Does anyone regularly use a service like Blackstone Labs to test oil? I have been thinking about doing that and leak down testing to better log when the engine truly needs rebuilt. Since I am not racing and do not regularly push the engine to redline I have no intention of rebuilding the motor each year.
Yes, it is a good idea to do Blackstone analysis. I did them at every oil change. It is a cheap way to know what is going on inside your engine. I have been thinking about creating a Forum section focused on oil analysis results. I also have some copies that Spring Mountain sent me of some of their cars.
I use them frequently for my other vehicles, they respond back in plain speak of what the results mean. I've had other companies just send data results for you to interpret.
It's been invaluable for some of my cars to locate vacuum leaks and fuel dilution.
I use less frequently on radical because of relative low hours. I'd say the longer you intend to run the motor you at least sample once a season, say at the end of the season. However, I do a compression check after each event, I find it to be a good health indicator and for trending.
He's one of my last ones. (Full disclosure, I have no affiliation or interest in their company)
DENNIS: Thanks for the note about the high temps and hard operation. Iron actually came down a bit.
Aluminum went the other way, but a total change of +/- 4 ppm is small enough to be a normal variance. We
don't think there are any problems in this Suzuki engine. This oil is working nicely for you. It's holding up well
under the heat -- the viscosity is still solid for a 10W/40, and the additives show no heat or moisture
damage. Insolubles are very low at 0.1%, so oil filtration is excellent and oil oxidization is minimal. Radical
13 looks good on our end!
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