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Ran into these. I thought someone else on here had the same issues where Blackstone don't analyze chunks.
No, Blackstone Laboratories oil analysis cannot detect visible chunks or "flicker" of debris in your oil, as it measures microscopic particles using spectroscopic analysis. To find large debris, you must also physically inspect the oil filter by cutting it open at an oil change to find larger metallic particles that the filter traps.
Microscopic particles: Oil analysis uses techniques like Inductive Coupled Plasma (ICP) spectrometry to measure metals on a microscopic level (parts per million) that are too small to see.
How could a professional oil analysis, say Blackstone for example, not detect this amount of metal in your oil sample, that seems illogical/impossible, however i know thing about the process of oil analysis i'm just using common intuition seeing that much metal/glitter in the oil
I was thinking of checking my oil like this at my next oil change, but i'm not certain if really want to look...
Curious what oil and filter do you currently use in this engine ?
Keep us updated .....
Long Live Corvette !!!
Yeah it’s crazy you would imagine with this kind of material in the oil it would be extremely evident in an oil analysis but Blackstone has told me more than once that anything visible with the naked eye in the oil will not show up in their testing, which makes sense because I sent in an oil sample one time that clearly had glitter in the oil and the analysis came back completely normal on wear metals.
In the oil that you’re seeing in the picture above it was Mobil1 5w30 with a Mobil1 filter.
when I took the car home from the dealership they used some in-house Dodge brand filter (bproauto) and I have no clue what oil, which is exactly why I decided to change it. Thank God I did
Yeah it’s crazy you would imagine with this kind of material in the oil it would be extremely evident in an oil analysis but Blackstone has told me more than once that anything visible with the naked eye in the oil will not show up in their testing, which makes sense because I sent in an oil sample one time that clearly had glitter in the oil and the analysis came back completely normal on wear metals.
In the oil that you’re seeing in the picture above it was Mobil1 5w30 with a Mobil1 filter.
when I took the car home from the dealership they used some in-house Dodge brand filter (bproauto) and I have no clue what oil, which is exactly why I decided to change it. Thank God I did
Thats right, it was you, Forgot. Again at least they're not fighting you that it was you that abused the engine. Early christmas present.
Thats right, it was you, Forgot. Again at least they're not fighting you that it was you that abused the engine. Early christmas present.
so far the dealership has been just fine working with me on getting a resolution. They did mention that a third-party group from GM has to get involved and I guess approved the claim so hopefully I don’t get any pushback from them and if not then yes indeed it will be an early Christmas present lol
Ran into these. I thought someone else on here had the same issues where Blackstone don't analyze chunks.
No, Blackstone Laboratories oil analysis cannot detect visible chunks or "flicker" of debris in your oil, as it measures microscopic particles using spectroscopic analysis. To find large debris, you must also physically inspect the oil filter by cutting it open at an oil change to find larger metallic particles that the filter traps.
Microscopic particles: Oil analysis uses techniques like Inductive Coupled Plasma (ICP) spectrometry to measure metals on a microscopic level (parts per million) that are too small to see.
So if metal is seen in the oil to the extent as shown in the above photographs, it would be a waste/pointless to send a sample of this oil to Blackstone ?
So if metal is seen in the oil to the extent as shown in the above photographs, it would be a waste/pointless to send a sample of this oil to Blackstone ?
Yup, thats not consider wear. thats damage. they look for microscopic wear is what they analyze. Not chunks. Chunks are still one piece that are not broken down to analyze in their process.
Last edited by helga203; Nov 26, 2025 at 03:05 PM.
Yup, thats not consider wear. thats damage. they look for microscopic wear is what they analyze. Not chunks. Chunks are still one piece that are not broken down to analyze in their process.
Exactly right. They look for normal wear but just add an accelerated rate and then anything in the oil that shouldn’t be there as far as fluids. Anything visible to the naked eye isn’t going to show up. As a matter of fact on my 2011 base model I had a ton of metal shavings in the heads because my valve tips were being ground down and I did an oil analysis and it came back normal. I’m not taking any credit away from Blackstone I’m sure they do great work but obviously you cannot assume just because you have a good report that you do not have a mechanical problem
We didn’t even bother cutting open the filter because there was so much metal on the oil. The service manager wants me to put more miles on the car then bring it back for one more drain so we can submit the claim. He’s confident they will either put a new motor in or rebuild mine.
Good deal. Hope it works out.. did you happen to get that in writing?
