked for different items like metals that showed bearing wear, silicone content, gasket material etc. Has anyone done this; if so would you do it again, and what company did you use?

Thanks!

 

Oil analysis is a waste of time and money. It is intended to show "trending". what that means is that you'd start taking samples and having them burned from the time the engine was new. The first sample (after break in) would be your baseline, each sample after that would be burned and recorded which would allow you to see trends (ie. increasing Fe counts). Just taking one sample would tell you nothing of worth.

 

I used an oil analysis to support an engine damage claim against a dealer whose idiot technician put nearly eight quarts of oil into a Miata engine. The analysis showed high amounts of bearing material, etc in a sample of oil that had only ~100 miles on it, thus substantiating my claim of engine damage.

Previous to the lab test, the dealer was stonewalling me claiming that there was no way the engine had been damaged. When the zone rep read the lab report, he asked when we'd like to have a new engine installed, gratis -- at a different dealer.

The lab report was interesting reading.

I seem to have lost track of the receipt for that analysis, but there are several out there that offer the service. A quick Google search should turn up what you seek.

Be well,

SJW

 

Oil analysis is a valuable diagnostic tool, kinda like getting
a blood test. It will show many things like antifreeze in the
oil, wear metals which can be diagnosed to cams, bearing,
et.

Go to:
bobistheoilguy.com
You will learn alot.
Craig

 

I have turned to AGAT Laboratories here in Canada.

They have a local office so it is convenient. Prices seem reasonable to
me. They offer what I'd describe as a subscription service - you
prepay for a quantity of tests and receive that number of sample vials.
Then you just draw a sample mid-stream (sound familiar?) and turn it
in with a completed form. Results come back within a few days.

It has been a few years since I last used their service. They were
willing to try analyzing a coolant sample but this wasn't within their
normal scope of service at the time and the results weren't really
conclusive. On an oil test they did, I remember them being puzzled
about the high level of molybdenum - I used to follow a practice of
adding a can of GM's EOS product each fall when I parked the car.

It isn't necessary to have history going back to when the vehicle
first went into service. Part of the information provided when you
send in the sample helps them determine wear and I believe they
factor the results (or their comments) accordingly. Given the volume
of testing, the experience with different engine types and oils, they
are able to give pretty good feedback.

Check in the phone book under laboratory services and ask some of
the fleet operators or heavy equipment repair companies in your area
for recommendations.

.

 

On that site you will learn more than you ever wanted to know about engine oils

 

I did it. Once.
Pretty much it was "interesting but useless" information for me; so it showed .04ppm lead...so what? Am I going to actually do anything with that information?

I can't remember the place I used...and it's just as well.

It was part of an AMSOIL plot to rid me of my hard-earned cash....I was to use very expensive AMSOIL lube and filter, then never change it: just get the analysis done every 5000miles or so. Didn't take me long to figure out that it was cheaper to simply change the oil and filter, using Valvoline Synthetic and a Purolater filter than to have the analysis done!!!

That was MY experience.

Larry
code5coupe

 

Well, that is more like data than information.

If someone says the piston clearance is 0.015" or the A/F is 9.8%
what good is this in isolation?

I don't have the reports at hand and it's long enough ago that I
do not remember specifics, but the reports from AGAT came with
interpretations of what the various values signified, given the info
they receive about the vehicle.

I'd agree that if all they give are the raw data, then your job is
more difficult. We should learn enough about it to be able to tell if
the lab misjudges but I'd look for a firm that provides more service.

.

 

Here is what one looks like (this on a fellow forum member's 1999 C5):
Corvette C5 AMSOIL Series 2000 0w30 Used Oil Analysis Report

To address some of Larry's concerns above, I don't use the AMSOIL lab. The above tests were done here: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
Standard analysis at this lab costs $20 per sample. But for the above series of tests, we bought a bulk of samples with TBN which notably lowered the price. But, as Larry pointed out, the utility of this for a daily driver is marginal. Blackstone can point out pending problems though, such as when it becomes apparent that their is coolant in the oil. This may allow a small percentage of owners to identify problems early, but the vast majority aren't going to have these problems.

Also, contrary to Larry's impression (maybe fed him by an uneducated dealer), using extended drain intervals with AMSOIL does not require oil analysis. The AMSOIL SAE Synthetic 5w30 is rated by AMSOIL for use up to 1 year or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, in normal service. And AMSOIL warranties their oils for this use. No oil analysis is required for this use.

AMSOIL does allow longer drain intervals with oil analysis though. There are many diesel owners out there with bypass filters that are going 100K miles on an oil change. Given the price of oil analysis, this obviously isn't cost effective as Larry pointed out. However, on a truck such as my F350, which takes 16 quarts of oil, that equation changes somewhat.

And FYI, though AMSOIL Corporate policy prohibits me from advertising pricing online, I will say that I can get the Preferred Program pricing on the AMSOIL SAE line is less than Mobil 1 Extended Performance can be bought for at Walmart.

 

Blackstone is the name of a lab I've seen before on a completely different make's forum. Unless you know a lot about metals, chemicals and solids, and how they affect your engine, I'm with rocco: I have no idea how this information or "data" is helpful. Or not.