oil analysis results Should I worry?

[Dennis D.]

car's in for the winter. thought it would be a good time to do an oil analysis. Reading the results are a bit beyond my pay grade.

[Mark E.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

Boy, this does require interpretation by an expert, doesn't it?

No fuel or water, so that's a good sign.

Low magnesium... I know from personal experience this causes constipation.

FYI, I can read the info blacked out.

[Michael W.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

barring some drastic findings, a single oil sample analysis is virtually useless.

[Dennis D.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

thanks Mark. Mike are you saying you see nothing drastic?

[Keith B.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

What brand of oil are you using and any snake oil products?

[Dennis D.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

what was in there was more than likely valvoline. Was in there quite a while. Just replaced with shell rotella

[Edward B.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

The lab's comments seem fairly comprehensive and explanatory of their findings. Check it again after several thousand miles of driving.

[Michael W.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

thanks Mark. Mike are you saying you see nothing drastic?

I see nothin drastic, but more to the point sennding asaingle ample of oil is pretty much a waste of time and money.

[Dennis D.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

I see nothin drastic, but more to the point sennding asaingle ample of oil is pretty much a waste of time and money.

Until I send another

[Jaime G.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

Until I send another

What is the purpose of this exercise?

[Michael W.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

What is the purpose of this exercise?

OIIIIIIIIIL analysis can provide early warning of impending engine damage. To be effective multiple samples Must be taken at regular intervals an analyzed in a precisemanner.

Not really pracitcal or cost effective for the average enthusiast.

[Domenic T.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

OIIIIIIIIIL analysis can provide early warning of impending engine damage. To be effective multiple samples Must be taken at regular intervals an analyzed in a precisemanner.

Not really pracitcal or cost effective for the average enthusiast.

Mike,
Let me see if I can answer that! We as mechanics call it a trend, as in trend monitoring.

Dom

[Duke W.]

Re: oil analysis results Should I worry?

Commercial fleet operators use oil analysis to see when an engine is approaching end of life when wear usually accelerates. Like Dom said, they look at the trend over the history of analyses for each engine.

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a collector car that sees only a few hundred to a few thousand miles a year especially if you have no reason to believe that the engine may be approaching end of life.

If the engine has good SOTP feel and performs as you think it should.... If not a proper tuneup and compression and/or leak down test is in order.

These vintage engines have high quality bottom ends... at least as built by Flint, but if the engine has been rebuild you may not know the quality of workmanship or parts.

Typically the first "problem" that will develop on an old engine is increasing oil consumption, which is often valve seals/guide wear or a valve may burn, but neither of these two issues can be predicted by oil analysis. Oil analysis is good at predicting excess bearing wear, but bearings are rarely the limiting engine life factor on car engines.

Duke