Blackstone Oil Analysis Results - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ajohnson1 · #1 02-12-2005, 12:42 AM

Here are my Blackstone results on my '82 300SD, 3200 miles. Looks like I'm pretty safe to run more miles on the oil.

I thought ya'll might be interested in seeing their report...

**********************************

EQUIPMENT MAKE: Mercedes Benz
EQUIPMENT MODEL: OM 617
FUEL TYPE: Diesel
OIL USE INTERVAL: 3,200 Miles
OIL TYPE & GRADE: Mobil Delvac 1300 15W/40
MAKE-UP OIL ADDED: 0 qts
ADDITIONAL INFO:

ADAM: The oil's viscosity was normal, but the low flash point shows about 2.5% of this sample was diesel fuel. You can get this much fuel from normal city driving or idling, so we are not worried about it at this point. If the fuel shows up again next sample, we'll let you know. We found no moisture or signs or anti-freeze in the oil. Wear metals were quite low and were in the correct balance, suggesting no mechanical problems inside the engine. Average oil use for this egine is about 5600 miles. You could probably extend your oil use if you wanted.

Sample Date: 01/22/05
MI/HR ON OIL 3,200
MI/HR ON UNIT 150,622

Value/Universal Avg
ALUMINUM 4/6
CHROMIUM 1/3
IRON 30/56
COPPER 2/3
LEAD 4/3
TIN 0/1
MOLYBDENUM 38/20
NICKEL 2/2
MANGANESE 0/1
SILVER 0/0
TITANIUM 0/0
POTASSIUM 4/144
BORON 35/144
SILICON 4/6
SODIUM 3/11
CALCIUM 248/2404
MAGNESIUM 347/312
PHOSPHORUS 1114/1107
ZINC 1345/1317
BARIUM 1/1

TEST Should Be: / Were:
SUS VISCOSITY @210F 68-78/ 78.5
Flashpoint >415 / 390
Fuel% <2.0 / 2.5
Antifreeze% 0 / 0
Water 0 / 0
Insolubles <0.7 / 0.6

sokoloff · #2 02-12-2005, 08:47 AM

Thanks for posting it. I like the format and may give them a try. How much did it cost and how long was the turnaround time? Contact info?

Len

KCampbell · #3 02-12-2005, 09:47 AM

No mention of soot? I always thought this was oe of the areas of concern with an old diesel.

Len, a quick google retuns this site : http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Google is pretty good about this, you should try it some day

Kevin

ajohnson1 · #4 02-12-2005, 09:53 AM

It runs $20, they send you a free testkit in the mail. You get the results within a week via email, and they usually mail a hardcopy as well.

Soot isn't a very technical term when it comes to UOA from what little I know. I'm guessing soot could likely be best related to insolubles as reported on the analysis. Mine were 0.6, less than the universal average of 0.7.

Brian Carlton · #5 02-12-2005, 09:58 AM

I'd also be curious to know why they have no indication for soot. I might have guessed that the fuel % was actually soot %, however, their explanation in the header seems to indicate that fuel % is actually raw fuel.

With these diesels, especially the 617, soot is probably the most important parameter. I took the 617 to 8K on one occasion and the soot loading was too high, in the opinion of the lab. The lab was Caterpillar and they provide no raw data, just a number in relation to either "100" or "200". These numbers would be the maximum recommended number for the specific parameter, but, nobody but them knows what it is, and they are not telling.

So, I don't use Cat anymore.

Palangi · #6 02-12-2005, 11:16 AM

Classic example of why oil analysis is a valuable tool. Maybe at the next 3000 miles take a sample and see if the fuel level has come down. I don't think I would run the oil too much further with that much fuel dilution. Maybe you have some injectors in need of rebuilding or replacing.

Brian Carlton · #7 02-12-2005, 11:46 AM

Here are the Mobil Accutrack results for the 603:

Oil type: Rotella-T synthetic
Sample date: 11/15/04

Miles on oil: 5,000
Miles on engine: 115,000

All spectrochemical quantities below in ppm:

Iron:35
Chromium: 1
Lead: 2
Copper 1
Tin: 0
Aluminum: 1
Nickel: 0
Silver: 0
Silicon: 1
Boron: 4
Sodium: 62

Magnesium: 42
Calcium: 3124
Barium: 0
Phosphorus: 1062
Zinc: 1247
Molybdenum: 1
Titanium: 0
Vanadium: 0
Potassium: 96

The following are physical properties:

Fuel: <1% by volume
Viscosity @ 100°C.: 14.67
Water: 0% by volume
Glycol: Negative
TBN: 9.7
Soot: .8%

BTW, if anbody wishes to use Mobil Accutrak, you can buy a kit for $15.50 plus shipping from Snider Petroleum (800-773-8357). Make sure you ask for the "extended drain" kit which also provides a measure of soot.

Palangi · #8 02-12-2005, 12:08 PM

Yeppers, that one is getting some coolant in the oil. It's not showing much aluminum, so it's not eroding the head yet. My 240D had potassium at 440 and sodium at 175 about a month before the head gasket let go. Watch for steam in the exhaust. When you start seeing a hint of that, it's time to park it.

dieseldiehard · #9 02-12-2005, 02:31 PM

I guess I am going to have the OM603 oil analyzed, I am pushing 5K on Amsoil 15W40 syn, and changed the filter at 3K (Baldwin made in India filter

!)

BTW I searched around and found a site that discusses nothing but oil analysis, and their car and truck Forum (other forums discuss oil analysis in mechanical stationary instruments, vacuum pumps and that sort of thing) is located here:
http://forums.noria.com/eve/ubb.x?a=frm&s=692608715&f=616604995

ajohnson1 · #10 02-12-2005, 03:09 PM

If you want to get all you can read and then some on oil, analysis, additives, head of to bobistheoilguy.com

link

Thanks for the inputs and feedback, I'll ask Blackstone about soot. I know they do have additional testing available for $10 more (total of $30).

dieseldiehard · #11 03-08-2005, 07:34 PM

the additional $10 is for TNB analysis, that measures how much of the additives remain the oil. This is vital info if you are pushing the oil beyond what is "normal" for your vehicle and oil (they call that extended drain intervals). Just replacing filters along the duration will keep soot under control (unless you have lots of blowby) but a lack of additives makes for increased engine wear.
I am right around 5500 miles and decided 1 year is long enough to remain in the car (thats only 5500 miles in one year on my '87 300D turbo)
I just sent a sample off to Blackstone, after making up a topsider using a small magnetically driven pump. I learned you have to keep a sharp eye on the jug the oil is bing pumped into, in my case an old 1 gal Delo jug. I went to get the Blackstone jar for the sample. They advise against taking the first oil that comes out nor the last oil that comes out of the engine. Anyhow, I raced back and was about to switch off the pump and the first jug already started overflowing and I had a little oil on the ground

Remember the Valdeze

Wasuchi · #12 03-08-2005, 09:23 PM

Insolubles=soot in the Blackstone test.

RayG · #13 03-09-2005, 09:22 AM

Quote:

...Just replacing filters along the duration will keep soot under control...

Is this true? I was under the impression that soot particles were small enough pass right through the filter. I would also like to extend drain intervals past 3-4k miles, but I have been reluctant to spend the money on synthetic oil or a bypass filter.

83-240D · #14 03-09-2005, 11:47 AM

over a month ago and never got it. e-mailedthem last week and got a response that a new one was coming but still waiting.

Old300D · #15 03-09-2005, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83-240D

over a month ago and never got it. e-mailedthem last week and got a response that a new one was coming but still waiting.

I sent a sample in to Blackstone a month ago, and I have not heard squat.

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