My Blackstone Labs Oil Analysis Is In!
 

I was curious about the health of my engine after last winter's little mishap bending the intake valves (barely, can't even see the bend in the shanks but it is there, the engine wouldn't hold more than a few psi). I decided to have an oil analysis done, and all seems well.


Is there a place we are compiling all these to compare?

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p544/p944/p944.png



They say try a longer interval on the oil change, but it seems that the viscosity of the oil was starting to degrade with the 4100 mile change?
Either way, it looks like a clean bill of health to me, time to keep drivin!

very cool! Mg seemed higher than most. I wonder what that is from?

This is sort of a weird thing to notice, but I'm impressed that the comments are so well written.

Good news. They offer a great service, have used them on every oil change for years and always impressed. It's good insurance, they even send you the mailable containers.

BTW I change my oil once a year or 10k miles like Porsche recommends with no issues.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/...s/30268ddd.jpg

After a quick google search.... I can't find anything in a 951 engine that is magnesium. The actual turbo cup cars had a magnesium sump, but I am confident that wouldn't have carried over to the street model.

The Blackstone Labs website shows Mg as : detergent/dispersant additive
perhaps Mobil 1 puts more detergent in their oil than others to clean the engine?

The analysis is very well written. It is apparent that somebody over at the lab has an interest in what they are doing, and doesn't mind taking a little time to share their knowledge. Worth $25 for me. Now I know my bearings, cam and cylinders are all in good shape.

This is only 1 UOA. It's your baseline. Keep doing them. One report will tell you little. It's the cumulative reports over a few years that will tell you much more information.

10W30 oil in a 944 Turbo S? Is this the oil most of you guys run?

I've been using Blackstone for years. I also do UOA's on my trans/gear oil. Buy the test kits in bulk of 6. This will save you a little money per test.

I do the same...only the interval for an NA is 15,000. I'll do it once a year though, if I haven't gone 15,000 miles.

I also have had Blackstone check my oil a few times, and even at 15,000, they say I can extend my change interval another 5,000 LOL. I think once a year is fair enough though. I'm still impressed at how well the alusil engines wear....or don't wear :cool:

Mobil 1 15-50, and 135k miles FWIW.

Comparative Analysis
 

Just spent $35 for my first (ever) UOA and TBN..

Pretty good results as well.. what engines!
I had run Rotella Dino 15w-40 for 4,100 miles.
My TBN went from 10.1 new to 5.5
My Viscosity at 100C went from 15.5 new to 11.72
Flashpoint reduced 35F from 400F new to 365F
Zinc & Phosphorous ended at 1110ppm & 944 (hey!) respectively.
Anit-Freeze & Water: 0% :rockon:


BLACKSTONE COMMENTS:

"Metals are low compared to averages";
"You mentioned you're at 250,000 miles on a factory original motor, from this sample, no engine work will be needed anytime soon."
"Your TBN is strong at 5.5 and your fuel is ok at 1.3% whereas <2% is average."

Thoughts y'all?

M1 10w/30 with 741 ppm...EEEEEKKKK!!!!
Good luck with that....

Hmm I'm open to using other weight oils and I know Porsche recommends
0wt-40 for all their cars.

What is alarming you about 741 ppm zinc?

Our cars still use a flat tappet type cam. ZDDP, Zinc and Phosphorus, is a high pressure additive. If you dont have enough you risk flattening the cam. I like to have at least 1100ppm. Almost any diesel or HDEO, heavy duty engine oil, will have enough. I use Shell Rotella T.

In a climate like FL, why not use 15-50 or 20-50? A lot of people believe you want the zinc/ZDDP over 1000 for these (and other) engines.

I am going to disagree w/ the value of this oil testing on a 944. Having worked w/ oil analysis programs in the past (US Army AOAP and Caterpillar), this testing is designed for large scale fleet vehicles and requires metallurgy information from the engine manufacturer and significant historical/trending data to be useful. For example, Caterpillar test runs 100's of engines on dynos for hundreds of thousands of miles, generating oil samples for this this type of data use. Then data from thousands of engines in the field are continuously monitored over their lifetime. There just isn't that kind of compiled data for 944 engines. And oil analysis is performed primarily as a cost saving and green measure, to reduce the number of annual oil changes performed on fleet trucks or equipment (FedEx, UPS, etc). On your personal car, for the cost of an oil analysis, why not just change the oil?

I work with Army AOAP as well, in aviation. For that purpose, it can help to catch imminent failure of critical components, but like Oddjob stated, you really have to know what very specific materials are in the component, where they are used in the construction, and those levels have to be compared over and over in testing to determine what levels are acceptable versus observed wear at different and progressive stages.

It is good for flagging foreign particle contamination (excess silica), or coolant, etc.

Unless they have an extensive study of Porsche 944 engines over a broad wear range with tests all along the way, the value is limited.

But, by all means, if it gives you additional peace of mind, why not. It is your money, after all.

I prefer short oil change intervals.

Jeff

I am going to need to start getting those done, just for curiosity.

looks terrific