To: 80scool@yahoogroups.com From: michael lisle Date sent: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 22:26:53 -0800 (PST) Subject: [80] Oil Testing (was Mobil 1 question) Send reply to: 80scool@yahoogroups.com --- Jon Pace wrote: > > > > I ... occassionally send off an oil sample > for lab analysis. Jon, Who do you use for oil testing???? rgds/mike To: 80scool@yahoogroups.com From: Jon Pace Date sent: Tue, 19 Mar 2002 08:15:15 -0600 (CST) Subject: Re: [80] Oil Testing (was Mobil 1 question) Send reply to: 80scool@yahoogroups.com > > Who do you use for oil testing???? > Titan Labs, who sells the kit I by at Auto Zone. Here's the post I sent in from my first analysis. Juice --------------------------------- I promised to submit the oil analysis when I received it. I got it last night, and this is a fast as I could type it up. The analysis was performed through a kit I bought at a local Auto Zone. The company selling/performing it is called Titan Laboratories. They have a web site at www.titancheckup.com . Not affiliated, yadda, yadda. ----- From The Report ----- Sample Data: Vehicle: Lexus LX450 Sample From: Engine Product: Mobil 1 Oil Weight: 5W30 Odometer Reading: 100,034 Miles on Oil: 9,600 The following tests are answered Yes, No (self-explainatory): Oil Weight Within Limit: Yes - The oil may be contaminated or you could have missed your scheduled oil drain interval. Water in Oil: No - Could indicate condensation or a coolant leak. Fuel in Oil: No - Could thin your oil, reducing proper lubrication. Anti-Freeze in Oil: No - Could plug your filter and cause corrosion. The following tests are answered A, B, C. which means: A - Acceptable - Sample again at your next oil change, as indicated above, for trending. B -Borderline - Resample at 1,500 miles to monitor your engine for problems. C -Critical - Engine requires immediate attention. For what it's worth, they call you personally if a "C" comes up. Chromium: A Copper: A Iron: A Lead: A Tin: A Aluminum: A Silicon: A Maintenance Recommendations: The weight of your product is within limits. No contamination by water, fuel or antifreeze. With chromium and aluminum in acceptable ranges it indicates the air filter is working properly and no abnormal conditions in rings or pistons. Copper and lead in acceptable ranges indicates no abnormal conditions in bearings. Continue to follow manufacturers recommended maintenance schedule and sample at that time to monitor system condition. ----- End Of Report ----- As you can tell, most of it is boilerplate. They tell me to "Continue to follow manufacturers recommended maintenance schedule..." as if this 9,600 mile oil change interval was Toyota's actual schedule. I kinda wish the tests had numeric results (i.e. X parts per million Lead) instead of this pass/fail system. It would provide me more insight. This was my first use of Mobil 1. I had done three services using Havoline Formula 3 5W30, and the previous owner had all service before that done at Lexus. His service intervals were really bad, with one going 20,000 miles on dino sludge. I think I will stick with my 10,000 mile intervals. I might consider 15,000 after the old sludge has worked its way out and see how that tests. I think this test kit cost me $19. I certainly won't use it every oil change, but I will use it every 25,000 or so to see how the engine is doing. To: <80scool@yahoogroups.com> From: "Nigel Tufnell" Date sent: Tue, 19 Mar 2002 13:12:53 -0800 Subject: Re:[80] Oil analysis (was Mobil 1 thread) Send reply to: 80scool@yahoogroups.com Hey Group, found another source (from Dave Aley) for Oil Analysis. My 97 was switched to Mobil 1 10w30 at 126k miles last Dec., and when it gets a little older I'll have the full package run (and post result). It's had the drop in K&N Air filter since oil change, and i'm curious how that's working?. I was going to do it around 8k, with filter swap at 4k, but since reading some of the posts (Juice, I think), that may get extended to 10k/5k. CTC Analytical (http://www.ctclink.com/). Samples cost about $25.00 each to run, and they'll do single samples for individuals. You'll probably want their basic preventative maintenance package, which includes wear metals, viscosity, and fuel dilution Nigel 97 FZJ-80 (sorry to say my truck does seem to be burning some oil, level on dipstick is slowly falling with Mobil 1. Didn't burn any with dino!) To: 80scool@yahoogroups.com From: "grahighlander" Date sent: Wed, 20 Mar 2002 02:45:00 -0000 Subject: Re: [80] Oil Testing (was Mobil 1 question) Send reply to: 80scool@yahoogroups.com Snip > I kinda wish the tests had numeric results (i.e. X parts per million > Lead) instead of this pass/fail system. It would provide me more > insight. Snip > I think this test kit cost me $19. I certainly won't use it every > oil change, but I will use it every 25,000 or so to see how the engine > is doing. Jon, FWIW, I've done these through Texchek (texaco oil dealers), and you get numeric results for about $15. The last time I used a Caterpillar dealer, who gave me less numeric for $10. The lab guy said they aren't much use unless you do the test every oil change to spot differences. He was really anal about this, but a test at every change kind of gets expensive. I go 7500-8000 miles, since this is Toyota's top interval. Obviously, the stuff will go many more miles. Mobil1 has/had a neat fact on their webpage about a BMW engine that they had run on Mobil1 with some (can't remember)change interval for 1 million miles; it was still w/in factory wear specs! Later, gregg 92 FJ80 190k miles Mobil1 since 123k