A couple posts in a thread reporting an IMS failure suggested perorming an oil test as a predictive and preventative measure. Blackstone is $25, which is a great deal if it works. Are these tests useful and/or necessary? Are they snake oil sales? What do you look for in the results and why? When during the life cycle of an oil change should it be performed?

My wonderful eight year old daughter added the smiley faces below!

hi larious

 

Taking the last first, I've forgotten the instructions but if I were writing them they would call for a mid-stream sample. That is not the last bit with the dregs, and not the first bit when the exit orifice is being washed of external contamination. That's how they require a urine sample for much the same reasons.

Rolling back to the real question: yes. They are valuable and the only practical way to spot many problems in time to avoid collateral damage from a failure. IMS is just one of them. We routinely do oil analysis on aircraft because it's so awkward trying to fix the damn things up there. With cars, it's just money we're saving, but still worthwhile.

Blackstone does the analysis for you and in my own experience, they are quite good at spotting changes that matter while ignoring the ones that don't.

Gary

 

Oil Analysis is part of preventive maintenance in aircraft (especially turbo'ed planes) and can, and will save your neck. It did save my butt as my engine started to " make metal" ( results of Blackstone analysis because the engine started to sounds different and behaved differently). The Blackstone folks even called me and told me not to fly unless I found the source of the issue(s) and then gave a list of things to look at based on the amount and type of metal they found in the sample). If you track your car, you are in a high-risk / high wear exercise and oil analysis is a good thing. In normal use, I am thinking that if you feel your car is "changing" (feel- sounds - power, vibration etc) without apparent reason, that is the time to get a Blackstone kit.

 

I use it all of the time on both my gasoline and diesel vehicles. I used to change my oil in the diesel every 5,000 miles as recommended at that time. I started doing Blackstone oil samples and they told me my oil was fine at 5k, all the additives were still good, low particulates, etc and i could go longer between changes if needed.

I started working my way up to 10,000 where they determine I was just below the threshold for an oil change. So I doubled my oil life with 0 risk to the motor.

They also pointed out to me that the silica content in my oil jumped from one change to the next and they asked me if I had added a HP cold air intake - I had. They explained how bad a lot of those "filter on a stick" CAI's were for poor filtration because they just have some foam over the end. I went back to a good K&N filter and never had the problem again.

I swear by them.

 

LOL!, yes that would be difficult! Sounds like there is no reason not to hear what they have to say! reps!

 

For Blackstone to be that proactive sealed the deal for me! Ordered the pump and requested two kits! An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure!

Interesting thing, if they say it look absolutely fine, I'll be pleased and if they catch something, I'll be pleased too! No lose situation!

 

Are oil sample tests very predictive or necessary?

Speaking with 28 years aircraft maintenance experience, the value of regular oil analysis on a street driven automobile is questionable. As in all things, there will be exceptions where value is added (like the diesel oil change savings mentioned above). I will not be having the oil analyzed on any of my cars unless a specific situation warrants it. Just my .02, YMMV.

 

I spoke to one of the guys at Blackstone. He said they have done a lot of resarch on the IMS issue and that generally, an oil anaylsis will not predict an IMS failure. He said the IMS is first indicated by engine noise.

 

Nothing like a chip light in a single engine plane......

Jason

 

Yep, but a light is an idiot light so it only tells you that something is amiss if the chips are "falling" Pun intended. Again back to a/c , it is the rate of change that makes a difference and, typically there is always some warning if you are always listening for changes.... My rocker arms were wearing out at an alarming rate , required a complete top overhaul including new pistons etc. Just saying , the Blackstone folks know their stuff.

 

On my street driven car I will probably only analyze every other oil change or so.