Engine Oil Analysis Kit

[dawnsall]

I'm considering sending a sample of my engine oil for analysis, but first wondered if it's really worthwhile or if anybody could recommend a company which does it. Thanks.

 

[VicS]

Cheaper just to replace the oil! Unless you have a huge engine containing many gallons

 

[ithet]

Oil anlysis kit

This gives some indication -

http://www.force4.co.uk/7128/Force-4-Engine-Check-Up.html

(added)
More info on the website:
http://www.enginecheckup.com/

 

[The engineer]

I think the op's purpose is to check for contaminants, metals etc. not the condition of the oil

A coffee filter can be used in lieu of the engine checkup medium and will yield similair results. It could be an expensive coffee filter

 

[dawnsall]

Apparently the tests can give a detailed report on the condition of your engine. It's just that we've got a relatively old engine and we're going to sell the boat soon we'd like to be able to say with confidence that it's in good condition and perfectly serviceable. Basically you send a sample of the oil to a lab for analysis and it shows contaminants etc. If possible we'd like to hear from somebody who has done this already and found the results useful. Thanks

 

[dt4134]

I got one as part of a pre-purchase survey. I was charged £60 for it and I didn't find it worth the price. Just starting and running the engine told me it was Ok for its age. The engine oil analysis told me it was ok for its age. I might have felt differently if it had told me something I didn't know.

 

[1955patric]

I'm considering sending a sample of my engine oil for analysis, but first wondered if it's really worthwhile or if anybody could recommend a company which does it. Thanks.

As has already been stated a full oil analysis will give details of all contaminants in the oil and various other data pertaining to the oil itself. However without having the knowlege to analyse the results to draw a reasonable conclusion as to the condition of the engine or a track history to be able to recognise trends, a single analysis result will probably not be of much use unless the levels of any particular contaminant are exceedingly high. For instance, a high iron reading could indicate that the engine is experiencing excessive wear in a steel component such as liners or gears, but you will also get high iron readings in an engine which has just been overhauled when the piston rings and liners are 'bedding in'. It is also important that the hours on the oil are known. A sample taken from an engine which has had a recent oil change will show very different results to one in which the oil has reached the oil change interval. On my ship, we take LO samples from all critical machines at set intervals and have developed a large enough database for each machine, that trends can be recognised instantly. Even so we will not action an investigation on the basis of a single poor result - in this case we will send a subsequent sample for analysis and if we get similar results then we will investigate further and carry out any remedial necessary.
If I were buying a boat and an analysis was presented as 'proof' that the engine is in good condition, I would have a problem accepting it as such unless I had been present when the sample had been taken, knew for certain how many running hours the oil had on it when the sample was drawn and could see results of any previous analysis results which would indicate trends.

 

[Tranona]

Apparently the tests can give a detailed report on the condition of your engine. It's just that we've got a relatively old engine and we're going to sell the boat soon we'd like to be able to say with confidence that it's in good condition and perfectly serviceable. Basically you send a sample of the oil to a lab for analysis and it shows contaminants etc. If possible we'd like to hear from somebody who has done this already and found the results useful. Thanks

If you are selling the boat, it is up to the buyer to carry out any tests he thinks necessary. You are selling "what is" and by trying to use a test to provide some proof of condition you are leaving yourself open to claims from the buyer. In a normal private sale, a buyer has no comeback once he has bought the boat - relying on his survey to confirm the condition of what he has bought.

Leaving aside the point about whether the techniques gives you any useful information, would you show it to the potential buyer if it suggested the engine was past it? Always best to just present the boat as it is, including a record of all work done, evidence of servicing etc. This helps minimise the potential for him or his surveyor to find things that can be used to negotiate the price down.

 

[Stu Jackson]

However without having the knowlege to analyse the results to draw a reasonable conclusion as to the condition of the engine or a track history to be able to recognise trends, a single analysis result will probably not be of much use...

+100

One test means nothing.

I'd considered doing it for our engine when we bought the boat in 1998, but did research and came to this same conclusion. Changing oil regularly for what is now my boat is much more important.

 

[VicS]

Apparently the tests can give a detailed report on the condition of your engine. It's just that we've got a relatively old engine and we're going to sell the boat soon we'd like to be able to say with confidence that it's in good condition and perfectly serviceable. Basically you send a sample of the oil to a lab for analysis and it shows contaminants etc. If possible we'd like to hear from somebody who has done this already and found the results useful. Thanks

If you present a potential purchaser with a good oil analysis how would you prove to him that the sample was taken after say 100 hours rather than after 1 or 2 ?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Good point, Vic. Or even from your boat for that matter? If they want to, let them do it.

 

[dawnsall]

I'm not actually suggesting that we use a test as proof to a purchaser. I would just like to know, if possible, if the engine is as good a condition as I think it is. And if I can find out now if there is a potential problem I can sort it out. I just thought that if a potential buyer might have a test done then why don't I do one to see what the results are.

So I just wanted to hear from somebody who had a test done and was it useful. And there seems to be lots of companies doing these tests and it's always nice to have a recommendation. But it appears it might not be all that useful, unless of course it showed up something which I need to deal with.

 

[William_H]

Oil analysis

Oil analysis is done in industry on high cost and critical to function equipment. As said it is the trend that matters. So you might do a program on a helicopter gearbox. Obviously this is a critical safety item plus very expensive. The program would start from new or overhauled. After initial bedding in where you get a lot of metal from new fitting bearings etc the metal content should settle down at subsequent tests. If there is a sudden spike in metal contamination you have a good case for investigation. ie strip down for inspection.

Interesting there are also devices which listen to machinery with a microphone and analyse the sounds. Again any change of sound is a warning of changes taking place. But it is all about trend monitoring.
In both programs it helps to have many examples of the same device so comparisons can be made.

Certainly your boat engine does not fit into the category of safety critical or expensive compared to the type of machinery that is monitored. Of course would need trend monitoring from the beginning any one off analysis will probably tell you your engine is not new but not clapped out. But then other parameters will tell you just as well. ie oil consumption, ease of starting and smoke emissions. good luck with the sale olewill.

 

[rosssavage]

There was an instance of a helicopter accident where the specific part of the main gearbox that failed was identified as the cause by audio analysis. Very clever, but pointless thread drift!!

I had oil analysis done on my engines as part of the pre survey purchase. As has been pointed out already, without a trend or known oil age, the results should taken with a pinch of salt. I did it, however, as I was spending over £80k on a boat, and the survey alone was going to be £500. I reasoned that a further £60 was worth it if they did find anything serious.

As for pre sale - I wouldnt bother. As others have said, if the donks have been serviced correctly and run well, why lose £60 of your money? It is up to the buyer to check, and what would you do if you found out all the main bearings were shot? Rebuild? Knock serious money off? Better not to know and the purchaser do his bit properly!

 

[Chalker]

I had an oil sample analysed when I bought my boat. It confirmed the engineer's suspicion of cooling water in the oil, including glycol
It put me in a strong position to negotiate a price drop to part cover the cost of a new head gasket.
I'd do it again as a buyer, but not a seller.