I started this thread and posted data from my 1st analysis hoping for expert analysis by Forum members and also encouraged others to add to the data base.
This is an update to include my 3nd analysis:

Factory oil was changed at 1,254 miles to Mobile 1; it had been run in on one tank of "dealer fuel" (?) and 2 tanks of 91 octane, all subsequent fuel has been 91 octane. I then had the First Service oil change performed at 10,733 miles using Castrol by the dealer. The third oil change was done at 18,505 miles prior to a 4,200 mile trip with a small trailer in tow.

All analysis were done by Analysts, Inc

PHYSICAL TEST RESULTS-after1,254-------9,479----------7,772
------------------------------------------------------------------
Fuel Dilution, % Volumn----------2.8---------<1.0------------1.0
Oxidation-----------------------3.0----------17.0-----------20.0
Nitration------------------------4.0----------23.0-----------12.0
Water Dilution, % Volumn--------<.1-----------<.1------------<.1
Viscosity CS 100'C---------------8.8----------10.1-----------11.8
SAE Grade----------------------30.0----------30.0-----------30.0
Glycol Test----------------------NEG----------NEG------------NEG

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS (In Parts per Million by Weight)

Iron----------------------------------16-----------16----------15
Chromium-----------------------------<1 -----------4-----------1
Nickle---------------------------------<1 -----------4-----------1
Aluminum------------------------------14------------9-----------7
Lead----------------------------------<1------------2----------<1
Copper---------------------------------6-----------22----------28
Tin-------------------------------------6-----------<1----------<1
Silver---------------------------------<.1 ----------<.1---------<.1
Titanium-------------------------------<1-----------<1----------<1
Silicon---------------------------------26------------14----------8
Boron-----------------------------------8-----------141---------42
Sodium--------------------------------11------------14----------5
Potassium----------------------------<10-----------<10--------<10
Molybdenum-------------------------757------------180--------167
Phosphorus-------------------------1122------------891--------799
Zinc--------------------------------1148----------1089--------962
Calcium-----------------------------2009----------3303-------2797
Barium--------------------------------11-----------<10--------<10
Magnesium---------------------------21-------------32---------19
Antimony----------------------------<30-----------<30--------<30
Vanadium-----------------------------<1------------<1----------<1

Analysis Summary after 1,254 miles:
Analysis indicates conditions are acceptable for break-in.
Significant Values: Silicon attributed to assembly/break-in.

Analysis Summary after 9,479 miles:
Significant Values: Moderate level of Nitration
From what I can discover on the web the Nitration level is probably due to 1) My short trip driving 2) Low operating temperature during those short trips 3) CA winter fuels 4) The car may be running lean

Analysis Summary after 7,772
No Significant Values.

I don't know if this data is usefull to anyone other than myself but it has proved to me that I can use synthetic oil for 10,000 miles of my "normal" driving. I will probably be trading/selling before the next scheduled oil change so this will be my last update.

Edited July 2, 2005
_________________
2003 Cooper VR/W, Black Interior, Cold Pak MFSW, DSC, OBC
Mods: Clear 3rd Brake Light, Stubby Antenna, Cocomats, Clean Visors, Minilite Wheels, CNC Pedals, Custom LED Tail Lights, DaLan Hitch

 

Thanks for all the info. edlfrey...
Keep us informed on the results from the oil analysis in your second oil change using Mobil 1 5W30.
I've been using Mobil 1 for all my oil changes and would love to know what your analysis shows.

Thanks.

 

&gt;&gt;The analysis Summary:
&gt;&gt;Analysis indicates conditions are acceptable for break-in.
&gt;&gt;Significant Values: Silicon attributed to assembly/break-in.
&gt;&gt;

ok, so the factory-filled oil is acceptable for break-in. How do we know when to change it? At your 1250 mile point? I remember Zappa did an oil change to Amsoil the day his MINI came home, and didn't change it again until 7500 miles, and even at that point his oil analysis said it was still good!

Cheers,
Ryan

 

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;The analysis Summary:
&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Analysis indicates conditions are acceptable for break-in.
&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Significant Values: Silicon attributed to assembly/break-in.
&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;ok, so the factory-filled oil is acceptable for break-in. How do we know when to change it? At your 1250 mile point? I remember Zappa did an oil change to Amsoil the day his MINI came home, and didn't change it again until 7500 miles, and even at that point his oil analysis said it was still good!
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;Cheers,
&gt;&gt;Ryan


No, actually I did not change it at 7500 miles. :smile: I only did the analysis to demonstrate AMSOIL full engine warrantee. Ant just past 10,000 miles I changed the filter. I will do another analysis when I approach 20,000 on the same oil.

I also have a new 3rd party article published in Lubes 'N' Greases I am waiting on the rights to copy to my website. It praises AMSOIL as the only one that backs their product and cuts environmental waiste. It exposes Mobil 1 for the marketing blitz and no extended intervals for an expensive product. I can mail the article to any prospective customers if you would like one..

AMSOIL will impress you and you save $ and extend the life of your engine by several years!

 

How much does it cost to have oil analysis done on oil,,Where /Who does it?

 

&gt;&gt;How much does it cost to have oil analysis done on oil,,Where /Who does it?

Do a web search for &quot;oil analysis&quot; and you will come up a few different companies. Most of the &quot;finds&quot; will be offerings by Amsoil distributors but there are others also. The company I used is at youroil.net and the analysis kits were $55/three pak. This is about the same price as others offer, some are a little cheaper.

BTW I didn't start this thread as a place to discuss the merits of Amsoil vs Mobil 1 and I am not a distributor of either product.

 

How do you read an oil analysis?
I have seen many of these but dont know how to make heads or tails of it.
Whats good and whats bad or where do I go to find out?

 

&gt;&gt;How do you read an oil analysis?

