Oil Analysis
10-13-2007, 08:28 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Oil Analysis
I've been thinking about the longevity of the S engine now it has been supercharged for 4k miles.
It only has 16k miles on it so I've been thinking about what I can do to make sure it lasts as long as Modifrys engine did with a supercharger fitted (167k miles !)
I'm going to do oil changes every six months and thought it would be useful to build up some data on the oil & engine condition by getting it tested every time.
I know several of the US FI guys do this and it reveals alot about the engine as well as the oil.
Can any one recommend a UK supplier.
I've found this one but I've no idea if they are any good.
http://www.oilanalysis.org.uk/
I want to pick a trusted lab and use them every time so I collect good reliable data each time and get the same test from the same equipment.
Any idea on prices?
It only has 16k miles on it so I've been thinking about what I can do to make sure it lasts as long as Modifrys engine did with a supercharger fitted (167k miles !)
I'm going to do oil changes every six months and thought it would be useful to build up some data on the oil & engine condition by getting it tested every time.
I know several of the US FI guys do this and it reveals alot about the engine as well as the oil.
Can any one recommend a UK supplier.
I've found this one but I've no idea if they are any good.
http://www.oilanalysis.org.uk/
I want to pick a trusted lab and use them every time so I collect good reliable data each time and get the same test from the same equipment.
Any idea on prices?
10-13-2007, 05:37 PM
#2
Member
Mikey, if you send me some I can get it sorted.
I think its a bit OTT on a car though...
Tribologly is two fold, one for debris analysis, and one for oil condition. Its the sort of thing you do on a gas turbine, not so much a road car.
Its a complex subject, and its the sort of thing which needs trending, and you need to know what you are looking at.
Typical analysis will tell you oil viscosity, acidity, additive level (phosphorus) etc, and it will also tell you what you are getting in terms of ppm of wear metals.
But what are you going to do if you see an increasing wear trend, for example?
Are you going to pull the engine based on the results, or do you continue? What are the cut off points? I'm just provoking some thoughts!
Its the sort of thing a machinery engineer does day to day, and we have to tie it in with vibration readings and other stuff to make decisions.
I think its a bit OTT on a car though...
Tribologly is two fold, one for debris analysis, and one for oil condition. Its the sort of thing you do on a gas turbine, not so much a road car.
Its a complex subject, and its the sort of thing which needs trending, and you need to know what you are looking at.
Typical analysis will tell you oil viscosity, acidity, additive level (phosphorus) etc, and it will also tell you what you are getting in terms of ppm of wear metals.
But what are you going to do if you see an increasing wear trend, for example?
Are you going to pull the engine based on the results, or do you continue? What are the cut off points? I'm just provoking some thoughts!
Its the sort of thing a machinery engineer does day to day, and we have to tie it in with vibration readings and other stuff to make decisions.
10-14-2007, 03:06 AM
#4
Thread Starter
Mark I know exactly where you are coming from we also use on large air compressor to determine overhaul and preventative maintenance work.
Trending as you say is absolutely essential.
I wouldn't normally consider it on a car but with the nature of the F20C engine and the fact it will be running ~400 bhp on sotck internal I consider it a good early warning indicator along with the logging from the ECU
Trending as you say is absolutely essential.
I wouldn't normally consider it on a car but with the nature of the F20C engine and the fact it will be running ~400 bhp on sotck internal I consider it a good early warning indicator along with the logging from the ECU
10-14-2007, 09:26 PM
#7
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Milton Keynes
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We used to cut the oil filter open and inspect the dirty side of the filter material its a quick way to see if you are wearing metal away and what type of metal is wearing. I think you can buy a tool for cutting the base of the canister its basicaly a heavy duty can opener.
Trending Topics
10-15-2007, 09:45 AM
#8
Thread Starter
Si2K - not sure I agree with that, it certainly helps us with our compression sets at work
Mark - I reckon on ~4k miles in six months
oxhouser - nice idea
Mark - I reckon on ~4k miles in six months
oxhouser - nice idea
10-15-2007, 09:58 AM
#9
Registered User
Originally Posted by mikey k,Oct 15 2007, 05:45 PM
Si2K - not sure I agree with that, it certainly helps us with our compression sets at work
What is going to be normal wear and what is going to be abnomal?
You will get an idea of the oil's life and when additives are depleted, if it is soot loaded, if it has fuel contamination. But without a large supporting data set with stripped down engine ratings you won't get that much info from any oil samples.