mr. ed
Madison, SD (currently traveling the US)
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Hi. Just a quick question: I just changed the oil in my truck a few days ago. How many miles should I wait before having an oil analysis performed in order to get an accurate reading? Thanks....
Mr. Ed (fulltiming since 1987)
2007 Hitchhiker II LS Model 29.5 LKTG
2007 Dodge Ram 3500/6.7 CTD/QC/4X4/SB/SRW/6-speed man/Big Horn edition
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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IMO send out for testing just BEFORE next oil change, say 2000 miles minimum. Then send to Blackstone Labs. They will even send you mailing kit if you ask. Nice folks.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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mr. ed
Madison, SD (currently traveling the US)
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Thanks for the info. I've heard of Blackstone Labs before and guess I'll use them when I get some more mileage on the oil (about 2000, as you suggested).
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Turtle n Peeps
California
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Joined: 06/23/2008
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Go to the OEM service interval. If it's 7,500 then go 7,500. If it's 10K then go 10K.
Drain the oil, save the sample and send it off. Blackstone or whoever will tell you if you can go longer next time.
~ Too many freaks & not enough circuses ~
"Life is not tried ~ it is merely survived ~ if you're standing
outside the fire"
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LarryJM
NoVa
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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mr. ed wrote:Hi. Just a quick question: I just changed the oil in my truck a few days ago. How many miles should I wait before having an oil analysis performed in order to get an accurate reading? Thanks....
You need to do it consistently and on a regular mile basis to get any meaningful results since OA is a trend type analysis that takes time to develop. I did an OA at every change for the first 60K or so miles (about 15 or so based on a 4 to 4.5K oil change interval). Now I'm doing it every other oil change since I have a great base line. If you change anything like brand of oil you need to document that ... my engine hated the Shell Rotella-T. It took me almost 8 samples over 4 years to determine that my engine did not like the Shell Rotella-T oil. OA is not a one time test, but as I said a trend analysis and sometimes that takes thousands and years of comparative analysis to make a judgement.
Also, you need to be consistent in how you collect the sample. What I do is to drop the drain pain plug with warm oil, rinse the bottle a couple of times and try and take a sample mid way thru the drain. All this is very important including the warn oil since you want whatever wear metals are in there to be evenly distributed in your sample.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974.
ALL TRAILER MODS>>ETERNABOND INSTALL>>RAINKAP INSTALL
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Gunpilot77
Killeen, Tx
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Also be aware that sampling is to find contaminates and warn you of increased wear, not to determine if the oil still contains the amount of additives needed for your engine.
Fifth wheel pulled with a pick-up
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Texas Jim S
Belton, TX
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Larry, what about the OA told you that your motor didn't like Rotella? What oil are you using now?
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hotpepperkid
Chino Hills CA
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Joined: 03/29/2002
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I send one in every other time I change engine oil and every time I do the tranny
hpk
2000 Ford F-350 SRW 4X4 PSD Jayco Super Lite 29.5RKS (31') 5th wheel 50 gal X-ferflow in the bed tank. Banks big exhaust and Stinger kit.
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Hi,
I have never tested my oil yet. But I should consider it. There are things they test for, such as if they find bearing material or coolant, they can warn you about the problem. You should expect a report in the mail if there is almost nothing wrong, but they should call straight away if there is a tiny amount of coolant in the oil, indicating a leak in the head gasket or someplace else.
I did install a water coolant filter in my motorhome. I believe my friend's advice to put it in, and that it will lubricate the water pump seal, and the hoses from the inside out. At 10 years old, I installed all new hoses on the RV and new coolant for the first time.
At one year old, the first water filter plugged up. It seems like sand was in the filter, and I installed a new one, as the heater was not working and it got cold. Each year after that, I installed another filter.
One year I put on a slightly larger filter with SAC's in it. Supplemental Coolant Additives. Some coolants are not to be used with SCA's. They are not compatible. The FIL 4070 does not have SCA's but others have them. The green coolant can use SCA's. Fil #4019 is a adapter to put the Napa water filter into the heater hose line. I located mine just behind the bumper, where I can put a 5 gallon bucket under it, to make changing mess free.
Good Luck!
Fred.
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LarryJM
NoVa
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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Texas Jim S wrote:Larry, what about the OA told you that your motor didn't like Rotella? What oil are you using now?
High Fe. Because of the lack of an intercooler in my Van and the amount of towing I do my engine is a high Fe producer because I run much hotter than most 7.3L diesels in the P/U applications and with the Rotella-T for some reason I was getting almost 50% higher Fe readings than before or after when using Delo 400 oil.
Larry
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