Duramax - how to extract oil for analysis

[stockrex]

hello, My 2008 chevy duramax will be 5 yrs old this December and the factory warranty ends, I have barely driven it in the last 4 years, (8k miles) since brand new.
Now I am driving it as a daily driver. I want to take a sample and send for OCI, how do I sample oil? snake a hose down the dip stick?

 

[440Magnum]

Snake a hose down the dipstick (hard vacuum line from a parts store attached to a syringe with a short section of flexible vacuum line works well) or snatch a bottle full when draining the oil.

Before you sample, get a kit from some place like Blackstone. It contains a sample bottle and return packaging.

 

[JHZR2]

Sample pumps can be bought from a variety of places. I got mine from Amsoil. Give Pablo a PM. Ill bet he can hook you up.

 

[dnewton3]

In the future, consider getting a Fumoto valve; easy live samples.

 

[stockrex]

Originally Posted By: dnewton3
In the future, consider getting a Fumoto valve; easy live samples.

I have one in stock, but I am reluctant to do anything till the factory warranty is over,
Just last year, the dealer did not replace the crush washer during oil change (mobil 1) and I had to go back 2x times to have to correct it, finally they admitted to not changing the crush washer and took out the drain both and replaced the washer.
stealerships here in Grand Rapids are incompetent.

After December, I will take the dmax down to Zeeland to Merchant Auto and have Eric put on a fumoto valve

wow, snake tube down the dip stick, wow, that will be a LONG tube,
hmm, oil sample pump, sounds like a cool tool, but I do not sample that often, it is cheaper for me to drop the oil and put in fresh oil,
just the dmax being a $10k engine want to get atleast 1 if not 2 UOA done by December.

I will probably to the CAT dealership near me, I have an account with them.

Thanks!

 

[roadrunner1]

My UOA's are sent in through Deere, who has two different sampling bottles. One is a small jar with approx. a one inch opening, the other is a bellows with a long tube used for extracting through the dipstick tube.

I have used both, depending on what engine I'm sampling and the "bellows" works as advertised. They are both priced under 12 dollars apiece, TBN/TAN is extra.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: stockrex


wow, snake tube down the dip stick, wow, that will be a LONG tube,
hmm, oil sample pump, sounds like a cool tool, but I do not sample that often, it is cheaper for me to drop the oil and put in fresh oil,
just the dmax being a $10k engine want to get atleast 1 if not 2 UOA done by December.




Oil pump too expensive? I maybe paid $25 for it. Youre spending $25 on two UOAs alone, and if you keep doing them, the convenience is worth it and the cost gets amortized over LOTS of samples. These thngs come with like 10' of line. Super easy to stick it down and grab a sample any time live.

 

[dnewton3]

The Fumoto will not void your warranty. In fact, it is OEM approved by many Japanese OEMs. I'm not sure that GM has approved it, but it is, in fact, a glorified ball valve and nothing more. Very well made. If you can turn a wrench, you can install of of these valves.

The tube sample method works well too, but you don't get a "live" sample and you also have to be careful not to scrap the bottom of the pan and pick up residual that would otherwise skew the results.

One way or another, you gotta pay to play.

 

[stockrex]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: stockrex


wow, snake tube down the dip stick, wow, that will be a LONG tube,
hmm, oil sample pump, sounds like a cool tool, but I do not sample that often, it is cheaper for me to drop the oil and put in fresh oil,
just the dmax being a $10k engine want to get atleast 1 if not 2 UOA done by December.




Oil pump too expensive? I maybe paid $25 for it. Youre spending $25 on two UOAs alone, and if you keep doing them, the convenience is worth it and the cost gets amortized over LOTS of samples. These thngs come with like 10' of line. Super easy to stick it down and grab a sample any time live.


Sorry, I did not mean that oil pump is too expensive, I don't do regular UOA, I just change the oil. I bought the oil on sale less than $1 a qt or FAR. the cost of an oil change is mucho economical compared to the cost of doing an UOA,

 

[stockrex]

Originally Posted By: dnewton3
The Fumoto will not void your warranty. In fact, it is OEM approved by many Japanese OEMs. I'm not sure that GM has approved it, but it is, in fact, a glorified ball valve and nothing more. Very well made. If you can turn a wrench, you can install of of these valves.

The tube sample method works well too, but you don't get a "live" sample and you also have to be careful not to scrap the bottom of the pan and pick up residual that would otherwise skew the results.

One way or another, you gotta pay to play.


I agree, but I have the worst luck with dealing with these jokers here in GR. I have free oil changes at the dealership, so waiting for those to end to do it myself

My pan should not have much residue on it, 8k miles and it has 4 Oil changes already with M1. I know what a waste of good oil!

 

[stockrex]

FYI: called cat dealership and they have oil sampling kit for $13, not sure if that includes analysis, going to swing by CAT tomorrow and pick it and buy some 10% biodiesel at the mobil station next door