Oil Analysis Sampling

[JonM]

Customer gave me an oil analysis kit. It's not blackstone, but rather a competitor of their's. Since it was free, I ain't complainin'. Anyway, I want to take a sample of oil but not change the oil until September. My thought is to wait until car is at operating temp, stick a piece of tygon tubing down the dipstick port, and pull oil from there. Since the contaminant I am most interested in testing is lead, do you think I will get an accurate analysis? I will test again in September with a Blackstone kit, but for now I am just hot to use this one.

[Mr. The Edge]

you could always just drain the oil but not change it

:dunno:

[Randy Forbes]

Since our drain plugs go straight down (MUCH easier than dealing with my S-52) you could pull the plug, let it drain for a second THEN grab your sample and put the plug back in. The oil will "burn" a little, but it's doable. I'd say you wouldn't have to add more than a half quart to get back up to level.

Whose sample did you get? I've been using Titan since the 80's, but on my next S-54 change, I'm also sending one to Blackstone (free sample).

[Ron Stygar]

Originally posted by Randy Forbes
I've been using Titan since the 80's, but on my next S-54 change, I'm also sending one to Blackstone (free sample).
Good idea. Will be interesting how they compare.

[JonM]

Originally posted by Randy Forbes
Whose sample did you get? I've been using Titan since the 80's, but on my next S-54 change, I'm also sending one to Blackstone (free sample).

Dunno off the top of my head. They are Seattle-local. Standard charge is $17.50 per kit with discounts for 6-kit buys.

We could do a group buy on Blackstone kits if anyone else is interested. Maybe we could save a little per kit. I'd like to start testing the VW and the motorcycle too.

[Kaz]

If the sample amount is relatively small, what about sticking a tube down the dipstick hole then plugging the top with your finger and pulling the tube out?

I'd suggest a MityVac but I have to assume you don't have one of those.

[JonM]

Originally posted by Kaz
If the sample amount is relatively small, what about sticking a tube down the dipstick hole then plugging the top with your finger and pulling the tube out?


That's what I was thinking. As long as engine is warm, it should be fairly representative I think.

[Daver]

Naw ... you need to scrape sludge out of an oil pan on an old Ford tractor :D

[fpa1974]

I bought a few feet of flexible tube from Home Depot. I also bought a syringe kit from Home Depot (used to apply your lubricants). Total cost about $4. Warmed up the engine to about 150F and the rest you can imagine (I used the dipstick opening). Job finished in less than 5 minutes (plus the time to warm the engine up).

Florian

[Pinecone]

I pulled a sample from the dipstick hole on our M3. Just used some stiff poly tubing and sucked up some oil and put in the bottle. About 20 repetitions later the bottle was full.