Oil analysis

[aldive]

How many of you use oil analysis ?

What labs do you use and what did you pay?

Has anyone used Blackstone Labs ( Dead Link Removed )?

Thanks

 

[Bill Kemp]

Oil, you say?
Check out this guy...http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

 

[aldive]

Bill, I am very familar with Bob's oil site; there is a world of info there.

 

[Robert]

I've been using Blackstone Labs for a couple of years now. I have been very satisfied with their reports. Here is my latest from my Explorer. I usually send in about every 2nd or 3rd sample. I'll be sending in my next sample that I take in the next week or two.

 

[aldive]

Just read the fine print on the Blackstone Labs fact sheet... they charge you an extra $10 for a TBN test. This is included with the Oil Analysers test.

 

[Robert]

What's a TBN test? I noticed a check box on my order slips but I've never checked it.

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by Robert
What's a TBN test? I noticed a check box on my order slips but I've never checked it.

TBN is the Total Base Number; It is a measurement of the oil’s active additive package

 

[Bruce Rock]

I've used spectrometric oil analysis in the past. The labs I've used were Ashland Oil and U.S. Oil. Cost was under $10.00 a sample.

Large wear particles, greater than 20 microns, which most abnormal wear particles are, aren't in the arc or flame long enough to be fully excited, so spectrometric analysis is somewhat blind to abnormal wear.

To monitor abnormal engine wear I cut the used oil filter open and inspect the filter media.

The different procesess by which wear can occur interests me. How something as soft as a rubber lip seal can wear a hardened metal shaft is amazing. If anyone is interested in learning how NORMAL wear as well abnormal wear occurs I suggest reading "THE PARTICLES OF WEAR" in the May 1974 issue of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN.