Oil Analysis Results - Very Pleased

[Rusty Shackleford]

So I've had my 4Runner for about 3.5 weeks now and when you buy a used vehicle with 176k miles on it, you really don't know what you're getting. So, like any responsible person, I immediately changed out the fluids - motor oil, front & rear diff's, transfer case, & transmission, and switched all of these to full synthetic. I sent my motor oil off to Blackstone Laboratories in Fort Wayne, IN for an analysis and got the results back last night. I am really impressed with the results. My engine shows almost no signs of wear and has zero contamination from water, antifreeze, etc. A copy of the report is attached.

I highly recommend having this done because pretty much everyone on this forum has a high mileage engine and this is a good check to make sure everything on the inside is in good shape. I just wish I would have thought to send them the fluid that came out of the rear diff. That stuff was the nastiest fluid I've ever seen drain out of a car. But at least now I have the peace of mind that my engine is rock solid and should remain that way as long as I own it.

 

[AZ4Running]

I am going to look into this. Empire-Cat which is local for me does this testing.

 

[Robb235]

For some reason the PDF attachment isn't opening for me. Could be because I'm viewing the forum on my phone via Tapatalk.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

For some reason the PDF attachment isn't opening for me. Could be because I'm viewing the forum on my phone via Tapatalk.

Must be the app. I double-checked it to make sure it would open and it opened fine on my computer.

 

[Robb235]

Must be the app. I double-checked it to make sure it would open and it opened fine on my computer.

Yeah, I opened it up on my phone's web browser just fine. Cool stuff.

 

[TheDurk]

I do mine every two or three years. If you get the TBN option once you are doing the changes so that you know the mileage and oil type, they tell you if you can extend the oil change interval. I currently run SuperTech Full Synthetic at 6500-7000 OCI, and they tell me I can go longer, which I choose not to do.

 

[jmildoc]

Very cool already requested a sample kit!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

I do mine every two or three years. If you get the TBN option once you are doing the changes so that you know the mileage and oil type, they tell you if you can extend the oil change interval. I currently run SuperTech Full Synthetic at 6500-7000 OCI, and they tell me I can go longer, which I choose not to do.

Yeah the report says that I should be fine going 5-6k between the next change, and I believe they're assuming I'm using conventional. Since I switched to full synthetic, I'd have no problem choosing to go 6k before I change it again.

Very cool already requested a sample kit!!!!!!!!!

Yeah a buddy of mine told me about Blackstone a few years ago and I've been doing 1 analysis per year on both my vehicle and my wife's. For $25 you can't go wrong. It's like getting a yearly checkup on your engine. Although after reading the report, I'll probably wait and do another in two years since everything is in such good shape.

 

[viceversa]

Very interesting. How much does something like cost to have done? turn around time for results?

 

[shotgun_willie]

they will send you the test kit for free and then their site says that the analysis cost $25. I just ordered one of the test kits, kinda scared of what might come back.

 

[jhumphrey]

I know Im about to ask a loaded question but... does that mean you can get away with 5k oil changes rather than 3k if you're using regular dino oil?

 

[Alabamaguy]

Nice Username....

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

I know Im about to ask a loaded question but... does that mean you can get away with 5k oil changes rather than 3k if you're using regular dino oil?

Absolutely. But I would recommend getting some type of analysis done on the motor oil first. If everything is in good shape with your engine - metal shavings in acceptable ranges, no contaminants, etc., then conventional oil holds up just fine for 5k miles. You also have to take driving conditions into consideration.

Nice Username....

Nice avatar...

 

[pluton]

After I got my 119K miles 4Runner last summer, I got an oil analysis after 3000 miles. My main concern was the possibility of water/coolant in the oil, as it seems to be implicated in many of the sludge horror stories I've heard/read. Add the $20 USB endoscope(crap quality) I used to peer beyond the baffle in the oil filler hole, and I was fairly assured that I didn't buy a sludger. It was also apparent that the oil(Group 3 "fake" synthetic) could have gone longer than 3000 miles.

 

[TheDurk]

Very interesting. How much does something like cost to have done? turn around time for results?

Blackstone charges $25 for regular test, plus $10 extra for the TBN analysis which measures how much of your oil's additive package is left, plus your shipping cost. Once you've settled on an OCI and oil brand/type you can skip the TBN, unless you're curious. It shouldn't change unless miles or driving pattern does. TBN is not about the engine so much as the oil. Turnaround is real fast, e-mail results usually come in the business day after they get the sample in my experience. Max 2 days.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

[BryanD]

I guess I can see how a "good" report would offer some piece of mind. But, what would someone do if you got the report and the analysis was "bad"? Examples?

 

[TheDurk]

I guess I can see how a "good" report would offer some piece of mind. But, what would someone do if you got the report and the analysis was "bad"? Examples?

High lead or iron would indicate excessive bearing wear. About all you can do is step up your oil changes and start a piggy bank for a rebuild. Coolant would certainly indicate a HG is in your future. You might then do a leakdown test to determine which side the problem is on.