How can Blackstone labs really be accurate?

[AnarchyX]

I ask because for most of us, topping off with new oil is a given, and so wouldn't that actually give a false positive on their study of the oil, especially in regards to the actual miles the oil still has left?

I mean if I go 7k miles before a full oil-change, but i've added about 4-5 quarts of high quality oil (Pennzoil for example), wouldn't the detergents in the new oil make the used oil seem as if it hadn't been in use as long and could go further?

Do those labs take that into consideeration?

 

[hate2work]

They report the results and you take it into consideration.

 

[kcfx4]

adding a bit of oil to alot of oil is PPM, and as ive asked b4, if you add a beer to a gallon of water will you feel anything? NO, And i doubt blackstone is that accurate

 

[AnarchyX]

So then with my scenario, which is the reality for nearly everyone that goes more than 3-4k for an oil change and tops off, they're pretty much useless. Got it.

 

[toyotapriusguy]

Well from what I've seen on the reports, I think they ask if You've topped off with any oil. It's up near the top where the length of the OCI and the miles on the car are. I could be mistaken though, and can't find a .pdf of someones report to verify at the moment.

Wouldn't they take into account that You've added oil if they ask?

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: AnarchyX
I ask because for most of us, topping off with new oil is a given, and so wouldn't that actually give a false positive on their study of the oil, especially in regards to the actual miles the oil still has left?

I mean if I go 7k miles before a full oil-change, but i've added about 4-5 quarts of high quality oil (Pennzoil for example), wouldn't the detergents in the new oil make the used oil seem as if it hadn't been in use as long and could go further?

Do those labs take that into consideeration?


Actually, most would say you could run your oil longer since the additive package has been replenished substantially in your run.

All Blackstone does is tell you the characteristics of the oil sample you sent in were. The rest is up to you.

 

[otis24]

In my experience, they do ask if any top off oil was added and take that into consideration.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: AnarchyX

I mean if I go 7k miles before a full oil-change, but i've added about 4-5 quarts of high quality oil (Pennzoil for example), wouldn't the detergents in the new oil make the used oil seem as if it hadn't been in use as long and could go further?

If your oil sump capacity is 5 quarts and in 7k miles you have to add 5 quarts, then you basically never need to change your oil, and that's the kind of answer you'll get out of a Blackstone UOA, too.

But it is not normal for an engine to be consuming so much oil. half a quart or a quart during 7k would be more normal. Many engines don't consume any oil at all.

If you're planning to send in a sample and don't want the top-up oil to skew the results, then don't top-up just before taking a sample.

 

[lipadj46]

Originally Posted By: AnarchyX
So then with my scenario, which is the reality for nearly everyone that goes more than 3-4k for an oil change and tops off, they're pretty much useless. Got it.


I'm not sure why it would be useless, you will see the chemical composition of the oil in your sump.

 

[BILLYMAC]

Are you adding 4-5 qts of oil before you reach your 7k oci? If you are, your engine problems are greater than anything that Blackstone Labs can help you with. Save your money!....or am I missing something here?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: BILLYMAC
Are you adding 4-5 qts of oil before you reach your 7k oci? If you are, your engine problems are greater than anything that Blackstone Labs can help you with!...

+1

 

[tig1]

If in a 7K OCI you have to add 5 Qts of oil, your engine has problems, so why do a UOA to begin with?

 

[widman]

You should be sharing everything like top up with the lab, or whoever is interpreting the results. Results are scientific, reading them is an art.

Also, those results, as reported are for your car, telling you that under your use, top-offs, etc, this is how it is and how it can be projected for your driving and your car.

 

[Oregoonian]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: BILLYMAC
Are you adding 4-5 qts of oil before you reach your 7k oci? If you are, your engine problems are greater than anything that Blackstone Labs can help you with!...

+1

+2....save your money...and maybe look for another vehicle?

 

[Oregoonian]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: BILLYMAC
Are you adding 4-5 qts of oil before you reach your 7k oci? If you are, your engine problems are greater than anything that Blackstone Labs can help you with!...

+1

+2....save your money...and maybe look for another vehicle?

BTW...most of us do not top off...my Ford Focus with 92K on it and doesn't use a drop of oil...
_____________________________________
2003 Ford Focus (2.3L) / 92K
Mobil 1 5w20 EP / OCI: 10K
Filter: Mobil 1 EP / FSC: RedLine Sl-1

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
AnarchyX - All Labs need as much info as you can provide them in order to achieve "their" level of accuracy

The amount of top up lubricant should be divulged to the Lab!

I use Oil Company Labs - those that supply my lubricants. This enables the latest "in-house" formulation data on a specific lubricant (or batch) to be utilised

Don't expect "clinical" results from simple single pass UOAs

 

[JOD]

Define "accurate"?

The purpose of a UOA is to determine if the oil is suitable for use--reporting wear metals in the oil, contaminants in the oil, it's level of oxidation and nitration, it's viscosity and the amount of additive left in the oil

If some of the contaminants are out way out of line (wear metals, water or fuel), then it may also help indicate a mechanical problem.

To the first part, if you've added 10 qts of make-up oil over 5K, it's a good bet the oil will be in much better condition than if you added none. That doesn't mean the UOA isn't accurate, though. It just means the oil is in better condition than it would be otherwise.

As far as using the UOA to check the condition of the engine, that's a dicey proposition anyway. It's really only going to alert you if something is dramatically wrong in most instances, and you'll notice that regardless of the make-up oil

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: JOD
Define "accurate"?

The purpose of a UOA is to determine if the oil is suitable for use--reporting wear metals in the oil, contaminants in the oil, it's level of oxidation and nitration, it's viscosity and the amount of additive left in the oil

If some of the contaminants are out way out of line (wear metals, water or fuel), then it may also help indicate a mechanical problem.

To the first part, if you've added 10 qts of make-up oil over 5K, it's a good bet the oil will be in much better condition than if you added none. That doesn't mean the UOA isn't accurate, though. It just means the oil is in better condition than it would be otherwise.

As far as using the UOA to check the condition of the engine, that's a dicey proposition anyway. It's really only going to alert you if something is dramatically wrong in most instances, and you'll notice that regardless of the make-up oil


+1.

Great post!

 

[Artem]

Blackstone noted that leftovers from an additive called "Restore" was screwing up the results in one of my UOA. This was dead on since i actually DID use Restore in the past.

Seems pretty darn accurate to me.

 

[JHZR2]

Decent chemical analytical work should be precise within 6%RSD. How accurate it is is based upon calibration, adjusting for sensor drift in time, etc.