I'm wanting to have my first oil analysis done. I was going to use Blackstone Labs, but apparently their report doesn't measure soot content as such. I talked to them over the phone, and apparently even the "Insolubles" category (see their sample reports) does not give an accurate soot figure (I was told that it's possible to have low insolubles but hight soot).

Since my main goal is doing an oil analysis is to see where soot content is after a certain mileage, what are my other options? Who out there measures soot?

Thanks.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Oil Analyzers, Inc. - - Cleveland

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1998 W210 diesel (wiped out by a texter)
Baum spring compressor "for rent"

Any reason to be concerned about their close association with Amsoil?

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Go here: http://store.avlube.com/oilandfuanki.html. The basic $16 kit measures for soot, but not tbn, or acid neutralization. Kit to include tbn costs $2.50 more. An AV tech explained to me that with ULSD, TBN tests are moot. The company is waiving the cost of UPS shipping to your home.

Am going to do an analysis when I change my Rotella 5w-40 syn at 7,500 miles.

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

Why? Isn't Amsoil a legitimate company that has been in business for many years?

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Use whatever you prefer. Any one that does samples for Diesels will measure soot %.

What is your specific concern

Potential conflict of interest. Ideally (and this would apply to any sphere, not just oil testing), you would want the testing entity to be completely independent....i.e. not have something else that they're able to sell you.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Well, since they have a different price for Amsoil vs. non-Amsoil they cover the "conflict of interest" issue. They probably did testing of their own product and decided to make it available to the open market. Pretty common business practice really.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )