Oil Samples

I use my local Catepillar dealer, I have a Detroit.

 

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

 

I use Schaeffer.

 

I use polaris labs.

 

I think you'll find any of the above full service labs are fine.

 

Agree. All of the major oil sampling labs do pretty much an equal job at analysis. The only consideration I would suggest, is that the lab you are sending to, and paying for the analysis, is analyzing all you are wanting done. Blackstone, for instance, does not include TBN evaluation as part of its base kit. You have to step up a level to get that, and the TBN level is a critical component to evaluate for a commercial diesel owner. Oil Analyzers, Inc, include TBN as part of it normal base package. I believe Polaris does as well. I also use Schaeffer, but then, I get the kits free from them when I buy a drum of oil. Free is always a neat thing.

I like to have a full featured analysis that shows all the components of the motor oil additive package, any fuel dilution, TBN, oxidation/nitration, kinematic viscosity, etc. That all sounds like gobblety gook to the new user, but over time, becomes the foundation of watching trend lines in oil sampling and how things are doing.

 

I was just reading on "Machinery Lubrication" that ideally, the oil sample would be pulled from a point in the system where there's "turbulence" in the oil flow. Do these engines typically have a port specifically designated as a "sampling location"?