Oil Sampling

[DaveHess]

I asked this in another thread but didn't get an answer so I thought I'd run it by itself and maybe get more response. How do you guys that do oil samples, accomplish this between oil changes? How do you take a sample without making a huge mess? Thanks in advance.

 

[JThacker]

I am interested in also doing an oil analysis, where can you have it done and where can you find the allowable tolerances for the particulate matter, fuel, coolant, etc. Jay

 

[ENafziger]

Well, I've never done it, but I'll share the little I know. A lot of people who routinely do oil samples have installed a bypass oil filter. Many of these bypass filters (such as the OilGuard that I have) have a small valve or a port designed to pull samples from. If you don't have a bypass filter, Geno's Garage sells a couple types of replacement oil pan bolts offering no-mess valves that I presume could be used for taking an oil sample. Finally, if neither of those appeal to you, there is a 1/8" NPT port on the top of the oil filter housing that is plugged from the factory. You could easily attach a short line and a valve to this port and pull samples from here.



Well, that's not much, but maybe it sheds a little light until someone else chimes in. Doing a search on oil analysis will yield a large selection of material on people's baselines/results/findings etc. --Eric

 

[JGheen]

Just take your sample bottle and fill it up when your draining your oil. Once the oil is draining into your pan, lay under the truck and just stick the bottle under the stream of oil and you may end up with a little mess but if your careful you can do this with no mess. You don't need to do an oil sample everytime unless you chasing a problem. Every once in a while doesn't hurt though and keeps you informed of you engines performance and wear condition.



Joe

 

[drewRoberts]

you can also buy a pump and some tubeing to slide down the dip stick line and obtain a sample that way. it is easy to do, just make sure to cut the tubeing about 6 inches longer than the dipstick.

 

[05mxdiesel]

Before bypass I would take samples from the fumoto drain valve after a quart or so have been drained. Now with bypass I will take oil from the return port in the valve cover.

 

[Arkapigdiesel]

I love my Fumoto: http://www.fumotovalve.com/



Geno's Garage sells the Fumoto also.

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

Well, when I had the stock drain plug, I took from the middle of the stream. you know roughly how full your oil pan gets, so halfway is easy to guess, this is best. when I got the fumoto, I still do the same. The benefit of the fumoto, as I have been told (not done this yet) is you can crack it while running, and get the best sample as nothing has settled out. I did not want to change my method and skew my results. I love doing this. the readings are nice to know, and peace of mind. I get mine from the local Cummins branch, it's through Polaris labs, branded Fleetguard (which is Cummins). $20 twice a year is cheap insurance.

 

[amsoilman]

I take mine from the return line on the By-pass, which is the Oil FIll Cap. Just unscrew it while its running and put the bottle under the stream and let it flow into the bottle.



However, if you DO NOT have a by-pass and want a "Good" sample, the best place to take a sample is from the dipstick useing a plastic hose and hand pump. ( about $25,00 from Amsoil) I do not like taking samples from the drain plug, as there is to much risk in getting contaminants in the sample!Just remember to take your samples from the same place each time you sample.



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Jack in Alaska]

Google BLACKSTONE LABS in Indiana. They will send you sample bottles, instructions and do the analysis. It comes back on and e-mail with your results, the average for your type of truck.

I think it is $18/sample with your TDR membership.



They do excellent work in my opinion.

 

[JMKnight]

The first time I took an oil sample, I loosened the pan bolt real slow. The next thing I know the pan bolt shot into the samole bottle like it was lazer guided. 10 or sqts. of oil on my driveway. Called Geno's ordered a pan bolt with the petcock on it, no more oil on my driveway J. M. Knight

 

[DSpencer]

First I make sure the engine is warm but not too hot. A short drive of ten minutes or so to mix up the goo. Then I make sure the oil pan/bolt is clean. I then loosen the bolt until decent flow comes from the oil pan into a pan. I wait till a couple cups or a quart of oil has drained and then fill the sample jar.



I always put the drained oil back where it came from.