should I do a UOA?

[bustednutz]

Just changed the Mobil 1 5w30 out of my wifes car after 6 months of short commuter driving. Only 3100 miles on the oil.
Is it worth it to get a used oil analysis done? Or do you think it may not show anything significant?
I still have all the old oil. It was drained into a brand new, never used drain pan, and poured into a new gallon jug.
She has an 06' Hyundai Accent with 20k on it. 3.5 quart sump.

 

[MGregoir]

6 months and roughly 3000 miles would be a good baseline if you think about it. The oil definitely would not be used up or anything except maybe moisture or fuel dilution.

If you have never done a used oil analysis before, the engine should be broken in now, and it will show up coolant ingestion, filtration, or fuel dilution problems if there are problems, or any abnormal wear as well. Plus, if you get the used oil analysis and it says everything is great and there are no problems, it gives you a snapshot baseline to reference against if you do any future used oil analysis.

It all depends on if you are really interested or not. If you don't feel there is any benefit to doing it, don't do it, but at the same time if you want to know and take that knowledge and do something with it, it would be worth doing.

 

[va3ux]

I too agree. Because of the short-trip usage and only 3K miles in 6 months, it would be worth doing a used oil analysis just to see how the moisture and fuel dilution is.

 

[FZ1]

Save your money. Get the Mobil 1 Extended Performance next time at Walmart for $5 more per 5 qt jug and run it 1 year.

 

[twentynine]

Do you suspect some sort of problem with oil, engine or filters?

M1 can do 3.5 easy with lots left over.

Unless you just want to spend your money, what do you expect to learn?

 

[Cory]

Regardless of oil type being used, conventional or synthetic, your issue here is a short commute with possible fuel dilution and moisture. I don't believe that syntheitcs help in either one of these cases? You'd want something with a higher TBN to help neutralize the acids associated with the fuel and moisture.

I'd use conventional oil and go 3-4K. Get a few more miles on your vehicle and I wouldn't hesitate to keep you oil filter for multiple OCIs.

If you get a chance

Just for comparison, the GM Oil Life System for Short trip service (less than two miles) expects it's systems to last approximatley what I have written above. Also on conventional oil. FWIW, enjoy.

 

[deven]

Originally Posted By: bustednutz
Just changed the Mobil 1 5w30 out of my wifes car after 6 months of short commuter driving. Only 3100 miles on the oil.
Is it worth it to get a used oil analysis done? Or do you think it may not show anything significant?
I still have all the old oil. It was drained into a brand new, never used drain pan, and poured into a new gallon jug.
She has an 06' Hyundai Accent with 20k on it. 3.5 quart sump.



No, because you wouldnt really be following the right way of taking a sample for a used oil analysis. Just wait till next time and get the sampling thru the dipstick hole or during the drain at your next oci. Do this same procedure for subsequent used oil analysis and get a trend going.