Blackstone Prices

[bulwnkl]

I think this is a mistake they are already the most expensive and slowest, and the Fuel numbers are questionable.

OAI and BlackStone got samples same day and I've had results from OAI for something like 5 days to a week and still nothing from BS.

I'm a decent customer of theirs and they are pushing my tolerance.

I fell like the opposite of the old saying about good fast and cheap is true.

It's not just the fuel numbers. Those are fantasy. The rest of the numbers (wear metals, additives, viscosity) are regularly just off in left field. Plus no oxidation, nitration, nor sulfation in exchange for being the highest-priced entry-level analysis shop out there.

I use OAI and LabOne these days. Which depends on lots of things. OAI has been covered here, but here's LabOne's homepage, which displays pricing:
https://laboneinc.com

 

[UNC151]

They were too expensive for what you are getting even before the price increase. No ISO certification, extra costs for TBN or TAN, no gas chromatography, etc. I bailed years ago...Blackstone is "hobby material" at best...

 

[demarpaint]

They priced themselves out of my business long ago.

 

[ALRUIA1]

Sent a sample off to BS weeks ago and it's crickets! I used them because I used them back in the 90's and was happy but back then they were about the only show in town. This time I was torn between SPEEDiagnostix and BS. Has anyone here used SPEEDiagnostix with success or is OAI the way to go?

 

[himemsys]

Sent a sample off to BS weeks ago and it's crickets! I used them because I used them back in the 90's and was happy but back then they were about the only show in town. This time I was torn between SPEEDiagnostix and BS. Has anyone here used SPEEDiagnostix with success or is OAI the way to go?

SD is used more lately here, but their results are sometimes head-scratching. Their fuel dilution numbers are much lower than OAI's, leading some here to question what method they actually use. SD does not do TBN, instead relying on oxidation to determine oil life. OAI offers TBN, oxidation, and what many here consider the most accurate fuel dilution numbers.

 

[TXHunter]

SD is used more lately here, but their results are sometimes head-scratching. Their fuel dilution numbers are much lower than OAI's, leading some here to question what method they actually use. SD does not do TBN, instead relying on oxidation to determine oil life. OAI offers TBN, oxidation, and what many here consider the most accurate fuel dilution numbers.

Why does everyone tout OAI has the most accurate fuel dilution numbers? I regularly see <2% - Estimate written on the reports these days from them. Previously I had accurate numbers well below 2% from them, as recent as August. Did something change with their testing procedure?

 

[TXHunter]

Actually decided to pull up an old report of mine to find out why I get numbers for some reports, and the high level estimate comment for others. Based on this it seems like they don't always run a fuel dilution test? According to OAI, "Because #2 diesel fuel typically has a viscosity of around 1.9-4.1 cSt at 40°C, which is thinner than a typical 15W40 engine oil with a viscosity of around 14.7 cSt at 100°C, fuel dilution reduces the engine oil's viscosity. When the oil's viscosity is lower than one (1) cSt from the known starting viscosity of the oil when new, we will confirm fuel dilution by ASTM D7593 GC method, reporting the result as percent by volume. However, if lubricant grade is not included with the sample, fuel dilution will be confirmed by GC if viscosity is below 13.3 cSt for diesel engine oil and below 9.8 cSt for gasoline engine oil. If viscosity is above the oil's mid-point for the grade, fuel dilution will be reported as <1.0%."

 

[CleanSump]

Might I peak your interest with our Monitor program through Fleetguard & Polaris Labs: https://cms.fleetguard.com/en/literature/monitortm-fluid-analysis-program-technical/lt36251

I get invalid page on a not very user friendly website.

 

[himemsys]

Actually decided to pull up an old report of mine to find out why I get numbers for some reports, and the high level estimate comment for others. Based on this it seems like they don't always run a fuel dilution test? According to OAI, "Because #2 diesel fuel typically has a viscosity of around 1.9-4.1 cSt at 40°C, which is thinner than a typical 15W40 engine oil with a viscosity of around 14.7 cSt at 100°C, fuel dilution reduces the engine oil's viscosity. When the oil's viscosity is lower than one (1) cSt from the known starting viscosity of the oil when new, we will confirm fuel dilution by ASTM D7593 GC method, reporting the result as percent by volume. However, if lubricant grade is not included with the sample, fuel dilution will be confirmed by GC if viscosity is below 13.3 cSt for diesel engine oil and below 9.8 cSt for gasoline engine oil. If viscosity is above the oil's mid-point for the grade, fuel dilution will be reported as <1.0%."

You can add a note to your sample saying "Please use gas chromatography regardless of viscosity" and they should honor that request.

 

[thetricky]

Is there a list of current vendors and pricing?

For what it’s worth I just bought OAI kits from Amsoil last night, non-postage paid, $22 and change, about $4 for postage through pirate ship.com. IMO a better report than Blackstone and less expensive.

 

[thetricky]

They a

Got an E-Mail today Blackstone is raising prices effective 1 January 2025. $40 for sample without TBN, $50 with TBN. Mucho denero for such slow service

They are out of their minds. $25 was even too expensive for their mediocre analysis

 

[Arc]

When you aren't getting more customers the only way to increase profit is to charge more. Someone calculated how many customers would go elsewhere and how many would stay and from that they formulated the price increase. That seems to be the way everything is going now. When looking at units of xyz across the board sales are down all over the place yet profits are up giving the false impression of a gaining economy. Just my observation anyway.

 

[Duckless]

I bought three kits at the 2024 price. Haven't used them.. and no plans to (just don't have a need to analyze).. wonder if they will refund them..

 

[jadmt]

I bought three kits at the 2024 price. Haven't used them.. and no plans to (just don't have a need to analyze).. wonder if they will refund them..

probably not. but you won't know unless you ask.

 

[IndyFan]

Got an E-Mail today Blackstone is raising prices effective 1 January 2025. $40 for sample without TBN, $50 with TBN. Mucho denero for such slow service.

I have a sample from my Jeep Gladiator that is packed up and ready to go.....but I´m not going to send it. It´s too much money. I can barely stomach $35 I paid last time, and I think this would be the second increase since then.