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Motor oil Analysis
- Thread starter wjm
- Start date
Buck
Moderator
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Not so critical for a motorcycle but it's fairly standard on expensive commercial engines. We had a recurring turbocharger oil seal failure on a stationary John Deere diesel powering a Terex 70KV genset. An oil analysis pointed to a failing oil cooler. Problem was solved by that test finding high amounts of copper.
How about analyzing the DSBC BUS oil?
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Not so critical for a motorcycle but it's fairly standard on expensive commercial engines. We had a recurring turbocharger oil seal failure on a stationary John Deere diesel powering a Terex 70KV genset. An oil analysis pointed to a failing oil cooler. Problem was solved by that test finding high amounts of copper.
How about analyzing the DSBC BUS oil?
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Buck wrote:
I got to analyze it as I passed the bus on the highway to last Sunday's ride. You could tell when he was on the gas because there was a whole lotta black coming out the back! Oddly enough, no one seemed to tailgate him for some strange reason... :mb:
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Buck wrote:
How about analyzing the DSBC BUS oil?
I got to analyze it as I passed the bus on the highway to last Sunday's ride. You could tell when he was on the gas because there was a whole lotta black coming out the back! Oddly enough, no one seemed to tailgate him for some strange reason... :mb:
R
rhiebert
Guest
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wjm wrote:
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wjm wrote:
From my source, it's not cost effective for anything less 14 qrts. so that excludes motorcycles and most cars; on the other hand - did it just to satisfy my curiosity. The odometer had more than double the recommended oil change interval and a more than double the length of time and the analysis came back, "Still OK, engine lubricant still acceptable, no need to replace".
250ccforme
Member
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How much does ananalysis cost?
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How much does ananalysis cost?
joker650
Active member
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We send out oil samples for some of the heavy eqpt we work on.
Kinda funky results sometimes.
I've taken transmission samples where a bushing/bearing has failed shortly after an oil change and the oil is contaminated with visable particles. The sample came back "Good, no action required" Thats when I found out u have to ask for the EXTRA particulate count...for an extra cost. The normal sample only does a chemical test and did not pick up on the BIG stuff.
That said...another customer found it verry usefull with their fleet of equiptment, as long as the testswere done on a regular interval over the machine's life.
imported post
We send out oil samples for some of the heavy eqpt we work on.
Kinda funky results sometimes.
I've taken transmission samples where a bushing/bearing has failed shortly after an oil change and the oil is contaminated with visable particles. The sample came back "Good, no action required" Thats when I found out u have to ask for the EXTRA particulate count...for an extra cost. The normal sample only does a chemical test and did not pick up on the BIG stuff.
That said...another customer found it verry usefull with their fleet of equiptment, as long as the testswere done on a regular interval over the machine's life.
Sparkle
New member
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As far as I know, testing oil is for owners of big expensive industrial engines that cost big bucks to fix and run. They can predict future maintainance problems and develop maintainance schedules, and they can optimize the long-term cost of running where machine down-time, expensive maintainance and large volumes of expensive lubricant cut into profit.
None of these factors apply to motorcycles and trying to extend the oil change period on a motorcycle that only holds a few liters doesn't make much sense. Changing oil and filters often is not a major expense or hard to do, and is much more reliable than trying to extend the oil-change period.
As for the other aspect....is the bike running okay?
You have to ask yourself this question....
If your bike was running fine and you had the oil tested, and the report showed there was possible evidence of some small aluminum particles in the sample, what would you really do?
1. Take bike off the road and do an expensive tear-down looking for a problem that might not exist?
2. Change the oil, keep the filters clean and have fun riding it?
It might be just me.....but number 2 makes a lot of sense.
Sparkle
imported post
As far as I know, testing oil is for owners of big expensive industrial engines that cost big bucks to fix and run. They can predict future maintainance problems and develop maintainance schedules, and they can optimize the long-term cost of running where machine down-time, expensive maintainance and large volumes of expensive lubricant cut into profit.
