Got oil analysis done..who can read it

[newetc]

Ok, so i sent my oil kit for oil analysis.. any chem folks here that can read the data.. it looks ok to me from the directions on the back but just wanted to get some feedback on the results.. i have to load the pic.. scanner broke.. have to snap a pic..thanks

[submariner409]

The analysis probably has iron, aluminum, lead, antifreeze, water, some acids, and maybe phosphorous or a couple more contaminants as well as a general viscosity readout.

By itself it doesn't mean much....it's the trends over time that count. I would hope that your analysis lab has included a "how to" sheet, giving you some guidelines.

Obviously, high levels of iron (oil pump, timing gear/chains, rings and cylinder liners), lead/antimony (various bearing metals), aluminum (pistons), plastics (chain slippers), and any antifreeze are not good.

I haven't tried it, but Google "oil analysis" and groom the search for car engines.

[newetc]

Thank you for the reply.
I did get sample date info, plus spectrochemical analysis (ppm) and physical properties readings..

The results of the tests performed indicate no corrective action required *****

that is what it stated but i wanted to share the numbers with others to see what they really mean, as far as wear for the components with a motor at this mileage, etc..

I will try the google search and have to get the paper scanned in.. the pics came out pretty bad.. could not even read the small print..

[Zorb750]

While oil analyses can provide valuable instant information, their real usefulness is in exposing trends and patterns. For example, if you show higher and higher levels of copper, zinc, and lead, it would show that your bearings are being worn at higher and higher rates. This could be indicative of a worsening bottom end lubrication issue.

In other words, it's more often that the importance of the information contained within a single oil analysis pales in comparison to the collective interpretation of successive oil analyses.

Now, as was pointed out before, things like suspended plastic particles, coolant, excessive light hydrocarbons, and more than small quantities of water are almost always immediately bad, and diagnostic action should be taken immediately.

[iametarq]

and how much does such a test cost? I think I will choose to remain ignorant.

[Zorb750]

Ignorant? How dull...

No, serioiusly, it's about $50 to have it done. Sometimes I've seen it for as little as $20 or 25.

[Ranger]

In the FWIW category, I think there is WAAAAY too much obsession about oil. Just my $0.02.

[newetc]

I bought the kit for like 25-30 bucks... not an obsession, just want to keep my ride for a while.. i love the car.. and i really want to have the oil analyzed every so often to see if anything abnormal is going on.. i know all of us have a bit of an anal or should i say detailed oriented nature that is why most of us like to do our own work on ours cars..

At least with this analysis i will have a point of reference for the future.

Thank you for the input..

[chubbyranger]

Originally Posted by Ranger

In the FWIW category, I think there is WAAAAY too much obsession about oil. Just my $0.02.

While I am another of the "no such thing as too much data" geeks, when was the last time someone had a N* oil related failure?

[newetc]

I don't want to open up the oil war theme but i just want to keep an eye on things.. the integrity of the oil was fine and i think i will stick with the mileage interval that i have and the oil type, it works for me. But better to have the information and not need it, than need it and not have it

[mtflight]

I am interested in the anti-wear additive presence, namely ZDDP or ZDP. (zinc).

How much Oil Life was left on that oil you sent? Ideally you sent it in with like 7500 miles or more if your car is newer (2000+) (oil life monitor maximum). Let me know, what year your car is, and how much oil life was left as per the OLM when u sent it in, and how much Zinc was in the oil.

[newetc]

Well, car in question 96 eldo with 77k miles.. miles on oil 4121 life was around 15%...(don't remember i think i wrote it down somewhere) zinc reading 779 PPM

[mtflight]

what brand/weight of oil? (dino or synth, etc) I'm going to try to look up the zinc content of the oil.

[newetc]

I use mobil1 full synthetic 10w 30. Thank you.