Oil sample

[Red Rocket]

What would be the best way to get a sample of oil?

I have an extractor from CAT, a 1/4" hose and hand pump, but I can't get it in the crankcase thru the dipstick tube. It stops about 3" short of where it needs to be. Any help?



Nick

 

[HC]

I've got an oil pump from Amsoil; makes it very easy to go down the dipstick tube. If you're going to be doing more than one sample, get one. Worth every penny.

For a one-time sample, do what many do: insert a bottle into the oil stream and catch some as you drain. I've also poured out of the filter, a practice those who know more than me seem to universally recommend AGAINST due to high potential for a non-representative sample.

 

[Red Rocket]

I have a pump, and I can't get the hose into the crankcase, it gets caught on something.

 

[TurboDog]

Mine did the same thing. I cut the end of the hose off at an angle and it allowed it to slip past the hang up. Might be worth a try for you too.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Obtaining a sample at mid-point thru the draining process has to be the best way - other than the few who have a valve at some point in their oil line, and can obtain a sample while the engine is running. The WORSE would be from the oil filter - too many trapped impurities (that's what the filter is THERE for, remember?) - and the oil fill tube can't be far behind as a BAD place - how much crud, condensation and sludge do you scrape off along with what you intend to sample? Try just poking the tube down the oil level tube, and then look at the pump tube when you withdraw it - is it perfectly CLEAN, or is there a noticeable amount of crud stuck to the pump tube? You REALLY wanna analyze THAT stuff as part of the crankcase oil?

 

[Tom W]

You can make a collection tool for about $10 that works pretty well. A length of high pressure hose with a fitting on the end to screw into the top of the oil filter housing. On the other end of the hose put an on/off valve and a short piece of clear plastic tubing. When you are ready to sample, take out the plug on the housing, hook up your hose, start the engine ( make sure the valve is off), put the clear plastic hose in the bottle and carefully open the valve. It only takes a couple of minutes to hook up (and remove, I wouldn't leave it on), you can get a good sample with no mess. I usually run some oil into the oil fill hole before I take a sample. The parts are available at any hardware/auto parts store.



Tom

 

[HC]

I have an extractor from CAT, a 1/4" hose and hand pump, but I can't get it in the crankcase thru the dipstick tube. It stops about 3" short of where it needs to be.

I just measured the tube I'm using. The diameter is about 3/16" OD. That, plus cutting at an angle as others suggested, and I've never had any trouble at all getting it to go all the way down. Suggest you see if you can get an adapter to use smaller tubing. However, I really like the way the amsoil pump is set up - it draws vacuum on the bottle, so that the oil can be drawn through the tube directly into the bottle (not into the pump). This way the oil never touches anything except the sample bottle and the insides of the tube. (Uses new tube for each sample - only costs a few cents per foot. )

 

[Cummins Corvette]

I have you all beat!! I put one of those drain valves in place of the drain plug. Just open it a little, get the sample, shut it, and continue the drain as normal. You can get a sample at any time while draining it.

 

[HC]

Just open it a little, get the sample, shut it, and continue the drain as normal.

What? You drain your oil?