Oil Sample

[posey-smoker]

I need to take an oil sample now and before my normal oil change due to a possible engine issue. Can I take off the oil filter and draw off some of the oil safely without contamination? Do you get it from the cneter hole or the outside holes?



Is there a better way to draw off an oil sample without an oil change?

 

[amsoilman]

I need to take an oil sample now and before my normal oil change due to a possible engine issue. Can I take off the oil filter and draw off some of the oil safely without contamination? Do you get it from the cneter hole or the outside holes?



Is there a better way to draw off an oil sample without an oil change?

If you don't have a suction pump to draw oil from the "Dip stick" tube, then it is better to get an oil sample by cleaning the area around the drain plug, then loosening the plug, and allow some oil to drain which will help clean the area around the plug. Then you can catch a sample from the loosened plug. Make sure you have a very clean bottle/container to catch the oil in, as it is very easy to contaminate an oil sample, which would give you a "False" report. You should also allow the oil to be up to operating temps, which makes it a problem in that one can get burned if not carefull.



I use a small suction pump that attaches to a sampleing bottle for all my customers, which the oil is drawn from the dip stick tube.



Wayne

 

[Bekim]

Yes you can use oil from your filter. Blackstone Labs tell you to put that info on your from when you mail it in.
Mike
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[Wingate]

If you have a local Cat or Cummins dealer, they can sell you a hand pump and oil sample bottle that is very inexpensive. It will allow you to run the supplied tube down thru the dipstick tube and draw the oil directly into the sample bottle. This will greatly reduce the chance of contamination. As others have said, take the sample with the oil up to operating temperature.

If you're goiing to be doing routine oil sampling, you might consider installing a stainless needle valve ontop of the filter housing, this will allow you to take the sample with the engine running. Just DON'T use anything made of copper or brass, they can give you fits with your oil sample.