Oil analysis

I think he meant drain it and catch the sample with the oil hot. That way whatever contaminents are in the oil are stirred up good and not sitting cold at the bottom of the pan, so the sample is an accurate picture of what's going on. I use Altorfer's prepaid kits and have always had good service from them. If there aren't any issues, I sample about every other oil change.

 

if your engine oil is cold, it means that the solids that are in it have had a chance to settle out. Namely the larger particulates.

You run the engine to "agitate" those solids again back into solution.

When you take the sample, it no longer matters if the solution is hot or cold. When it gets to the lab, they will reagitate the sample and use it in a spectroanalysis and give you a reading of what is in it.

Depending on the analysis comes back, it will tell you the component that is likely to cause the contamination. If it's high in nickle, your bearings are likely culprits, same with copper which could be a radiator as well. Cupro(copper) nickel is a bearing component.




The theory behind a spectometer analysis of the oil is that individual components give off different color lights went burned. IE, copper is green.

By analyzing those color wavelengths with a database of known light wavelengths of different compounds and knowing WHERE they are used in the engine, you can identify a component failure LONG before the operator can tell it.

 

thanks for this info..it is a must do

 

http://www.quickoildrainvalve.com/

 

I use archer oil and by doing so I get free oil analysis's every oil change. My samples get sent to a place called growmark in council bluffs, IA.

 

Ok, I misinterpreted his meaning. My bad.

 

Archer is a very good oil! I don't use it now, but we used in on the farm and in our construction equipment since I can remember in the early 60's clear thru 2003. Got me thinking now, and giving it some consideration again.

 

^^^^ It costs about the same as any of the other name brand oils and the analysis is free so a guy really can't go wrong by using it and I can get it in either 5 gallon pales or a 30 gallon drum. So far all the analysis results look fantastic, I keep them in a binder with the rest of my maintenece records so if I sell the truck a week from now or three years from now atleast I can show a potential buyer that the motor is good and solid. The analysis gives peace of mind if nothing else.

 

How would you know that the mechanic actually put a synthetic engine oil in your truck when you were not around. Is there any way to find out ?