[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by Jay S

I don’t know of any method better than sending the oil off for an oil analysis when your concerned about it doing it’s job.

We test oil when nessarry. Not every time. I think it is a good practice. Some of our equipment and vehicles have a gazzillion hours or miles on it, I know it is shot, and don’t an oil analysis to reaffirm that.

My concern with oils is always when new oil formulation gets changed to create a new issue. When Diesels oils started getting formulated for teir4 emissions equipment there started to be a lot of reformulations in oils used for Diesels. Finding a good mix of detergents and wear additive packages generally there seem to be trade offs. The oil analysis will tell you if you picked the right trade offs, and how long the oil change intervals are, plus if it is doing it’s job. Only problem is if you pick poorly on oil you may not make it to that oil change analysis with flat tappet stuff right now.

Yes oil formulations changing has been going on for a long time and is hard to keep up with. Filter quality has as well.

Your last sentence is what I ran into years ago using Valvoline race oil. I was doing the typical 3000 mile intervals that was always preached at the time, and when I learned about oil analysis to my surprise I also found out that oil wasn't doing the job at those intervals. Rather than find out what that interval was I decided to change up the oil program and find something that worked as intended and lasted a decent oil change interval without harm.

I suspect with frequent oil changes these oils would work okay but I just have too many cars for that type of regimen.

As you stated once you find an oil and filter that suits your needs and is doing it's job, there really is no need for oil analysis after that. I can only think of two reasons you'd want to. One, if you suspect a problem and want to narrow down the root cause. Two, you've changed your routine, or your oil or filter brands and need to make sure it's still doing as intended. Otherwise it's not a necessary process that you have to spend a bunch of money on.
On that note, I haven't done it in years simply because I found what is working for me and haven't changed my routine since, nor had any type of issue.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Your last sentence is what I ran into years ago using Valvoline race oil. I was doing the typical 3000 mile intervals that was always preached at the time, and when I learned about oil analysis to my surprise I also found out that oil wasn't doing the job at those intervals. Rather than find out what that interval was I decided to change up the oil program and find something that worked as intended and lasted a decent oil change interval without harm.


As you stated once you find an oil and filter that suits your needs and is doing it's job, there really is no need for oil analysis after that. I can only think of two reasons you'd want to. One, if you suspect a problem and want to narrow down the root cause. Two, you've changed your routine, or your oil or filter brands and need to make sure it's still doing as intended. Otherwise it's not a necessary process that you have to spend a bunch of money on.
On that note, I haven't done it in years simply because I found what is working for me and haven't changed my routine since, nor had any type of issue.

A lot of good advice there vs opinions from a a magazine guy.

I will stick with what I have been doing for many years, Oil designed for flat tappet camshafts and the valvetrain loads MY engine sees.
I do stuff for a reason.

(No issues in 30+ years.)

Tom V.