Used oil analysis
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,052
Likes: 290
From: Farmington MO
Used oil analysis
Who has used motor oil analyzed? How do you use the results? I can see the obvious if some metal content is way out of whack, but I know some people have oil analyzed after nearly every oil change. How does it help you?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
There are several things that you can do w/the results. I used them religiously here at work for fleet.
First, if you do it every time you change oil, you establish a "history" and pattern that should become familiar. This takes time. BUT, once you have that, anomalies will become easily noticeable red flags. So there is that; it can be used as a diagnostic/preventative measure.
Second, you can assess the condition of your oil, and use that to determine the actual life of the oil in your application/usage.
Finally, you once you have a history established, you can experiment with different oils and have an objective way to "see" the results/performance.
First, if you do it every time you change oil, you establish a "history" and pattern that should become familiar. This takes time. BUT, once you have that, anomalies will become easily noticeable red flags. So there is that; it can be used as a diagnostic/preventative measure.
Second, you can assess the condition of your oil, and use that to determine the actual life of the oil in your application/usage.
Finally, you once you have a history established, you can experiment with different oils and have an objective way to "see" the results/performance.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,052
Likes: 290
From: Farmington MO
Thanks, both of you. The trending or pattern makes perfect sense. I have no interest in trying to extend my oil change interval, so that part 
I have seen copies of Blackstone reports. That's partly what prompted my post. Without having a pattern, and without having something obviously out of range, looking at one report sort of leaves me going, So? And?
I have seen copies of Blackstone reports. That's partly what prompted my post. Without having a pattern, and without having something obviously out of range, looking at one report sort of leaves me going, So? And?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 33
From: Charlotte Michigan
I bought a kit from NAPA but will wait until next spring to use. The oil has been in a year now with around 4-5000 miles. I have AMSOIL and there Ea filter for the upto 24,000 mile life. I did that in my Olds Aurora. My neighbor said it looked like new yet when it was changed. But want to do a analysis on the '93.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Ahhh, maybe some CAT dealers? None of that is true of mine (Wheeler CAT in SLC). They have their own lab, in house. I semi frequently call down there and talk to the person who is running the lab for a variety of reasons. CAT does charge for the kit...but that charge also includes the cost of the analysis; when you buy the kit, you've already bought the analysis...they don't charge you twice. I don't make any trips to CAT; I mail in the samples (postage pre-paid) and they email me back the reports.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,052
Likes: 290
From: Farmington MO
What you will have is your readings, and the Universal Averages to compare it to.
Send Blackstone an email. They will probably respond. Ask the following question: "I have a 19xx Corvette with a 5.7L gas engine. I understand your reports include Universal Averages I can compare my readings to. What sample-size will the UA's in my Corvette's report be based on?"
snip
Send an email and see what they say. Please report back, as I'd be curious too. I once asked this exact question about the UA's for my 1999 Super Duty. They replied "all 7.3 Diesels from 1999-2003". So I'm comparing my readings to other like engines in similar service, and IIRC, the sample size was about 5,000 analysis, (not individual engines). That's a representative comparison.
Send Blackstone an email. They will probably respond. Ask the following question: "I have a 19xx Corvette with a 5.7L gas engine. I understand your reports include Universal Averages I can compare my readings to. What sample-size will the UA's in my Corvette's report be based on?"
snip
Send an email and see what they say. Please report back, as I'd be curious too. I once asked this exact question about the UA's for my 1999 Super Duty. They replied "all 7.3 Diesels from 1999-2003". So I'm comparing my readings to other like engines in similar service, and IIRC, the sample size was about 5,000 analysis, (not individual engines). That's a representative comparison.
