How useful is Blackstone oil analysis?
#1
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I guess I am most interested in analyses of the the 9A1 engine which I have in my 991. It seems this company always does a good job and gives a 'personalized analysis' but my question is has anyone seen anything that predicted, for example, a catastrophic engine engine failure or something dramatically beneficial such as finding out you should turn a leased car back in rather than buying it?
Jim
Jim
#3
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I also had them analyze 9A1 oil (only twice so far though) and they provided useful info such as waiting longer to change the oil and seeing low or no fuel in the oil.
#4
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I find it useful only if you are going to be doing this analysis for many oil changes. You need a baseline and then upon subsequent oil changes you have a point of reference. Since I track my car a good amount, I am doing multiple oil changes per track season, knowing the composition and details offers me some knowledge that nothing has gone terribly wrong in between oil changes.
My oil specs (9A1 engine) have not changed significantly in the last 4 years ... I suppose that is good to know.
My oil specs (9A1 engine) have not changed significantly in the last 4 years ... I suppose that is good to know.
#5
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^^ What he said.
Blackstone has a folksy description of your oil which many seem to like. It's really only worthwhile if you get a baseline when you first get the car and then occasional follow-ups to spot trends (good or bad).
Blackstone has a folksy description of your oil which many seem to like. It's really only worthwhile if you get a baseline when you first get the car and then occasional follow-ups to spot trends (good or bad).
#6
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2005 997.1
I did it at 40,000 miles and plan to do it every 10K. I change my oil every 5K miles.
I might do it every 5k when it gets 70K or so. Cheap diagnostics.
I did it at 40,000 miles and plan to do it every 10K. I change my oil every 5K miles.
I might do it every 5k when it gets 70K or so. Cheap diagnostics.
#7
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Whether you do an oil analysis or not, IMHO an oil filter analysis should be done. I do both. Oil analysis by Blackstone and the oil filter analysis my self. I am not interested in extending drain intervals since I am not dealing with a long haul diesel so I don't order the extra test. I do recognize that material is possibly/probably settling into the four corners of the oil pan, and short of dropping the pan, I won't know how much. I am seriously considering adding a magnetic drain plug recognizing that a good number of the parts in the engine are non-ferrous.
If either or both of them help me see something in advance, then it might well be worth the expense and trouble.
These engines are not my son's JDM motors at a couple of grand each.
If either or both of them help me see something in advance, then it might well be worth the expense and trouble.
These engines are not my son's JDM motors at a couple of grand each.
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#8
RL Community Team
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It's extremely useful, not so much their top of page "everything is great" summary, but if you interpret the quantitative numbers yourself. You need to pay the extra for the TAN & TBN tests in order to see how the anti-wear additive package in the oil is holding up at your current change interval. Even if you're not interested in prolonging your change interval, it can show you if the current interval is actually too long - I've reduced my interval from 5,000 miles down to 4,000 miles based on this information and also changed from Mobil 1 to Motul and then to Driven DT40. The analysis will show you wear metals, which is good, but on the 9A1 motor you want to pay close attention to the % of fuel, soot, & carbon diluted in the oil. Also, the metal that indicates valve guide wear - the hydraulic variable timing and intake lift can cause faster wear on the valve guides.
I haven't Blackstone analysis done on every oil change in all of my vehicles, not just the 911s.
I haven't Blackstone analysis done on every oil change in all of my vehicles, not just the 911s.