What oil sample analysis service do you use?

Post by **matthew1** » 17 Oct 2017, 16:49

I need to have this looked at.

Post by **abscate** » 18 Oct 2017, 03:41

Visual analysis of oil isn't very good, honestly. Carbon particles that are small will make oil look black, but if they are sub 10 micron in size they flow through the oil passages without doing any damage - the filter is designed to catch the bigger stuff (Im making those numbers up, I don't recall the typical filter size window)

Blackstone is the black standard for oil of course.

Post by **matthew1** » 18 Oct 2017, 13:32

Makes sense. Thanks Steve. I'm still going to get a test on this. Any favorite services?

Post by **abscate** » 18 Oct 2017, 18:26

Black stone in Indiana

https://m.blackstone-labs.com/ContactUs

Post by **June** » 18 Oct 2017, 19:07

Matthew you have had the good sense to take the factory oil out???? You know there is lots of metal particles that appear in the first 200 miles and more appear over the next couple hundred miles after that. Every new car I have bought I have had the oil changed at 200 miles and every engine without fail the oil came out full of glitter. I also had the oil changed at 500 miles and every engine the oil came out with less glitter in the oil. I have never had a oil burner and never had a noisy engine either. I think getting the metal out of the engine during those first few hundred miles is key.

My 1986 Buick the oil darkened in a few hundred miles and I forced the dealership to drain it part in a mason jar and it was no longer transparent due to the amount of particulate. Every Volvo engine has had similar particulate, just not as severe during break-in though car companies say otherwise. June

Post by **dyn blin** » 18 Oct 2017, 20:54

+1 on Blackstone Labs

Their analysis will set your mind at ease, or give you some meaningful info if there is an issue.

They also track your samples over time to give you an idea of how repairs are helping, or even help you anticipate failing components. They'll even tell you the level of shear, something helpful with our turbos in calculating change intervals.

https://m.blackstone-labs.com

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 20 Oct 2017, 17:35

+1 Blackstone labs is awesome.

That oil doesn't look that bad for a turbo-charged vehicle and may be fine, Blackstone will tell you with a scientific determination - is this driven highway miles or mostly local? If local it wouldn't surprise me if the car is only used for short trips. Any oil consumption?

VW had an issue with sludging in the VR6 engine and I believe "W" engines some time ago.

What oil are you using?

Post by **matthew1** » 20 Oct 2017, 18:03

No consumption. 75% city.

I can't find on the Web what oil is factory. The best I can get is " synthetic oil that meets ACEA A3 specifications" for replacement guidelines.

Post by **June** » 20 Oct 2017, 18:57

matthew1 wrote: ↑20 Oct 2017, 18:03 No consumption. 75% city.

I can't find on the Web what oil is factory. The best I can get is " synthetic oil that meets ACEA A3 specifications" for replacement guidelines.

I would get it out of there soon. Being you are the type to keep a car a long time, you should consider finding a 100% synthetic oil that meets VW requirements.

I really wish I had been more informed about the change when synthetic oil like Mobil 1, Castrol Synthetic, etc. quit being synthetic. As you may have gathered I love my S80 T6 and plan on keeping her no matter what breaks. I am aggravated that the engine has varnish even with 3K dealership Castrol Synthetic oil changes.

I just changed her over to Redline 5w30 oil which covers the SJ requirement of My 2004 2.9 T6 according to my owners manual. With all the information out there I decided to try the redline oil, but there were so many group 4 and 5 synthetic oils to choose from. Any of which couldn't be worse than the Castrol Synthetic or whatever the VW dealership likely sells. June

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 20 Oct 2017, 20:31

Just saw this interesting write-up/sales pitch...

http://www.blauparts.com/vw-oils/vw-mot ... heticvwoil