None of these factors apply to motorcycles and trying to extend the oil change period on a motorcycle that only holds a few liters doesn't make much sense. Changing oil and filters often is not a major expense or hard to do, and is much more reliable than trying to extend the oil-change period.
As for the other aspect....is the bike running okay?
You have to ask yourself this question....
If your bike was running fine and you had the oil tested, and the report showed there was possible evidence of some small aluminum particles in the sample, what would you really do?
1. Take bike off the road and do an expensive tear-down looking for a problem that might not exist?
2. Change the oil, keep the filters clean and have fun riding it?
It might be just me.....but number 2 makes a lot of sense.
Sparkle
SouthPoint
Member
Finning does oil analysis. I believe it is about $20 and you can pick up the sample kits at their parts stores. They have an oil lab in Surrey. I haven't tried their service, but I am planning to...
http://www.finning.ca/Services/Mach...nce/Fluid_Analysis/Lab_Locations/Default.aspx
http://www.finning.ca/Services/Mach...nce/Fluid_Analysis/Lab_Locations/Default.aspx
I use finning for The Bus. The report is very helpful in finding problems before total destruction. I dont know of any minimum for oil capacity, as you only send in a 3 oz sample. remember to replace the engine on the bus will be in excess of 10,000 bucks and more if you bring it in on a hook. Cheap piece of mind for under 20 bucks
I would think the only time you would do an oil analysis on your motorcycle engine is when you think there is a problem. Then you send the sample in and request them to check for the specifics that you need to know.
I am sending out the bus oil again this week and will post the samples on line so you can see what the generic test looks like
Tom
I would think the only time you would do an oil analysis on your motorcycle engine is when you think there is a problem. Then you send the sample in and request them to check for the specifics that you need to know.
I am sending out the bus oil again this week and will post the samples on line so you can see what the generic test looks like
Tom
SouthPoint
Member
Thanks. I'd like to see one of their reports. It seems that there are so many opinions when you read the crazy oil threads. Everything from using $23/litre ester racing synthetics and changing every ride to using 49 cent/litre recycled oil from Safeway and changing every 10 years. I currently use synthetic and change every 1500 miles or so. I am just curious to see what an analysis would show in my bike.
Oil Analysis Sample
Oil Analysis Sample
Here is the Oil Analysis Sample for the bus from Finning
http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/500/1N182-40174-0145_TOM_TIMMERMAN_0.pdf
It does show too much soot, thats because I turned up the injector pump, lots more power but way more black smoke. Ive turned it down now so that should take care of the soot readings
This oil sample has about 12,000 kms
Trip to Mexico, Trip to Moab and a bunch of stuff in between
Tom
Oil Analysis Sample
Here is the Oil Analysis Sample for the bus from Finning
http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/500/1N182-40174-0145_TOM_TIMMERMAN_0.pdf
It does show too much soot, thats because I turned up the injector pump, lots more power but way more black smoke. Ive turned it down now so that should take care of the soot readings
This oil sample has about 12,000 kms
Trip to Mexico, Trip to Moab and a bunch of stuff in between
Tom
SouthPoint
Member
Thanks for posting that. I'm going to give them a try.
Ti welder
New member
Do you guys use any kind of fuel conditioner? I run three diesels around home, the cost comes back in fuel savings and they run much better. Cambodian tire sells power service cheep and is not bad. Personaly I use stanidyne and won't fill the tank without it. Unless you know the owner of a fast food chane with a bunch of deep fryers.
I had a discussion with the owner at NW Fuel Injection in Port Kells about fuel conditioner/Standine ect. I had just purchased a rebuilt injector pump for my 6.5L GM and was curious of his opinion. This was his explanation, most non commercial diesel engines don't lubricate the injector pump with the engine oil. the injector pump is strictly lubricated with the diesel fuel. To ensure long life of the injector pump always use a fuel conditioner. That said most commercial or large diesels lubricate the injector pump with the engine oil and don't require the conditioner. Just to clarify that there was no financial benefit to this guy to steer me wrong as I had recently bought a Sterling ( Mitsubishi Fuso ) so I wouldn't be buying his conditioner any longer. Hope that long winded explanation helps.
Scott