Oil Analysis

[sailsmen]

I have done 2 analysis, one sample @2,500 miles on the oil and one @2,750 miles on the oil.

May next one will be @3,000 miles on the oil.

My preliminary data at this point leads me to beleive you can go 5k between intervals with no negative effect on the engine, but I will have to get some more sample analysis done before I can state it for sure.

@$15 each it is worth it.

[RF Overlord]

sails:

Where did you get the kits, how long do the results take, etc...?

[Agent M79]

sailsmen,

You did this or sent it out?

What kind of information do you get from it?

How big is a "sample"?

Are there charts, graphs, essays?

Are there cash prizes and free gifts?

[sailsmen]

I am using Amsoil. They have a list of wear metals(copper, zinc, lead), contaminants(glycol, water) and several physical properties(viscosity, acidity protection) on the analysis. You can also call to discuss the results, it will state on the analysis if anything is abnormal.

You can take the sample, about 4 oz, at an oil change or if not you will loose about a quart. You can try and siphon it out the dip stick, but I reccomend getting the oil from the oil pan drain plug.

You can order it over the web, they send a kit. Mail back the sample and with in 9-12 days they fax the result w/ a mailed hard copy. If anything is critical they will also call you to discuss.

I called, left a message. They called back and told more than I ever want to know about oil. This is why I choose Amsoil, as an independent I thought they would be more likely to talk to me.

[Agent M79]

That's to cool. Gonna look into that.

[Marauderman]

This is cool-- I can't recall anyone on the board doing this yet! However--with a relative new car--I don't expect any alarming results with most of our cars well below 20k miles (most-yeah -a few over ,but) ..just the same --this is new territory as Sarge would say--so the results and their posting methods wil be of interest to us all for sure--We may need the specifics on Phone# and mailing addresses should others want to follow up and pursue on their own, eh! It could prove fruitful in the future as we get more miles on the beauties

[sailsmen]

I also have gotten another member with the same mileage, but different oil to also do a sample for comparison.

Should have something to report in about 3 weeks.

[engine23ccvfd]

On our fire engines we test the oil quarterly and depending on the outcome decide when to change it....course this is pretty standard for large diesels(SP) Who is it that drives the concrete truck in Chicago bet he knows all about engine oil testing!

[UncleLar]

I'll check with our mechanics tomorrow on how often they get ours analyzed.We have over 350 ready-mix trucks here in Chicago/Cook County alone at the company I work for.I used to work for the largest truck parts company in Chicago and lots of our fleet accounts used it,it can tell you a lot about what shape your engine is in,like bearing wear,oil dilution from fuel,etc.

[MitchB]

I run the oil analysis program for 133 diesel powered vehicles in a very large municipality. New, the engines in these vehicles cost about $40K. Oil analysis will give you good information about the condition of your vehicle. I'll give you a few trends.

A new engine during break-in will give higher than normal values for wear metals. Bearing wear shows up the highest. A well maintained, broken-in engine will show stable, low levels of wear with low contamination. An engine that is worn will show higher levels of combustion contamination.

Air induction leaks will give high levels of silicon with resultant higher levels of wear metals. Higher operating temperatures for long periods of time show up as a loss of baseline viscosity (with full synthetic). Cold weather operation shows up as higher sediment & solids contamination along with higher levels of fuel dilution. Coolant/antifreeze contamination is a big red flag! Overheats show up as high aluminum/cast iron due to piston scuffing.

Anyway... you will know much more about what's going on with your engine with regular oil analysis than you can imagine. If you have a warranty issue, analysis information could be invaluable.

Mitch

This is cool-- I can't recall anyone on the board doing this yet! However--with a relative new car--I don't expect any alarming results with most of our cars well below 20k miles (most-yeah -a few over ,but) ..just the same --this is new territory as Sarge would say--so the results and their posting methods wil be of interest to us all for sure--We may need the specifics on Phone# and mailing addresses should others want to follow up and pursue on their own, eh! It could prove fruitful in the future as we get more miles on the beauties

[Marauder57]

What weight of AMSOIL are you using? Did you do the 5W-20 or the 0W-30?

[sailsmen]

I am using the Ford oil. My Dealer changes it for free every 5k and I am chaning it my self in between, using the Ford oil, the free Dealer changes.

[UncleLar]

MitchB explained it pretty well.I was surprised to find out our mechanics don't have the oil analyzed anymore,our head mech told me they change the oil 4 times a year and so they don't need it..I guess it works for them as we do have very few engine failures but if it were my fleet I'd get it done at least twice a year. Speaking of engine failures a rooky driver ruined a good Mack engine yesterday,for those of you not familiar with big diesels it is possible to lug some of them down really bad and if you push in the clutch just as it stalls it may run backwards.It will murder an engine as there is no oil pressure. The 3 big clues are no oil pressure,no power and smoke coming out of the air cleaner, The rookie ran his backwards yesterday for in excess of 10 minutes. Today was NOT driver appreciation day at work. $$$$$.$$

[RF Overlord]

Uncle Lar:

Didn't that nitwit wonder why he had only 1 speed in forward, but 15 in reverse? :shake:

:lol: