1st Engine Oil Change LAB ANALYSIS REPORT Attached

[jd956jd956]

Good Morning - I was asked to share my first engine oil change lab analysis report and it is attached. Engine had 1,100 miles on it upon delivery and 1st oil change was at 5,846 (first time home after delivery - I change myself)

The report does reflect the fact that a new engine typically has "junk" in it from new part wear, gasket material, etc. I am one of those who believes in an early first oil change and do it at 1,000 miles in my cars. I plan to change and test the coach engine oil again in 6 months.

[Mac99]

You may want to consider going to Rotella T-6 which is
a full synthetic oil. It will handle the turbo heat better,
make cold starts easier on the engine, and provide
better overall lubrication.

[Woodchopper]

Originally Posted by jd956jd956

Good Morning - I was asked to share my first engine oil change lab analysis report and it is attached. Engine had 1,100 miles on it upon delivery and 1st oil change was at 5,846 (first time home after delivery - I change myself)

The report does reflect the fact that a new engine typically has "junk" in it from new part wear, gasket material, etc. I am one of those who believes in an early first oil change and do it at 1,000 miles in my cars. I plan to change and test the coach engine oil again in 6 months.

jd956jd956
Do you understand the information contained in oil analyses?
To me they're complicated and confusing.... (which also makes them useless).
What can the average RVer do with the information in an oil analysis provides?
Wondering

[twinboat]

Back in my working days, our S.O.S. sampling of Cat engines came with opinions and recomendations.

[ghaynes754]

Tom Johnson who is on the forum has his own company that does analysis. The sample reports usually have more information. Article by Tom at Coolant and Oil Analysis for Your RV.


Speedco also offers oil analysis. I forget the price but you could probably get just the oil analysis before you do your own oil change.


It will take monitoring over time to give any real trend data. Unlike an OTR company that is typically changing oil based on both sampling, miles/time most coach owners simply change once a year because most don't hit the mileage trigger.


Might also consider getting the coolant and generator sampled at the same time.

[D Lindy]

Your high silicone reading is just from that, it's a new engine and a lot of the seals have silicone on them and will show up in the first couple of samples but the silicone value will drop on successive oil changes.

[DAJO]

That report is really hard to read.
I have used Polaris and Blackstone and Blackstone is much easier to read.
But I will continue to use Polaris for my transmission so Tom can look at it.

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by DAJO

That report is really hard to read.

I have used Polaris and Blackstone and Blackstone is much easier to read.

But I will continue to use Polaris for my transmission so Tom can look at it.

I agree, but as you accumulate a history on an engine, they link the reports together and give you a page of charts which is very useful to spotting a sudden high or a trend. Blackstone gives you historic averages for your engine type which is also good to know.

[pasdad1]

This is a sample from blackstone taken directly from their website.

http://m.blackstone-labs.com/ReportExplanation

[jd956jd956]

Originally Posted by Woodchopper

jd956jd956
Do you understand the information contained in oil analyses?
To me they're complicated and confusing.... (which also makes them useless).
What can the average RVer do with the information in an oil analysis provides?
Wondering

Do I really understand it all...? Definitely not...but, I have a general understanding based upon internet searching and the notes provided by the tester. It is kinda like getting annual medical physical exam blood test results. Don't understand it all, but provides useful information over time reflecting both the current state of things and trends based upon past testing.

I did a few analysis's on my old American Eagle after purchase (all were good) and decided to purchase a 10-pak of test kits for this new engine with the thought being to test the oil every six months (which will be every six months through the new engine 5-year warranty period). Thoughts were testing would be extra "cheap insurance and peace of mind" and would find a problem before it manifests into a roadside breakdown AND also let me know of a problem prior to the expiration of the five year Cummins engine warranty. Thought this would detect a problem DURING the warranty even if there no overt signs of a problem. Each analysis could detect internal engine problems such as coolant or fuel in the oil that would otherwise not be known until something "breaks". I would just hate having something break, just outside of the five year warranty, that I could have had repaired during the warranty coverage. I fully anticipate this being my last coach and want to do all I can to ensure its dependability.