How To Read An Oil Analysis

As a vehicle ages, you will want to ensure the health of the engine. Hopefully, you’ve looked after it with regular oil changes as well as normal maintenance. Let’s say, though, that you are buying a used car that you don’t really know the service history of. Well, that’s okay because there are things you can do when you buy it to determine its state of reliability, particularly with regard to the engine. One of those things is called an Oil Analysis. 

What Is An Oil Analysis

Multiple companies out there are able to do this, such as Mobil 1, Blackstone Laboratories, Castrol, Amsoil, and the like. How this is usually donei is to wait until you know the oil that’s in the car has been in it for at least a few thousand miles (some people like to change the oil of a vehicle they have just purchased for peace of mind), and then they will either change the oil completely or take out the oil drain plug and fill up a tube to be able to send off to a company for analyzation. 

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of an oil analysis can vary from company to company, but it’s usually about $35 or so. 

What Are They Looking For?

According to Blackstone Labs, a standard oil analysis covers three different things: A spectral exam, an insoluble test, a viscosity test, and a flash point test. 

• In the spectral exam, we take a portion of your oil sample and run it through a machine called a spectrometer, which tells us the levels of metals and additives that are present in the oil.
• The insoluble test measures the solids present in the oil. The solids are formed by oil oxidation (when the oil breaks down due to the presence of oxygen, accelerated by heat) and blow by past the rings. This tells you how good a job the oil filter is doing, and to what extent the oil has oxidized.
• The viscosity measures the grade, or thickness, of the oil. Whether it’s supposed to be a 5W/30, 15W/40, or some other grade, we know (within a range) what the viscosity should be. If your viscosity falls outside that range, there’s probably a reason: the oil could have been overheated, or contaminated with fuel, moisture, or coolant.
• The Flash Point test measures the temperature at which vapors from the oil ignite. We know what temperature the oil should flash at. If it flashes at or above that level, the oil is not contaminated. If the oil flashes lower than it should, then it’s probably been contaminated. Fuel is the most common contaminant in oil.

What Will This Tell Me?

Once the analysis is complete, you will be able to see what, if any, contaminants are in knocking around the engine, how good or bad the wear parts of the engine are, as well as additives, and physical percentage of properties, such as water in the oil, fuel, antifreeze, and the like. 

In the end, a good oil analysis can save you potentially thousands of dollars in repairs, because if you are able to catch issues before they surprise you, you won’t be stranded and instead have them tackled when the car’s engine is still in good condition. 

At Lexus of Henderson, we take pride in offering vehicles that are in great shape inside and out. With more than 100 new and used vehicles for sale, our sales team will work to find you the perfect vehicle at the right price. Our service department will work tirelessly to ensure your car stays in the best shape possible. We look forward to serving you soon.