What oil labs to use and why?

[george douglas]

There are many oil labs throughout the country. Some are certified labs and most are not. So what do you look for in a lab you choose to use? Does it make a difference to you to use a non certified lab versus a certified one?
george

[Mtclassic]

I have had good luck with blackstone labs.

[vindex1963]

Blackstone. Recommended my a lot of people on the forums.
Why are you asking?

[Gary7]

I use Terry Dyson, Dyson Analysis.

[93-331-29PSI]

Another for Blackstone. Been sending them my truck oil for a few years now.

[george douglas]

Originally Posted by vindex1963

Blackstone. Recommended my a lot of people on the forums.
Why are you asking?

I have been reading reports for many years from several different labs and was curious why one chooses one over the other. Data from one lab to another sometimes will vary a little bit as I have sent the same oil to two different labs as a test and they are normally pretty consistant. If you don't know how to read them then you have to have faith in the lab's recommendations. Most labs simply send out a computer generated response while some try to give you guidance and their take on it. Gary7 mentioned Terry Dyson analysis as his choice. Terry is an airline pilot that will take a report from any lab and evaluate it so he can help you understand it. I don't know where he gained his experience, but have heard good things about his reporting. Blackstone also trys to help you understand the report with their verbiage, but I have found many inaccuracies and inconsistancies through the years with their reporting on several brands of oils. I often use a lab out of Georgia that isn't certified and very cheap as they can give me the basic info I am looking for to make recommendations to some of the fleets I sell oil to. When I want good documentation and reporting for expensive equipment then I will use a certified lab as their equipment and processes are audited for accuracy usually every 45 days.
george

[Gary7]

Terry has a lab that he works with for his proprietary oil analysis. He will interpret data from any lab, but he highly recommends if you're going to use his service that you submit the sample through him so the lab he uses does the testing. His lab tests for things, and uses protocols, that most other labs don't.

Terry has been doing this for decades and he's one of the best.

As for Blackstone's interpretation, theirs should come with the following disclaimer: "For entertainment purposes only."

[vindex1963]

Originally Posted by Gary7

As for Blackstone's interpretation, theirs should come with the following disclaimer: "For entertainment purposes only."

I think the entertainment is people liking one oil over another because it looks better or sounds better. At least with Blackstone people are trying to make an informed decision. I think the explanation Blackstone gives is based on the general public having no idea what they are looking at, like me. I think it helps. The sample I post often of 15w50 shows it's doing good and the explanation told me that otherwise I wouldn't have a clue.

[Gary7]

Originally Posted by vindex1963

I think the entertainment is people liking one oil over another because it looks better or sounds better. At least with Blackstone people are trying to make an informed decision. I think the explanation Blackstone gives is based on the general public having no idea what they are looking at, like me. I think it helps. The sample I post often of 15w50 shows it's doing good and the explanation told me that otherwise I wouldn't have a clue.

The data in an oil analysis is useless without a competent interpretation of that data. It would be like going to the doctor and having a bunch of lab work done and the doctor just hands you all the lab data. You wouldn't know whether you were in perfect health or on death's doorstep. You need his expertise and training to tell you what the data means.

Blackstone tends to give cookie cutter interpretations rather than real trend based interpretations based on your individual engine. And that's the key to getting anything really meaningful out of oil analysis: trending over time, with an expert interpreting the data. A single oil analysis is really only good for showing a major anomaly. You need trending to determine the overall health of a normally functioning engine.

[pirate50]

Originally Posted by Gary7

Terry has a lab that he works with for his proprietary oil analysis. He will interpret data from any lab, but he highly recommends if you're going to use his service that you submit the sample through him so the lab he uses does the testing. His lab tests for things, and uses protocols, that most other labs don't.

Terry has been doing this for decades and he's one of the best.

As for Blackstone's interpretation, theirs should come with the following disclaimer: "For entertainment purposes only."

Seems to me that Terry uses Blackstone as one of his labs: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/dyson-analysis.php. Guess he likes to be entertained too! I know that the $99.00 price tag sure entertained me.

Pirate

[Gary7]

Originally Posted by pirate50

Seems to me that Terry uses Blackstone as one of his labs: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/dyson-analysis.php. Guess he likes to be entertained too! I know that the $99.00 price tag sure entertained me.

That's a long running agreement he's had with Blackstone. If you buy the Dyson package from Blackstone, the report that comes from Blackstone won't have any interpretation from them on it. Terry supplies the interpretation.

But, as I said, if you buy an oil analysis directly from Terry, Blackstone is not the lab that he uses. He uses a lab there in Texas where he is, which he prefers over Blackstone.

http://www.dysonanalysis.com/

[xtractor]

Websters defines clean as the absents of all foreign material. I do my own oil analysis, if the oil looks dirty or at about 2000 miles I change it. I use a white paper towel for the analysis and compare color of used oil with new oil.

I know most will say I'm throwing away good oil. I say cleanliness is next to Godliness.

[HDSG]

Originally Posted by xtractor

Websters defines clean as the absents of all foreign material. I do my own oil analysis, if the oil looks dirty or at about 2000 miles I change it. I use a white paper towel for the analysis and compare color of used oil with new oil.

I know most will say I'm throwing away good oil. I say cleanliness is next to Godliness.

Hallalua..................Brother..............Ame n

[Mtclassic]

Originally Posted by Gary7

That's a long running agreement he's had with Blackstone. If you buy the Dyson package from Blackstone, the report that comes from Blackstone won't have any interpretation from them on it. Terry supplies the interpretation.

But, as I said, if you buy an oil analysis directly from Terry, Blackstone is not the lab that he uses. He uses a lab there in Texas where he is, which he prefers over Blackstone.

http://www.dysonanalysis.com/

I emailed Dyson and inquired about Blackstone lab perhaps not being up to snuff and he emailed back indicating that was not the case at all.

[Dan89FLSTC]

I`ve had great results using the recommended oil change interval on all my vehicles since I started driving (1969). Never used an oil lab...and have never had an oil related failure.

Stop worrying about oil and ride the bike...