Oil Analysis Results on my '98 2.8Q Avant: 4,200 miles...
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Oil Analysis Results on my '98 2.8Q Avant: 4,200 miles...
I decided to have oil analysis done to determine whether to change the factory fill to Mobil 1 now (4,200 mi.), or wait 'til the first service (7,500 mi.). If I got high readings on any parameter, or a low TBN number (indicating acidity), I'd change now. The results (compared to the number in Parentheses, which is the average of a 10-year sample of Mercedes-Benz gas engines, done by the MB Club of America) are:<p>Iron: 18 (MBCA Avg. = 52)<br>Aluminum: 1 (MBCA Avg. = 12)<br>Copper 12 (24)<br>Chrome 0 (3)<br>Lead 7 (no mbca data)<br>Tin 0 (no data)<br>Sodium 24 (no data)<br>Dirt 9 (13)<br>Engine Soot: Light<br>Water: Negative<br>Solids: None<br>Glycol: Negative<br>Viscosity: 56 (comparable to 20W I believe, more or less)<br>TBN: 6.80 (most oils start at 8 to 12 and when they get to half of the original no. are acidic)<p>All parameters were reported to be normal. No visible metal or dirt particles detected.<p>Based on this, I plan on waiting til 7,500 miles (or the end of Feb., which will be about 7k) and then changing to Mobil 1.<p>Any of you who've done oil analysis care to share observations/thoughts?<br>Thanks. Jon
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Re: What oil analysis kit/company are you using?
<br>I used to do this every 50 hours on a Cessna 182, and it was well worth while. It was like a $15-$20 kit. You send in a small oil sample, and the oil filter. They do an analysis on the oil, and they cut open the filter to look for anything unusual. Since I never actually got the kit, I have no idea who made them, or where to get them.<p>So where are you getting yours, and how much? I'd like to start doing this too. It was a great dianostic tool with the airplane.<p>Thanks,<p><br>Chris Murphy<br>1998 A4 2.8QM Pearl
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Performance Analysis Co., Knoxville, TN
Chris: the kits are about $8 each, if I recall, if you order 3 or more, plus shipping & your return postage. The TBN test is an additional $3. It's not included in the standard workup because they claim that their experience is that TBN tends not to degrade to the danger point unless you keep the oil in for more than 20k miles.<p>It's a sanitary sample jar (small), clean tubing, and labels. Through the MB Club I got more specific instructions and the MBCA sampling data but I now go thru the lab directly. They don't take the filter and cut it, but I imagine that for a fee, they might. <br>The lab is at: (423) 524-3563. They have a new, basic website at www.webmesh.com/assoclabs <p>regards, Jon
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It's cheaper just to change the oil, but there are some benefits
I bought 3 kits at a special price once and used them over a several year period. I can't say that I gained much useful information. My feeling these days is that I can change the oil for $10 for the filter and about $6 for oil, which beats the price of an analysis kit. If you're using more expensive synthetic at long drain intervals, I guess I could see some benefit. And, of course, semi trucks that use large volumes of oil and want to keep it in there as long as possible have a valid use for oil analysis.<p>Also, a lot of the stuff they are testing for doesn't tell you how good the oil is, but is more an indicator of how healthy the engine is. (Wear to metals, etc.) Oil health is a relatively small part of the analysis. Anyway, in theory, all of the contamination they detect in the oil is stuff that was small enough to pass through the oil filter. Stuff that is that small shouldn't be hurting the engine. (It's smaller than the clearances in the engine). There's no harm done in testing once in a while though, and it will tell you something about the health of your engine, which is especially good to know if you have modified it for higher performance.
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Re: Interesting... what is meant by '10 year sample'?
about 160 Mercedes-Benz's had analysis done over a 10 year period (160 tests not nec. 160 cars)... the averages are the avg. for those gasoline engine MBs over that period, to help establish baselines...
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Re: It's cheaper just to change the oil, but there are some benefits
You're basically right: I did on this engine specifically to see if there were any wear metals or silicates from casting in the oil. If not, then fine. Also to see if the factory fill nonsynth was degrading much. I'll probably do it analysis on this car every 15k or 30k to monitor it. I mostly use the analysis on my Porsche, which gets a once a year oil change synthetic, to see if I need to change, and to monitor it as it gets older (25 yrs. old now).<p>BTW, to Sammy the smart ***, if you read this: I have a life, thanks: I spend a good part of it in my Porsche dusting immature twerps like you. Happy holidays.