Recommendation for oil analysis

[MrNomad]

For oil analysis, I've been using LAB ONE in Phx AZ for 4 years & my hangar friends have been using them for many years before me.

LAB ONE is prompt, friendly, and they even answer questions about all oil related matters.

If you buy their 12 pack of oil analysis samples directly from them, the price is better than the major distributors.

Contact 866-652-2663 or email bgordon@laboneinc.com.

No, I'm not related but I get excited when the boss answers the phone, speaks a language I can understand, and knows what the *&^%$ he's talking about.

[plehrke]

I use AOA (Aviation Oil Analysis) of Phoenix. Never had issue, guy doing the analysis answers the phone, have my info on line, and you get a discount if you are an AOPA member. I have been using them for 8 years and at least 20 samples.

I also had a friend that camped next to the president of Blackstone Labs at OSH several years ago. Ryan Stark, wife, and baby (really not prepared for camping) we invited over to eat with us. Very friendly. I have not used there service but pumped him for info. Got lots of great answers. If you do not have a current service you are using I would recommend them.

[RScott]

Aviation Consumer rated Blackstone tops.

Oil analysis does you little good unless you sample regularly--it's the trend over time that counts. So sample at every oil change, or every second change, or don't bother.

[mculver]

Likewise, pick a vendor and stick with them. They all see to vary a bit with measurements, so if you jump around between vendors you wind up with unknown variations that point to phantom trends. One vendor I tried came up with bizarre measurements (not one mentioned here).

[RVadmirer]

Have been doing business with these folks for the life of my plane and am very satisfied. When something came up that was worth noting they called me to discuss it! Great folks, good service.
Sounds like one industry that understands the value of good will and customer service. Now if BMA could have figured that out.......

[rocketbob]

Last year I had an engine in a Piper Saratoga with a filter full of metal. Just for kicks we sent off the oil for analysis and guess what....results came back with flying colors. Moral of the story... if theres junk in the oil and its not big enough to get caught in the filter, its not worth worrying about.

[turbo]

they are out of new jersey. i had a leaking air filter with showed up higher levels of silicon on the results. the other time i picked up iron levels when my high time lyc was on its way out.

[RScott]

Ah, yes, junk in the oil...

The problem is that oil analysis looks at microscopic particles. You will never see what the spectrometer sees. And oil analysis won't forecast catastrophic failure, i.e., something suddenly breaking.

What it does show is wear metals that get bathed in oil. So as a bearing starts to go bad, microscopic particles of metal get shaved off and get suspended in the oil. OTOH, if a couple parts start grinding each other to pieces and sending chunks to the filter, well that's why you take the filter apart--to see what oil analysis won't see.

Side note: They say to run the engine and take your sample mid stream as you drain it. Probably not important. I have compared hot and cold samples and even a sample from a filter after the owner forgot to sample the oil as it drained. No significant difference. The spectrometer looks at particles smaller than 10 microns, about .0004". We are talking about particle sizes that will stay in suspension due to Brownian motion and even those that are large enough to settle out will take a long time to do so. Just be sure to let some oil drain to clear out any dirt that may be on the drain so you don't get a contaminated sample.

[Greg Reese]

Top Notch. Just reordered sample containers. $19/each for a 6pack.