Too soon for an oil change?

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Mtns2Skies

Final Approach
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Mtns2Skies
I put ~15 hours on the engine/oil since buying it. I'm quite anxious to do a Blackstone oil analysis to really understand how the engine is doing, so is it too soon to do an oil change? Will there not be enough data in the oil for their analysis?

I'll also be switching oil types, so another reason I'm ready to change it ASAP.
 
No, not too soon. When you send your sample to them, in the notes you’ll tell them how many hours are on it.

If you’ll continue to send samples, you’ll want a baseline established. 15 hours and different oil “do not a baseline make”. But I totally get it. I couldn’t wait either, but put more like 30 on mine. Can’t keep a good OCD down...

Actually, on second thought, call Blackstone up directly on the phone and ask what they think. They are very helpful.
 
Fifteen hours on oil to Blackstone will be pretty much a waste. Oil monitoring requires a baseline so several changes at approximately the same runtime are required. Change the oil, look for chunks in the filter. Move on.
 
The first one means nothing, it's basically building a trend
 
I agree with Clark. You didn't put enough crap in your oil in 15 hours to pick up much in an analysis...unless you have bigger problems than Blackstone can help you with.

As an aside, I religiously sent samples to Blackstone during my last engine run...all 1600+ hours...and all came back glowingly perfect. Even the last one...as I was cleaning metal out of my filter.

I still send them a sample every 2nd or 3rd oil change but I'm definitely not sold on them anymore and certainly don't take what they say for gospel.
 
How much calander time since the last oil change ,even though you have low engine time,could make a difference.As a minimum you want to open up the filter and check for metal.
 
frfly172 said:
How much calander time since the last oil change ,even though you have low engine time,could make a difference.As a minimum you want to open up the filter and check for metal.
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They changed the oil when I bought it. So just three weeks on the oil.
 
I take it you are changing the oil to "change to a different brand of oil" correct? The oil analysis wont be comparable to other ones because of time and changing of oil brand, I'd just change the oil and skip the analysis. Always check the filter for pieces of metal.
 
I like to go 25 -35 hours between oil changes,usually due an oil sample kit with each annual.
 
Ask the previous owner which oil analysis company they used. You may want to continue with them instead of going to Blackstone.
 
cgrab said:
Ask the previous owner which oil analysis company they used. You may want to continue with them instead of going to Blackstone.
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:lol:
I can guarantee they didn't use an oil analysis company.
 
I’d just change it and start the baseline.

Tim’s grumpiness about making metal aside, since oil analysis doesn’t really catch big chunks like that...

The analysis may or may not show things that are wrong. It’s not a replacement for other stuff like checking the filter and knowing if the engine is behaving differently than it has in the past, or even the annual compression and other checks.

It’s just one piece of information in a sea of it as an owner.

Best “find” by Blackstone on our engine so far was that we had a hole in the air filter. They saw that. Silicon went up dramatically. Couldn’t see the hole without pushing it open with a finger or air sucking it open when the engine was running.

Also have our slightly elevated aluminum numbers over standard that nobody (including Blackstone) has a root cause for yet other than possible case spalling, which seems as likely as any other theory we’ve heard here or elsewhere, at this point anyhow.
 
I change oil every time I fill with gas..... 2-stroke Experimental :)
 
coloradobluesky said:
I take it you are changing the oil to "change to a different brand of oil" correct? The oil analysis wont be comparable to other ones because of time and changing of oil brand, I'd just change the oil and skip the analysis. Always check the filter for pieces of metal.
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That's what I do

When I first got my 185 I started up a trend with black stone, all the other giddy new plane stuff, but overall I don't do that anymore, I just change the oil, cut the filter, and know that the carte blanche "in the green" is for chumps.
 
James331 said:
That's what I do

When I first got my 185 I started up a trend with black stone, all the other giddy new plane stuff, but overall I don't do that anymore, I just change the oil, cut the filter, and know that the carte blanche "in the green" is for chumps.
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Every filter that I've seen metal the oil sample prior, was normal.
 
Exactly, seems to me knowing where your planes temps and pressure normally sits at and doing a filter cut at the oil change is more than good enough
 
Are you going to rebuild the engine based on an oil sample numbers?
 
Sure you can do it but it’s a total waste of money. Run that to 50 hours and change it. Save your money for fuel.
 
yetti said:
Are you going to rebuild the engine based on an oil sample numbers?
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Obviously not, but beyond the logbook and "it runs" I have no data on the engine and that scares me (engineer). I really would like to know where its sitting health-wise and that includes cutting the filter and checking for metal as well as a Blackstone analysis. The sooner I have both the sooner I'll feel better (or signficantly worse) about the engine.
 
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IMO oil analysis only shows a trend and for all practical purposes is worthless. A good look at the filter will tell you much more.
 
Compression and the filter would give you more information. Maybe a wobble valve test. Figure out what fails focus on that.
 
yetti said:
Compression and the filter would give you more information. Maybe a wobble valve test. Figure out what fails focus on that.
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I do have compression numbers from the pre-buy as well - which are good.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
Obviously not, but beyond the logbook and "it runs" I have no data on the engine and that scares me (engineer). I really would like to know where its sitting health-wise and that includes cutting the filter and checking for metal.
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I may be wrong but I think he's implying that nobody is going to tear down an engine based on a bad oil sample anyway, so it is essentially worthless.

Add me to the list of people that have seen engines minutes away from scattering themselves that would still give a good oil sample. I work in an engine test lab and we do samples there but I don't do them on my own equipment. All an oil sample seems to do for people is cause angst and I feel that finding metal in the oil filter will provide ample warning that the engine is about to expire.

Don't bother cutting the oil filter in this short of a time either, it won't tell you much. Wait for a few more hours first.
 
I did an oil analysis once on my 5.4 Triton in a F150 with Blackstone. They told me it was making all kinds of metal and was essentially hosed. It caused me some concern since I just bought it. Regardless, I drove it 5 years and another 100,000 miles and sold it to a guy that put another 50,000 on it before he sold it. I’m sure it’s still running just fine out there.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
I put ~15 hours on the engine/oil since buying it. I'm quite anxious to do a Blackstone oil analysis to really understand how the engine is doing, so is it too soon to do an oil change? Will there not be enough data in the oil for their analysis?

I'll also be switching oil types, so another reason I'm ready to change it ASAP.
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I basically did the same as you. I ran it new to me about 20-25 hours and changed the oil. I cut the filter, inspected and sent the oil off to Blackstone. I understand what they provide and what the limitations are. It's worth it to me. I also changed the oil type. They understand when you put the less time on the form and factor that into the report they provide. When I did the next sample after changing type they understood that as well and put applicable data on the report for that.

Some enjoy it, some don't and I'm okay with that. Maybe the appeal will leave me but for now, it's worth what it cost.
 
As a positive view, Blackstone has been instrumental in helping me identify an exhaust valve wear probelm, confirmed by ID micrometer of the valve guides in place. Then as we’ve tried different strategies, the oil analysis gives us feedback on effectiveness. Finally, when we found the solution, with Camguard’s Ed Kollin’s help, oil analysis verifies it’s still working. Would have been very difficult to manage this problem without Blackstone’s help... sent them a few bottles of Blackstone wine!

Also have found induction leaks from time to time.

Paul
 
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