I have used Blackstone and I currently use these guys http://www.avlab.com/
I was happy with Blackstone, I just switched for no particular reason I can recall.
I have always used Blackstone. As did my previous owner. Never saw anything really out of line. In fact, the oil analysis covering the period when my engine went bad.
I'm really questioning the value of oil analysis at this point.
I have been using Aviation Oil Analysis by ALS Laboratory Group’s Tribology Division (formerly Staveley Services Fluids Analysis) For 10 years. You can get kits in bulk from them. I bought a case of kits directly from them for $8 or so a sample a couple years ago. Currently they sell for about $12 from Aircraft Spruce. They used to give a discount if you are an AOPA member.
Do you think oil starvation from negative G acro flight may have damaged you're engine? Could the damage have been done after the last analysis which would not have caused an abnormal indication?
...Imagine the mess if one of those little sample jars got cracked in transit.
Anyone else had issues with mailing samples?
No problems at all with mailing through the local post office.
The Blackstone Labs mailer has three levels of containment plus absorbent padding. And, should a question arise from the USPS, they provide a document, with phone number if that becomes necessary, that the sample is NOT to be considered hazardous material.
I've been using Blackstone Labs for about six years and am very pleased with their analysis. I couldn't be more pleased.
Glad you are pleased with their service. I was also. and this is not a jab at Blackstone, but what is it really telling you?
I'll probably keep spending the extra $25 /oil change, but I'm just not sure anymore...
It's telling me how my engine internals are wearing. My engine is a field overhauled O-320 Lycoming with 225 hours SMOH and I've been watching the analyses for the last 100 or so hours. One thing it's telling me is I'm not flying enough, which, granted, I don't need to pay to already know. However, it is telling me what that lack of flying is doing to the metal parts of my engine.
Glad you are pleased with their service. I was also. and this is not a jab at Blackstone, but what is it really telling you?
I'll probably keep spending the extra $25 /oil change, but I'm just not sure anymore...
Surprised not more posters mentioning. Its only $13/per kit and I have been very happy with the service at AOA.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned issues with the US post office with the prepaid mailers. Different post offices have different standards of care and inquisitiveness about it, but the small oil sample is a hazardous material shipment. Ultimately I have always been able to talk the clerk into shipping it, but it sometimes gets some kind of special marking and special handling, which takes longer.
Imagine the mess if one of those little sample jars got cracked in transit.
Anyone else had issues with mailing samples?
i have recently switched over to blackstone and really like there podcast.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slick-talk-powered-by-blackstone-laboratories/id1492870857
Do you have a link, quick search didnt turn a podcast up.
Forgot to mention...the other day I called Blackstone to check on an oil sample I had sent a couple of weeks earlier. Hadn't heard anything. They assured me that the sample report was in-process, but that they had just received it. He said that they had been having trouble with timely USPS delivery of samples from customer to Blackstone....