Oil analysis question

[Cobra]

I have never before done oil analysis. I simply changed oil often. The latest copy of the TDR has an article about that and lists a company (PdMA). My question is; is the main purpose of doing oil samples to extend oil changes? And if so, then how do I get the sample without draining the oil? Do you simply remove the filter, take the sample from it, then replace the filter with a new one adding oil to the new filter. Could someone list the proper steps and the proper way to complete the procedure.
Thanks alot.



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Bill Kute

 

[kaffine krazed]

The best way I have seen to get a sample without drainging the oil is to use a pump put a piece of tubing the the dipstick tube. Sevral companies make pumps just for that but I'm not sure on cost. www.noria.com lists sevral vendors that sale sampling equipment go under vendor guide and then sampling hardware.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Bill:
Go to Geno's Garage and get the drain plug with the tube. You can warm up the engine, and screw the fitting on just tight enough to drain the amount of oil you need and no more. It works with a spring inside the plug that the fitting pushes up. Works great.

Also you are not checking for extended changes but to find out if the oil you are are using is doing the job.
. Preston

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96 3500, Black SLT, 5 speed, turbo diesel, , with US Gear overdrive, Rhino liner, Reese 15,000 lb. fifth wheel hitch, US Gear de-celarator exhaust brake, muffler elimination kit, Amsoil lub. , Mag-hytec rear cover, dual-remote by-pass filters, and Roadmaster Active system, AutoMeter Pyro & boost, Primeloc

 

[rhoads]

The tube slid down the dip stick tube May pick up any crud in the tube,throwing off the sample.
You dont need any adaptor(plug) you dont need to drain out the pan.
you don"t need to warm up the oil(eng). . BEST TO DO WHEN COLD>
What you do need to do is clean the pan plug area,wire brush/ether & shop air, break the plug loose(wrench) un screw two-three turns and the lube will flow down and wash off any trash(dirt/silion)PUT !!!! watch for that first drip!!!! after about 10 seconds catch your oil sample and reseat the pan plug...
WHY watch for that first drip??Why cold eng??
Did we pay attention in school??
What is heaver than oil??? Where BY SIGHT will antifreez/water be found??Lowst point/close to pan plug--if left setting some what level. You will know if you are in deep do-do before the sample lab calls on the phone. IF you start the eng you wont know for minn. 4 day's!!!!BLENDER!!!!!!!
Having taken a few 1000 samples twice found something other than oil repaired oil cooler and hours on the road days befor the lab called.
want to drain the oil and not get it on the hands ? as i said break the plug loose---again (AFTER)warming up the eng-- a few complete turns of the plug, go eat breakfast,lunch, waht ever come back remove plug,watching for falling pieces/parts,wipe off said plug, reinstall!!
Or install something that hanges down for something to target(bursh-alagator-??)

 

[rhoads]

The tube slid down the dip stick tube May pick up any crud in the tube,throwing off the sample.
You dont need any adaptor(plug) you dont need to drain out the pan.
you don"t need to warm up the oil(eng). . BEST TO DO WHEN COLD>
What you do need to do is clean the pan plug area,wire brush/ether & shop air, break the plug loose(wrench) un screw two-three turns and the lube will flow down and wash off any trash(dirt/silion)PUT !!!! watch for that first drip!!!! after about 10 seconds catch your oil sample and reseat the pan plug...
WHY watch for that first drip??Why cold eng??
Did we pay attention in school??
What is heaver than oil??? Where BY SIGHT will antifreez/water be found??Lowst point/close to pan plug--if left setting some what level. You will know if you are in deep do-do before the sample lab calls on the phone. IF you start the eng you wont know for minn. 4 day's!!!!BLENDER!!!!!!!
Having taken a few 1000 samples twice found something other than oil repaired oil cooler and hours on the road days befor the lab called.
want to drain the oil and not get it on the hands ? as i said break the plug loose---again (AFTER)warming up the eng-- a few complete turns of the plug, go eat breakfast,lunch, waht ever come back remove plug,watching for falling pieces/parts,wipe off said plug, reinstall!!
Or install something that hanges down for something to target(bursh-alagator-??)

 

[redram]

It is advised to take the sample of oil from a 'WARM' engine. TDRbamer. you may have sampled 1000 engines, but in regards to the people that do oil analysis for a living, you have sampled 1000 engines incorrectly.

I agree, that if all you are wanting to check for is water / coolant, checking a cold engine MIGHT give you an indication. However, CH-4 oils contain very effective dispersant additive packages that will tend to hold the water/ coolant in suspension rather than letting it drop out of the oil. If you were getting 'free' water in your oil, increasing the number of samples taken (ie, more htan once a year) but on a more frequent interval would have caught the water problem before you were able to get 'free' water in the bottom of the crankcase. Also, how do you discern if this was condensation or coolant? Water is a byproduct of combustion engines and could have come from normal condensation in cooler weather.

Listen to the experts that perform oil analysis for a living, take a warm engine oil sample so that it is representative of what is flowing through your engine.

RedRam - certified OMA (Oil Monitoring Analyst) by the STLE (Society of Tribologist and Lubrication Engineers) and a Cummins owner for 10 years.

The Cummins 6BT / A is so reliable, that you would expect very few problems picked up by routine oil analysis.

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[illflem]

The way I take a sample without draining the oil is to connect a small valve and 1/4" tubing to the 1/8" pipe thread port on top of the oil filter housing. Do this while the engine is warm but shut down, start the engine, open the valve then run the oil into the oil fill hole to flush things out. You can then fill your sample container with great control, no mess, by using the valve. When you finish shut down the engine, open the valve, wire the tubing up to the hood and the oil will drain back to the engine, again no mess the only oil lost is the little bit for the sample. Then remove the valve setup and replace the plug, store the setup for next time. I use a grease gun hose (new, no grease to mess up the sample) from the filter as they are stiff and can be screwed in from the top, they are also 1/8" pipe thread. Valve and tubing connect to the grease gun hose. You can use a valve and tubing for a swamp cooler from any hardware store for less than $10, grease gun hose will cost you less than $5 from the auto parts. With this method you get a well mixed representative sample. I've streched my oil changes 2k miles using it.

[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 05-20-2001). ]

 

[Oil Man]

redram,
I agree with you 100% You are right take only warm samples.

Bill Kute,
Do not take a sample from the filter (bad) Wherever you take your sample from, (tube or drain plug) make a comment on the paperwork for the lab tech for his evaluation. Keep in mind that any large particles from the tube or the drain plug will not show up on oil analysis.

Kevin STLE CLS