Alternatives to Blackstone for oil analysis?
- Thread starter Marcozi
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In my case, I use Blackstone for all my UOAs except for the engine oil on my track car. For that, I use SPEEDiagnostix for a few reasons: (1) from mailing to receiving the report, it's consistently 7 days, (2) they understand my use case much better and can give more detailed recommendations, (3) FTIR for oxidation oil analysis vs TBN, (4) RDE instead of ICP for the elemental analysis. Overall, I've been happy with them for this particular use case, for other lower requirement use cases I still use Blackstone.
When I lived in Tampa, FL. I would user Ringhaver Caterpillar (Riverview, FL.). Any large heavy equipment shop will do it for you.
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Fleetguard partners with Polaris Laboratories; you can select a variety of sampling kits here to send off for analysis: https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/sites/default/files/21-CF-7863 Fluid Analysis Brochure M.pdf
The main advantage another oil analysis lab would have over Blackstone is the use of gas chromatography for fuel % numbers. BS infers their fuel % numbers based on the flashpoint of the used oil. Otherwise, BS is a solid choice. They have tons of data in their database to create their "universal averages". This lets you know how your results compare to averages of the same engine type. They also have very personalized comments. The more details you give them, the more personalized their comments.
Use the search function. There’s more threads on test labs than there are on pointless, non-oil related threads on here. And there’s THOUSANDS of those.
NAPA tests are about $16 or $17 and easy to obtain. TBN included.
I would pay extra for BS to not give me their "good buddy" comments. Seems they push everyone to extend their OCI.
I use to use Polaris but have now have used NAPA for several years now.
I would pay extra for BS to not give me their "good buddy" comments. Seems they push everyone to extend their OCI.
I use to use Polaris but have now have used NAPA for several years now.
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Thanks,man,
I have done several UOAs through BS. They only recommended extending my OCI when I checked the YES box to the question "Are you interested in extended oil use?" When I checked NO, they didn't make any comments about extending my OCI.
Wearcheck, Polaris, Southwest Spectro-chem.
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^^^ this ^^^ I have used Blackstone, WearCheck, and Polaris.
Polaris is the one I chose in the end. Cost versus value, completeness of tests, current ASTM testing methodologies, and ISO certifications were the primary reasons.
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Polaris/OAI are who I've settled on, primarily for the accurate fuel dilution figures, and they are easy to get through the AMSOIL website. They also give oxidation, which Blackstone doesn't.
The kits are a few more dollars, but you get more data, so I think that makes it worth it.
The kits are a few more dollars, but you get more data, so I think that makes it worth it.
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