You have just stated the goal that I had when I started this thread.

Usually the company that does the analysis will provide a Summary, in my case they said that everything was fine but Silicon was high. They then usually give you some idea of the cause of the &quot;bad&quot; readings. I plan on using them as comparison tools also, looking for changes from one oil change to the next.

But, I too would like to understand the analysis better.

 

so enlighten us please

 

thanks for the clarification Zappa! That's fascinating that you're running the same oil still; using your MINI as a test-bed! Much props. You can e-mail me that article (and some pricing info on Amsoil, please).

Cheers,
Ryan

 

&gt;&gt;Ant just past 10,000 miles I changed the filter. I will do another analysis when I approach 20,000 on the same oil. &lt;&lt;

Zappa, my question is: How big of a mess was changing the filter without first draining the oil? How much oil did you have to add to top it off? Thx.

 

OK, shoot me - I squeezed in TWO questions!

 

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Ant just past 10,000 miles I changed the filter. I will do another analysis when I approach 20,000 on the same oil. &lt;&lt;
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;Zappa, my question is: How big of a mess was changing the filter without first draining the oil? How much oil did you have to add to top it off? Thx.

Not too bad.. The nature of the filter allows you to remove it with out a lot of trouble since that cavity is only full when the engine is running. I think you only loose only a 1/4 of a quart (or a cup). I ended up adding that amount as well. (one cup or 1/4 quart).
I will send in another analysis here soon.

Just like edlfrey said, whomever does the analysis will send some type of chart with the details. The key points I look at is viscosity index, TBN, Oxidation, wear metals, then the current state of the Detergents and oil additives. They also add notes and tell you when to change. Every time you submit the same vehicle they compare the new results to the old. (they re-post your past results together with it.)
I'll scan the explinations and post it.

Amsoil bought out a Analysis company but now they just sold it so they can use the lab space for other projects. Now they send you the kits for O.A.I. Testing in Cleveland, OH. I just got in the new ones. They are in a plastic capsule you just drop in the mail. The price is 19.00 postage paid.

Ryan, I'm sending you the article now. Please let me know what you think. It's in 6 seperate word documents. I also just got the approved (shorter version) that I am formatting to my Feature Articles section of my site.. I'll add the link when I'm done.

Ches

 

&gt;&gt;Amsoil bought out a Analysis company but now they just sold it so they can use the lab space for other projects.&lt;&lt;

I don't get this. Buying out an analysis company seems like a sketchy thing to do for a company that relies so heavily on lab testing results to market their product. Why not buy out some publications to publish glowing reviews, too? I can understand having an internal lab to use for R&amp;D, but going into the analysis business seems odd. Don't get me wrong, I for one am convinced of Amsoil's superiority, and I'll be running it in my car once I'm past the 10k service. It just seems that this lessens their credibility to people who might be on the fence about becoming customers.

I too would be interested to know what to make of the other data (besides silicon) in that analysis report.

 

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Amsoil bought out a Analysis company but now they just sold it so they can use the lab space for other projects.&lt;&lt;
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;I don't get this. Buying out an analysis company seems like a sketchy thing to do for a company that relies so heavily on lab testing results to market their product. Why not buy out some publications to publish glowing reviews, too? I can understand having an internal lab to use for R&amp;D, but going into the analysis business seems odd. Don't get me wrong, I for one am convinced of Amsoil's superiority, and I'll be running it in my car once I'm past the 10k service. It just seems that this lessens their credibility to people who might be on the fence about becoming customers.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;I too would be interested to know what to make of the other data (besides silicon) in that analysis report.


I hear ya! I only heard one side so I'm not pretending to have all the answers but I do know it was just so they coud have an added service to Dealers Commercial accounts. The bad side to sourcing out is the cost went from 14.00 to 19.00 each. The place in Cleveland is right across the street from Lubrizol as they do all their testing too. I am going up to the HQ for the 30th Anniversary where we all get a tour of the lab and plant. (Superior, WI) This will be July 19th. Their growth has been double digits for the last three years and they now have a 1,000,000 gallon tank farm so I will be posting some pictures.

I'll get that discription on tonight when I get home..

 

I have to say Amsoil is a decent product but they do do some things that could be considered sketchy.
For one the lab analysis that was already mentioned and the fact that they are also a multi level marketing company.

 

Here is a link to the Analysis descriptions. Pages 10 and 11 will be the most helpful so just print them out for reading. It is a Adobe file.

http://www.syntheticwarehouse.com/Br...ilAnalysis.pdf

 

Bumping this thread back into an active state. See my edited 1st post that started the thread, I thought the edit would bring it back to life. :smile:

 

Even though it has been over a year since you started this thread, you still remembered it and gave us a follow up Good stuff. Thanks!

 

I can't add anything except to say Thanks for the numbers

(And I sure don't miss Zappa. )

 

I had my original factory oil analyzed after nearly 9,000 some odd miles on the odometer, by Blackstone Oil Labs. All the levels came back in the acceptable range. Silicon levels were moderate, but they said this is a normal finding in new engines that are still running on the original oil due to silicone sealers and sandblasting of parts (leaves some residue in the new engine). It would be worrisome if, after my second oil analysis, to find the same elevated silicon levels. I'm at nearly 14,000 miles now, which means the second oil change has about 5,000 miles on it. The computer still says I have about 11,000 miles to go before the next change, which would mean putting nearly 16,000 miles on the oil before the next change! That's quite a lot of miles!

I'm going to syphon some oil out and have it tested again soon....I'll post the results then. If you do a search for oil analysis or maybe &quot;Blackstone&quot;, you'll probably find my original posting...I think it was in March, 2004.

Rock On,

-MB

 

I have edited the Thread Starter with 3rd Oil Analysis Data.