Oil Analysis Results

[WItoTX]

I have owned the car since new.

The engine has the FP power pack 3, FP aluminum cam covers, and the FP VCT solenoids.

Catch can? I don't know, I am thinking outside the box where it could come from. There is only so many places.

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[RobZ71LM7]

For the first time I tracked my car 4 days before changing the 0w40 oil. That was two track weekends, one of which was a high-speed track. Usually the %Life remaining goes to zero by lunchtime on the second day.

Oil analysis should be ready in the next couple days. I am waiting to see if the shear dropped below 40wt.

Do you still have % life left after 4 days? I went to Putnam last month at 100% and after two days my life is at 39%. I'm debating if I really need to change my Redline 5w50 after just two days.

 

[Optimum Performance]

My own jaded opinion. That analysis is worth the paper it is printed on in regards to particulates in the oil.

By way of example. I knew my motor was letting go. visible particles in the oil, oil filter coated in particles, all of which were magnetic and silvery. And the particles would increase if I did a really fast (think CotA) event, and reduced if I had more local tracks, or AutoX on a given oil change. The engine failure was confirmed now that the engine has been removed, the cylinder walls have some pretty good scoring in them.

I sent off an analysis to Blackstone, just to see what I would get back. The response was "engine looks great, no signs of wear".

When I questioned them on it, their response was "We only look for particles you can't see with your eyes". When I explained that I understand, but that logic, reason, standard deviation, normal distribution all tell me that if there are large particles, there will in fact be small particles, I was told no, the engine doesn't always make small particles. So I pressed them on that, and asked when that would happen. Their response made no sense, and I gave up.

I would go elsewhere for an oil analysis. And just my opinion, but you have to do your own analysis as you change oil. Cut into the filter, inspect the oil, get a magnetic drain plug and photograph the plug every time you pull it to compare. Get yourself a borescope and take a peak when changing plugs. Listen to the engine on cold starts for changes in sound. All sorts of things you can do on your end. I wouldn't rely on Blackstone for anything other than telling you the condition of the oil itself, how much life is left, maybe if there is contaminants.

SpeedDiagnostix offers a service that also include particle count. It's their Premium Sample. It counts the big pieces, along with the ones you cant see.

 

[RobZ71LM7]

SpeedDiagnostix offers a service that also include particle count. It's their Premium Sample. It counts the big pieces, along with the ones you cant see.

Do they do an ISO code? I work at a power generation plant and when our oil is analyzed and we see ISO particle counts to better assess oil cleanliness. That would be ideal versus relying upon Blackstone reporting concentration of wear particles and level of silicon.

 

[Optimum Performance]

Our Shop car, sample from around 4K, 8K, and a sample from last year with around 20K on it. That last sample was 5 year old oil. Take note of the metals dropping over time. Does Blackstone ask you what fuel you are running?

 

[WItoTX]

Do they do an ISO code? I work at a power generation plant and when our oil is analyzed and we see ISO particle counts to better assess oil cleanliness. That would be ideal versus relying upon Blackstone reporting concentration of wear particles and level of silicon.

 

[WItoTX]

Our Shop car, sample from around 4K, 8K, and a sample from last year with around 20K on it. That last sample was 5 year old oil. Take note of the metals dropping over time. Does Blackstone ask you what fuel you are running?

This is awesome. Thanks for posting, bookmarking it now!

 

[Optimum Performance]

Do they do an ISO code? I work at a power generation plant and when our oil is analyzed and we see ISO particle counts to better assess oil cleanliness. That would be ideal versus relying upon Blackstone reporting concentration of wear particles and level of silicon.

Jet Care?

Do you still have % life left after 4 days? I went to Putnam last month at 100% and after two days my life is at 39%. I'm debating if I really need to change my Redline 5w50 after just two days.

Rob, I would not trust that oil monitor, mine goes off way early all the time, sample it. Lake does include ISO counts, so they do include the ISO codes. If you want one let us know, I need to add that option to our listings.
Oil Sample Kits

 

[GTP]

Do you still have % life left after 4 days? I went to Putnam last month at 100% and after two days my life is at 39%. I'm debating if I really need to change my Redline 5w50 after just two days.

Rob, I would not trust that oil monitor, mine goes off way early all the time, sample it. Lake does include ISO counts, so they do include the ISO codes. If you want one let us know, I need to add that option to our listings.
Oil Sample Kits

I arrived at NCM on 8/23 with 88% oil life. By the final session on 8/24, which was after ~10 25-minute sessions, I was at 13%. So about -7.5% per session. Better than usual for me, and it is very much track/traffic/driving dependent.

On 9/6 I arrived at Gingerman with 0% left, for two track days. I am sampling my oil after two track weekends (and a little bit of DD between them) to gauge whether I can get away with this approach.

 

[MrMike]

Catch can? I don't know, I am thinking outside the box where it could come from. There is only so many places.

Yep I do have catch cans on both sides, that could do it?

 

[MrMike]

Our Shop car, sample from around 4K, 8K, and a sample from last year with around 20K on it. That last sample was 5 year old oil. Take note of the metals dropping over time. Does Blackstone ask you what fuel you are running?

They do not.

No lead in your car’s history it seems. The vibe I’m getting is different testers use different methods unfortunately.

 

[WItoTX]

Yep I do have catch cans on both sides, that could do it?

I mean it's worth a look to see how it is constructed. The lead has me confused. It shouldn't be coming from any special fuel, and you have no mods on the car that would explain it. I guess I would change oil, then do something like the test kit OP posted. See what you get after 1000 miles or so.

 

[MrMike]

I mean it's worth a look to see how it is constructed. The lead has me confused. It shouldn't be coming from any special fuel, and you have no mods on the car that would explain it. I guess I would change oil, then do something like the test kit OP posted. See what you get after 1000 miles or so.

They're the FP catch cans both L and R.

I think my game plan is to run another test in the Spring, and send samples to both Blackstone and SPEEDiagnostix. I might wait until after my first track day so it has some harder use on it. I can take the sample w/o changing the oil.

 

[RobZ71LM7]

Jet Care?


Rob, I would not trust that oil monitor, mine goes off way early all the time, sample it. Lake does include ISO counts, so they do include the ISO codes. If you want one let us know, I need to add that option to our listings.
Oil Sample Kits

Thanks. We're currently using TestOil at work for testing where I work and we sample oil in gas combustion turbines, steam turbines, big motors, gearboxes you name it. I'll order a kit from you (I don't like blurring the line between personal and business relationships/contractors at work). I'll sample after this upcoming track weekend and see what the redline looks like after ~10hrs of track use. It's very cool to see your kit has a real pro interpreting results and ISO code.

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