Oil Analysis
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 29
From: Berryville Virginia
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08
Oil Analysis
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!
Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 35
From: Turlock CA
I believe many are using Blackstone Labs. I sent in my first sample a week or two ago and am awaiting results. I made an initial change at 2,230 miles.
--Dan
--Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,759
Likes: 539
From: AZ
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10-'11-'12-'13 '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Blackstone is well respected on BITOG. IF you get a suspicious oil analysis, have Terry Dyson do a read on the analysis. You can use this URL to get the info on a dyson analysis,
http://bobistheoilguy.com/terry.html
http://bobistheoilguy.com/terry.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by ByByBMW
Blackstone is well respected on BITOG. IF you get a suspicious oil analysis, have Terry Dyson do a read on the analysis. You can use this URL to get the info on a dyson analysis,
http://bobistheoilguy.com/terry.html
http://bobistheoilguy.com/terry.html
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 27
From: Long Island NY
Originally Posted by dbratten
I received my oil report from Blackstone Labs today if you are interested in how their report looks.
Thanks for posting the Blackstone report.
As I suggested here at the forum a while back, it would be neat if there was a thread in the FAQ that merely included all members' Blackstone reports... would be interesting to compare. I plan to run a Blackstone oil test soon and will definitely post the results.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Holly Michigan
Originally Posted by Vet
This report is for what car? Report says LS1, 5.7... but you have a C6, right? Just a typo maybe? Just curious.
Thanks for posting the Blackstone report. As I suggested here at the forum a while back, it would be neat if there was a thread in the FAQ that merely included all members' Blackstone reports... would be interesting to compare. I plan to run a Blackstone oil test soon and will definitely post the results.
Thanks for posting the Blackstone report.
As I suggested here at the forum a while back, it would be neat if there was a thread in the FAQ that merely included all members' Blackstone reports... would be interesting to compare. I plan to run a Blackstone oil test soon and will definitely post the results.Your oil samples are used to determine what ? Developers use sampling to determine fuel dilution, coolant leaks (glycol burns off), oil life and wear metals, to predict iminent failures. But, to give justice to your sampling how did you take your sample ? From your oil change bucket ?
Silicone content is extremely low these days since it contaminates O2 sensors, most of our seals on the LS2 are now carrier. Oh, and there are no sand cast LS2 components... Your represented oil analysis provides little value, very basic analysis performed on fleet vehicles.
So again whats your intent ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by AFTERBURN
Just curious. WHY ?
Your oil samples are used to determine what ? Developers use sampling to determine fuel dilution, coolant leaks (glycol burns off), oil life and wear metals, to predict iminent failures. But, to give justice to your sampling how did you take your sample ? From your oil change bucket ?
Silicone content is extremely low these days since it contaminates O2 sensors, most of our seals on the LS2 are now carrier.
Your oil samples are used to determine what ? Developers use sampling to determine fuel dilution, coolant leaks (glycol burns off), oil life and wear metals, to predict iminent failures. But, to give justice to your sampling how did you take your sample ? From your oil change bucket ?
Silicone content is extremely low these days since it contaminates O2 sensors, most of our seals on the LS2 are now carrier.
The high metal levels also show that the engine is throwing off wear metals at a moderately high rate as it breaks in.
If he followed Blackstone instructions he most likely caught it midstream as he drained the oil.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 27
From: Long Island NY
Just for comparison, below are some Blackstone oil figures from an `05 C6 LS2 with 8,500 miles, second oil change (8,000 miles on oil).
Aluminum: 5
Iron: 36
Copper: 304
Lead: 29
Silicon: 113
This particular report suggested that copper, lead and silicon were high... everything else considered ok.
I feel that periodic oil analysis tests are an excellent way to monitor an engine's internal condition. It would be interesting to determine the averages for the LS2 specifically, so I am interested in seeing more Blackstone reports for LS2s.
Aluminum: 5
Iron: 36
Copper: 304
Lead: 29
Silicon: 113
This particular report suggested that copper, lead and silicon were high... everything else considered ok.
I feel that periodic oil analysis tests are an excellent way to monitor an engine's internal condition. It would be interesting to determine the averages for the LS2 specifically, so I am interested in seeing more Blackstone reports for LS2s.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 35
From: Turlock CA
Originally Posted by Vet
This report is for what car? Report says LS1, 5.7... but you have a C6, right? Just a typo maybe? Just curious.
Originally Posted by xs650
If he followed Blackstone instructions he most likely caught it midstream as he drained the oil.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
We do oil analysis (SOAP) at work on aircraft parts to look for trends. However, I've never done them on my cars. You can use a SOAP to either determine how much longer the oil will last or to determine how your engine is wearing. I change my Mobil 1 every 5,000 miles so I don't need to use it to determine the oil condition. I also don't do it because what if I do see the copper or iron or something else continue to rise. I'll just worry about it because I really doubt if I'd tear down an engine due to a poor oil analysis.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by dbratten
My results may be skewed by my taking the sample from the oil filter. I failed to fully RTFM until it was too late.
It' still a good thing to do. If you take a few more samples at future oil changes, you'll get to see how much the wear metals in the oil decrease as your engine breaks in and cleanses itself of the stuff the factory left in it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by glennhl
I change my Mobil 1 every 5,000 miles so I don't need to use it to determine the oil condition. I also don't do it because what if I do see the copper or iron or something else continue to rise. I'll just worry about it because I really doubt if I'd tear down an engine due to a poor oil analysis.
Some people find that they have coolant leaks into the engine by oil analysis before there are obvious other signs. I don't think the LSx engines have internal leakage problems, but some GM engines are famous for them.
With your background, I expect you know it, but for the others, If the copper and iron are rising along with the silicon, then they are probably rising because of an air leak in the intake system or a poor air filter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
From: Allentown PA
Originally Posted by xs650
One thing his analysis tells us is that there is lot of silicon in his oil, most likely from a sloppy assembly job.
Is a sloppy engine build coverend under warranty?
BTW, I'll analyze anyones washer fluid for $19.99
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 27
From: Long Island NY
Originally Posted by CYA-Vett
I still don't see the point... people are willing to spend money on anything.
I think for many of us, doing something like testing oil is just part of the ownership experience... fun and interesting. That's what makes this a hobby. Some owners love to spend hundreds of hours waxing the paint... if that makes 'em happy, by all means they should do it. Others, like me, hate waxing paint, but instead like to spend their free time and extra bucks studying mechanical issues... like testing and graphing oil quality, etc. At the very least, it's educational and entertaining... and thus worth it.
Let's face it, most of us car guys are a little nutty. Paying a few bucks for an oil analysis now and then is certainly one of the lesser car-guy "offenses".