Oil Analysis

Ruby gets an oil check-up!

Besides throwing in 3 quotations from Star Trek in this blog post, I'm going to tell you about my car's oil analysis. This was the first time that I submitted an oil sample for analysis, so it's kind of like getting your blood work done to see how you are doing. You can learn a lot from your bloodwork, and the same is true by having some experts take a look at your used oil. For drivers that really want to get more info on how their engine is performing, and mostly to find out if there are any signs of excessive wear, you can have your used oil analyzed and possibly avoid issues before they happen. My last blood work turned out to be in good shape, other than needing some more vitamin D3, so let's hope that Ruby is doing equally as well. 

The procedure is simple enough: Send off for a free (have I mentioned lately that FREE is my favorite flavor? Well, it is!) sample collection bottle from Blackstone Laboratories, and you'll receive all the packaging you will need to mail it back to the lab. Then, just take an oil sample when you change oil (or anytime I guess), package it up, follow the instructions, and send it back. You get the bottle and mailing for free, but they do charge a fee for the analysis. I think it took about a week or so for me to get my results. It looks like everything is (as Mr. Data on Star Trek might say) "operating within established parameters." But as Jordie LeForge, I mean actor Levar Burton used to say on Reading Rainbow, "Don't just take my word for it," you can read more at the Blackstone website: BLACKSTONE LABS

While I'm not a scientist, oops, I mean, as Dr. McCoy would say on Star Trek, "Damn it Jim, I'm not a scientist" so it's cool to read the report and have them explain anything that needs explaining to those of us that aren't sure about viscosity levels, zinc, molybdenum, etc. Hey, while I'm thinking about it, see your doctor sometime to get your blood work checked too, to make sure YOU are operating how you should!

Just because this guy is wearing a headset doesn't mean he knows anything!

The results include a paragraph summary, and then specific levels for various substances such as the following. 

ALUMINUM, CHROMIUM, IRON, COPPER, LEAD, TIN, MOLYBDENUM, NICKEL, SILVER, TITANIUM, POTASSIUM, BORON, SILICON, SODIUM, CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, PHOSPHORUS, ZINC, and BARIUM. 

    ROBERT: Your first oil analysis turned out very nice. Wear metals are all within just 2 ppms of universal averages, which are based on a shorter oil run of about 4,900 miles. The internal parts all seem to be working and wearing how they're supposed to, without signs of mechanical trouble around the bend. The flashpoint was high enough to show no significant volatile contaminants (like gasoline) so the low viscosity isn't any big deal. Low silicon shows the air filter kept airborne dirt and debris out of circulation, and low insolubles show the oil filter worked well. Nice Porsche!

Ideally any future oil analysis of my engine will help keep it in great shape. Here's the link where you can request a free test kit: BLACKSTONE LABS TEST KIT