Quote:
Originally Posted by vindiesel
My advice: don’t do oil analysis; willful ignorance in this regard will supersede any worries.
I argued with somebody in another forum about oil analysis. For the average consumer that doesn’t have a sponsored built turboed engine that is required to win races. I don’t see the point. Oh it shows I’m high in this or that. You going to rip the engine out? You going to black stone oil analysis your lawnmower too? I feel like this is a special automotive Fetish almost. I can’t wait to be at a car show and someone laminated their black stone oil report. Ha ha.
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the idea with 'standard vehicle' oil testing is as to determine a pattern.
i wouldn't even recommend sending in every oil change. i would suggest sending in 3 at first to establish a common wear pattern, then 1 every 6-12 oil changes to verify the pattern is consistent.
but in either of these cases, we're not checking engine health so much as we're watching for symptoms of engine issues, so that the motor can be pulled and corrected before it becomes a major issue.
vehicles are some of the highest-priced pieces of equipment most of us own. like you said, we're not going to tear into the motor, so the UOA gives insight into the condition of the motor without opening it up.
it also gives indications on individual usage wear patterns, and how much oil life is left at the time of changing. for these cars not so much, but in large diesel motors that can take almost 50 quarts, UOA can easily pay for itself by adjusting maintenance intervals to get the most use out of the oil additives.