Engine Oil Analysis

[lyonsfin]

I have an 83 911 SC with about 135k miles. No running issues and it had an upper end rebuild a few years ago. Just did a filter and oil change and have been thinking about getting the oil analyzed.
First, is there a need/ benefit to do so?
Second, who have you used to analyze?

[dannobee]

Blackstone Labs can send you a kit. Cost is somewhere around $20-25.

It's nice to have a baseline on a newly assembled engine and periodically recheck to make sure nothing's going on.

[Locker537]

Ive used Blackstone and am happy with the process and results.

In my case, I wanted to see how the oil was holding up after a number of track days. 5-6 days on the track, and the analysis showed the oil had plenty of life. I can run it a bit longer after learning that.

[Ctopher]

I think the price is a little higher, especially if you get a TAN/TBN test to determine oil acidity and life left. It might not be helpful as just a one off but over the multiple years/miles can show how the engine is running/wearing.

Here is the last one of my Civic…been sampling since first oil change. Was testing the oil life monitor to compare to analysis. Ended up just following it as the 4th sample was 1k past and still good.


CTopher

[Sboxin]

I agree with Ctopher - oil analysis is helpful - our Porsche 3.8L race engine has shown
some metals appearing and when we opened up the engine for a look found some rod
bearing wear - photo attached - Its a good thing we opening up
the engine because our engine tech found a crack in the case that is being repaired by
Ollie's - also were needed to replace the crankshaft and found a good used one at EBS . . .

The reason we took a look at the engine is because we had a clutch pressure plate
failure that froze the engine/transmission while on the race track and we thought it
was an engine part failure - turned out to be the clutch . . . when the engine oil was
drained to drop the engine there were some shinny bits in the oil . . .

However for your use it might be easier to just open up the oil filter each time and look
for shinny bits - and also run a magnet in the old oil . . . IMHO of course (from an "Old
Guy")

Regards,
Roy T

Rod bearing wear photo - -

[Otter74]

They've been useful for me. I'll occasionally send off a sample for one car another just as a first-order monitor of engine health. Once, some years ago, I started hearing a little ticka-ticka-ticka from an engine and suspected that maybe my rod bearings were starting to go. Sent off a sample for analysis with comment to the above effect and got a clean bill of health.