No I didn’t…. In hindsight that would have been the thing to do :/
I have a 60 day warranty from the purchase date so I should be okay though. He said the claim would have to be submitted and some third party group from GM approves it or something.
I know its to late, but you should of taken a picture of what oil filter they used. If its not gm oem you would have had evidence they used inferious parts and they damaged the engine with wrong oil filter used. This is what these ****** do when we don't used oem parts to get out of their warranty, find a way to blame the customer that they did the damage and not honour the warranty. I just thought of this. I to would not have thought to take a picture also its just something we don't think about.
On thanksgiving im thinking about ur situation instead of talking to the in laws. WTF.
I know its to late, but you should of taken a picture of what oil filter they used. If its not gm oem you would have had evidence they used inferious parts and they damaged the engine with wrong oil filter used. This is what these ****** do when we don't used oem parts to get out of their warranty, find a way to blame the customer that they did the damage and not honour the warranty. I just thought of this. I to would not have thought to take a picture also its just something we don't think about.
On thanksgiving im thinking about ur situation instead of talking to the in laws. WTF.
Haha don’t stress too much over my situation lol
i still have the filter they used but I doubt it’s to blame for what’s going on with the motor. I guess it’s possible but I wouldn’t think so. It wasn’t the wrong filter just not the filter that GM recommends I guess. When I cut it open it actually seemed like a nice quality filter. That would be wild if the motor was in perfect shape and then somehow that filter started all of this. I put a Mobil1 filter back on and after the 175 mile drive to the dealership this is what was in the oil.
Haha don’t stress too much over my situation lol
i still have the filter they used but I doubt it’s to blame for what’s going on with the motor. I guess it’s possible but I wouldn’t think so. It wasn’t the wrong filter just not the filter that GM recommends I guess. When I cut it open it actually seemed like a nice quality filter. That would be wild if the motor was in perfect shape and then somehow that filter started all of this. I put a Mobil1 filter back on and after the 175 mile drive to the dealership this is what was in the oil.
Man that is just a ton of ****. I'll be so surprised if a few or all the bearing are damaged with all that **** going through the system. If you are off tommoor put ur miles u need on it and get it back in their.
i wonder if you'll be priority over this or its going to collect dust waiting.
Man that is just a ton of ****. I'll be so surprised if a few or all the bearing are damaged with all that **** going through the system. If you are off tommoor put ur miles u need on it and get it back in their.
i wonder if you'll be priority over this or its going to collect dust waiting.
Gotta work tomorrow but this is weekend and next weekend I’m going to put a bunch of miles on it…. I don’t care if this whole process takes all winter as long as they fix it and make it right. If I have it back and ready to go by spring I’ll be happy
Gotta work tomorrow but this is weekend and next weekend I’m going to put a bunch of miles on it…. I don’t care if this whole process takes all winter as long as they fix it and make it right. If I have it back and ready to go by spring I’ll be happy
i see an aftermarket catch can? wondering if this car is was not all stock and was put back to mostly stock before trading it in? did the previous owner know it was damaged? or did you install that?
i see an aftermarket catch can? wondering if this car is was not all stock and was put back to mostly stock before trading it in? did the previous owner know it was damaged? or did you install that?
I put that catch can on right after I bought it. The car was 100% stock when I picked it up. It’s possible that the car was built and then put back to stock but I see no evidence of that
I put that catch can on right after I bought it. The car was 100% stock when I picked it up. It’s possible that the car was built and then put back to stock but I see no evidence of that
All kinds of possibilities as to what has happened and why, and if they give you a new engine, you’ll likely never know the what. I know for a fact that the used car sales folk in some dealerships slap dealer plates on a used car and take it home and drive it when there’s no opportunity to sell it. So that car could have been really beaten on for a few days. In any case, I hope everything works out for you and the dealership makes it right.
All kinds of possibilities as to what has happened and why, and if they give you a new engine, you’ll likely never know the what. I know for a fact that the used car sales folk in some dealerships slap dealer plates on a used car and take it home and drive it when there’s no opportunity to sell it. So that car could have been really beaten on for a few days. In any case, I hope everything works out for you and the dealership makes it right.
yeah that was my thinking either someone from the dealership drove it for a few days and beat the hell out of it or somebody bounced it off the rev limiter on a test drive doing a burnout or something stupid like that. But yeah hopefully I just get a new motor and won’t have to worry about it. I appreciate it
