I used them once for 3 samples, granted I'm overseas & posted air mail, it was 15 days before a result from time of posting (not TOO bad)!
I've since started using a local caterpillar agent for testing & I admit to being a little dissapointed so far with BOTH.
What the Cat testing showed up - about Oilguards testing is largely they don't testfor addpack depletion etc at all.
All of the Calcium Phosphorus Zinc & Boron results etc, which a virgin analysis of the oil show the levels came back as zero's on the oilguard results.
Not knowing any betterat the time i thought this was indicative of a fantastic engoine with zero problems in all those areas, not that the lab couldn't be bothered doing the testing!
Where Oilguard exceeded CAT testing was TBN - Cat didn't bother to do that - I found out today when the results came back that if you want TBN from CAT, you need to buy a more expensive testing kit (why didn't they say so at the outset when I bought the kits?)
I do realise that really speaking TBN is just a measurement of the amount of expiration of the addpack (calcium zinc phosphate etc), and thats what details are IN the Caterpillar results so really BOTH companys seem to supply much the same info just in different forms.
I've just posted away another 3 samples to oilguard to use up thelast of my samples containers etc, we will see how long they take and how thorough they do the job!
I did happen to do ONE sample as a duplicate of one of the Caterpillar ones - to see how close each is in their analysis results! (looking forward to that!).
Man I had no end of trouble dealing with the Caterpillar agents tho so far! Wasn't told I could buy kits over the phone with credit card necessitationg a 80 mile return trip specially to get the samples kits! Then not adivsed of the TBN testing requirement for the more expensive kit etc.
When I go there, the signage wasabysmal - resulting in entrance to the wrong driveway off a 4 lane hwy in peak traffic - some gymnastics to turn a Ftruck around on cramped space with insiufficient room, to get back OUT onto the highway only to go 50 yeards and into the NEXT driveway - then drive 2 laps looking for non exsistent parking. Then went to th elab to get the samples - buy they arent kept there as advised on phone - just analysed there after posted in! Ended up in merchandise shop - no kits there - so off to reception - who sent me to spare parts where I got - the wrong kits!
Kits had an out of date Card inside telling me who to email contact for access to the online oil commander system, so emails bounced back until I FOUND a new email that worked - then because I use Mozilla Forefox browser, the NEW commander oil system wouldn't work withmozilla had to email about that and end up loading MS IE to be able to access their website!
Givenit was 4 days from psoting to results online - the turnaround wasn't bad!
Really speaking neither company testing services have impressed me yet!
Both seem to have issues, making a simple job hard!
Would I BUY Caterpillar equipment from this Cat Franchise company - knowing what I know now about their customer service on the small stuff like UOA samples?
Not in a [censored] fit!
I always test out a car sales spare parts dept long before I present to look at a new car - they treat me right I come back to look at a car - but they treat me wrong in spare parts, they never sell me a car!
Anyways - the labs so far in my experience (2) seem to be much of a muchness - pretty basic - just going thru the motions, doing what they have to not to get the bullet & still collect a pay cheque.
Wat was the question again? Ohh yes Oilguard & your bad experience - yeah - that pretty much sums up my experience with both so far!
Cheers!
