Oil analysis on my 2000MT

[Eli]

Personally, I use Dyson Analysis.

Terry Dyson is a world renowned tribologist with decades of experience in the industry. He will personally analyze your analysis results and give you extremely detailed information about the state of tune of your engine and what you need to do to fix any problems. In addition to this, his analysis is VERY thorough with testing for 21 elements, TAN, TBN, oxidation, nitration and sulfates.. in addition to the standard things like flash point, viscosity, fuel, soot, and glycol. VERY highly recommended, especially if you are new to analysis. However, I realize the price is steep.

Blackstone Labs is a satisfactory alternative on a budget. Their consistency has been called into question, but you can't really beat it for the price.

[jdstew]

Originally Posted by Eli

Personally, I use Dyson Analysis.

Thanks. I just changed my oil on Sunday, and have not thrown away the old oil. When I send in the oil sample for analysis - does it matter if I have let the old oil sit for a few days? Should I shake up the container before I pour out a sample?

I'm only familiar with water purity and urine samples...

[Eli]

A few days probably doesn't matter, but it would be good to note this fact in the oil change notes. It could cause oxidation to read a little high. I think shaking it makes sense, assuming you would've changed your oil with the engine warm as you're supposed to.

The analysis results are in PPM - parts per million. It shouldn't "settle" too much, except maybe the soot(insolubles).

[randerson0248]

Originally Posted by jdstew

Thanks. I just changed my oil on Sunday, and have not thrown away the old oil. When I send in the oil sample for analysis - does it matter if I have let the old oil sit for a few days? Should I shake up the container before I pour out a sample?

I'm only familiar with water purity and urine samples...

Why not email or call the oil analysis company and ask them? There is a lot of dust in the air that would settle into an open container. Is the oil in an open or closed container?

[jdstew]

Originally Posted by randerson0248

Why not email or call the oil analysis company and ask them? There is a lot of dust in the air that would settle into an open container. Is the oil in an open or closed container?

Ha - Great idea. Will do that before I send $. Thanks.

I put the oil into the oil 0-20w plastic oil containers - lid nice and tight.

[MN Driver]

I've also used Blackstone-Labs and every sample from both of my cars came back with some fuel use, but every engine start will have a little bit of added fuel so auto-stop does that a bit. Even when I am by the garage I have to reposition the ramps so I get some auto-stop and a restart so I have a feeling it contributes. It seems that iron and copper wear is a little high(relatively) in one of mine too, but I think the second had Honda oil in it which was probably better than Mobil 1. I've had high iron in every car I've run Mobil 1 with and using anything else I never saw those Iron numbers. The one with higher iron and copper is in the middle of an interval with something different and the one that looked good with probably Honda oil will be getting a run with Mobil 1 to see if the pattern is with that oil. I've never been too impressed with Mobil 1 and currently running the last of the stuff I got for $5/quart or so after a rebate from Mobil and won't be returning to it. ...maybe during the winter but if I've got a summer run it won't be.

You don't need to shake the oil, your analysis folks will do it. It also doesn't matter if its been sitting in the container either, I've had a sample sitting for months once, just as it doesn't matter if its sitting in your engine while you are on vacation for a week. I would mention that you put it in the container that had the new oil as sometimes there are small amounts of silicates or insolubles that the oil filter filters out that might be coming from the residuals in the oil. ...that won't affect the wear numbers though so not to worry.

[Eli]

Yeah, Mobil1 is a pretty mediocre oil overall. There is certainly much better, but M1 is cheap.

Blackstone doesn't test for things like oxidation, so they wouldn't be able to detect whether the oil has been sitting or not like a Dyson Analysis would. Sitting in the crankcase is different because it's closed to the outside environment - or should be, if your PCV is working properly. But I agree, it's not anything to worry about as long as the oil was stored in a clean, closed container.

I'd really like to install an AMSOIL bypass filter on my DD.. Sure would make taking oil samples easy. Hmm... Too many projects, not enough money.

[TRI]

Copper was also around 15 ppm in my 00 Insight with 40k when I 'blackstoned' the oil. They called it average. Nothing to worry about.