Pulling an oil sample

[dparm]

I have a hand pump and container to send my oil to Blackstone. How can I pull a sample without changing the oil? Is it possible to get any oil out of the filter housing in the engine bay?

[JEllis]

You could drain the sump... the front drain plug. About 1 qt will come out. I am not sure how accurate a sample that will be though. Best way is still to get a sample as the oil is draining mid stream.

[VCP]

1+

Originally Posted by JEllis

You could drain the sump... the front drain plug. About 1 qt will come out. I am not sure how accurate a sample that will be though. Best way is still to get a sample as the oil is draining mid stream.

[W Cole]

Originally Posted by dparm

I have a hand pump and container to send my oil to Blackstone. How can I pull a sample without changing the oil? Is it possible to get any oil out of the filter housing in the engine bay?

Yes, this is what I did. Easiest method IMO.

There will be a bit of oil inside the filter so wrap your hand in a large ziplock back and grab the filter then wrap bag around the filter and make sure to put a couple old towels around the filter housing. I used a turkey baster to pull some oil out of the filter housing.. there was plently. Make sure to note to blackstone where you got the sample from in case anything weird shows up, but I had no issues.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by W Cole

Yes, this is what I did. Easiest method IMO.

There will be a bit of oil inside the filter so wrap your hand in a large ziplock back and grab the filter then wrap bag around the filter and make sure to put a couple old towels around the filter housing. I used a turkey baster to pull some oil out of the filter housing.. there was plently. Make sure to note to blackstone where you got the sample from in case anything weird shows up, but I had no issues.

Thanks. I actually have the Blackstone hand pump -- you just put some of the cheap silicone tubing through it to pump.

I want to check if the oil is even ready to be changed, so I'm not sure why someone posted to do it during the oil change.

[JEllis]

Originally Posted by dparm

Thanks. I actually have the Blackstone hand pump -- you just put some of the cheap silicone tubing through it to pump.

I want to check if the oil is even ready to be changed, so I'm not sure why someone posted to do it during the oil change.

If you do it during an oil change Blackstone will tell you if your interval is adequate. They will analyze the viscosity of the oil based on what you are using. They will also analyze the amount of deposits that appear in your oil as well as the element content. As a result they will be able to tell you if your interval is too long or if you can go longer. So sampling at say 2K miles will probably get a response that says your oil is holding up well and you can go another 3K and re-sample. Your not really learning anything.

Furthermore, sampling after a standard oil change interval will aide in accessing any abnormal wear which might not show up in a short interval sample. Since most people are grabbing their samples during oil changes there is a better basis for comparison when testing your sample.

Sampling the oil from the draining sumps will give a more accurate idea of the condition of the oil that is actually circulating through your engine but sampling from the oil filter housing is probably the next best thing.

Jason

[dparm]

Jason,

I am well aware of what Blackstone is and how to use the analysis. They've gotten hundreds of dollars from me in UOAs and VOAs over the years. I have personally met one of the owners, if you care to know. I just bought the car earlier this summer and am sampling at 5k to see how things look after the previous owner and given my driving habits & style. In short, I need to establish a baseline.

Normally I would just feed the tubing connected to the hand pump down the dipstick hole. Is there a "service hole", aka a dipstick tube with a plug in it?

[JEllis]

Originally Posted by dparm

Jason,

I am well aware of what Blackstone is and how to use the analysis. They've gotten hundreds of dollars from me in UOAs and VOAs over the years. I have personally met one of the owners, if you care to know. I just bought the car earlier this summer and am sampling at 5k to see how things look after the previous owner and given my driving habits & style. In short, I need to establish a baseline.

Normally I would just feed the tubing connected to the hand pump down the dipstick hole. Is there a "service hole", aka a dipstick tube with a plug in it?

Copy, you posted this "I'm not sure why someone posted to do it during the oil change" and was explaining why.

No dip stick hole. The filter housing is your best bet if you do not want to wait until you change your oil. My personal concern with the filter housing is that without oil flowing, sediment from the filter could potentially settle at the bottom of the housing and mess up your results. That being said, it appears there are others that have used the filter housing.

[1MOREMOD]

is that what they call it these days?

[dparm]

Originally Posted by JEllis

My personal concern with the filter housing is that without oil flowing, sediment from the filter could potentially settle at the bottom of the housing and mess up your results. That being said, it appears there are others that have used the filter housing.

Point taken, and the best way to negate that is probably to drive the car for a bit to warm up the oil, then shut it off and immediately pull the sample.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

is that what they call it these days?

since you're in the medical field...let me paraphrase it for you: piss in this cup.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by mdosu

since you're in the medical field...let me paraphrase it for you: piss in this cup.

that reminds me more of my prison days.

[Longwong]

After 5 years and everyone using the same oil virtually, do people still really see value in seeing a blackstone analysis telling them that, yes, the 7500 mile interval is good and probably could get a bit more. There is no other contaminants. Or there is a bit of lead.

Ok now what, pull down and take apart the motor, switch the bearings and than you are good to go?

This oil analysis has become ridiculous. People don't look at how this will actually effect anyones actions. What will anyone do differently or learn from this?

There is enough data to establish this oil lasts more than 7500 miles. The viscosity of 10w60 stays between 50-60 until over 7500 miles. So why in the world would you send a blackstone to evaluate an oil change interval? Maybe if this car just came out last year but its pretty ridiculous. Each person own money and time to waste I guess

[1MOREMOD]

Um I think this has been beaten to death.

[JEllis]

Originally Posted by Longwong

After 5 years and everyone using the same oil virtually, do people still really see value in seeing a blackstone analysis telling them that, yes, the 7500 mile interval is good and probably could get a bit more. There is no other contaminants. Or there is a bit of lead.

Ok now what, pull down and take apart the motor, switch the bearings and than you are good to go?

This oil analysis has become ridiculous. People don't look at how this will actually effect anyones actions. What will anyone do differently or learn from this?

There is enough data to establish this oil lasts more than 7500 miles. The viscosity of 10w60 stays between 50-60 until over 7500 miles. So why in the world would you send a blackstone to evaluate an oil change interval? Maybe if this car just came out last year but its pretty ridiculous. Each person own money and time to waste I guess

The analysis MAY show any abnormal engine wear or signs of an impending failure prior to actually having one. And yes, if the analysis came back as "far too much metal in this sample at the stated mileage" then it might prompt an inspection.

We do not have chip detectors in our engines like aircraft do but when a lot metal shows up in your oil... bad things are in play.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Um I think this has been beaten to death.

Okay, but I didn't ask for everyone's two cents on how to take care of the car. I just needed to know how to best pull a sample. Not sure why so many people insisted on turning it into a giant argument.

Oh right, it's the Internet.

[happos2]

Originally Posted by dparm

Okay, but I didn't ask for everyone's two cents on how to take care of the car. I just needed to know how to best pull a sample. Not sure why so many people insisted on turning it into a giant argument.

Oh right, it's the Internet.

Before you get your panties in a wad, he was referring to Longwong's comment about why people use Blackstone.

I could have said the same thing to you when you had to describe your credentials, essentially name dropping about meeting one fo the owners, when Jason was simply answering your question regarding why people take oil samples during oil changes...

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by happos2

Before you get your panties in a wad, he was referring to Longwong's comment about why people use Blackstone.

I could have said the same thing to you when you had to describe your credentials, essentially name dropping about meeting one fo the owners, when Jason was simply answering your question regarding why people take oil samples during oil changes...

Correct you are sir.