Blackstone alternatives?

[AcceptableBanana1986]

Seems that black stone (from what I read on this forum) is looked down upon based on testing methods. I have a second gen BRZ I track and autocross and want to start watching my oil samples closely for sanity sake. What vendor would you recommend? Seems like speed diagnostix might be a good start for me.

 

[Brian123]

Seems like speed diagnostix might be a good start for me.

Yes!

 

[AcceptableBanana1986]

Ended up using Amsoil based on reading all four reports and cost.

https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/oil-analysis-labs-compared.22430/

 

[rstsco]

You can buy this Oil Sample Kit via HPL's online website. This kit is affiliated with Wearcheck, but does not include any shipping. Once you buy the kit, you register it with Wearcheck and submit the sample. I've used them recently for a VOA and two UOAs and have been very pleased. They are very responsive to emails and pick up the phone when called. Very pleasant to work with.

I have used Speediagnostix for many VOAs and UOAs and have generally been pleased with their service. His kits include shipping of the samples. If you want accurate fuel dilution values, they are the most accurate of all mentioned due to their use of gas chromatography for their values.

I bought several kits through Amsoil (Oil Analyzers) to submit multiple VOAs. Just my luck, they got pretty screwed up and were never fully sorted. Others have had great service using them.

 

[MrBubba]

Speed is a good option, just make sure whichever company you choose you stick with so the data you gather is consistent, for example if you send a oil sample to Blackstone it is not going to show identical results to Speed.

 

[kschachn]

Speed is a good option, just make sure whichever company you choose you stick with so the data you gather is consistent, for example if you send a oil sample to Blackstone it is not going to show identical results to Speed.

This is a bit overstated. If the lab is properly following the ASTM procedure then it will meet the published reproducibility for the test. That’s kind of the point behind standardized tests.

If they are not following the procedure then there’s no guarantee the supposed consistent results at the same lab are accurate. They may just be consistently inaccurate.

 

[wwillson]

I often use and am very happy with Wearcheck

 

[Ed_Flecko]

I often use and am very happy with Wearcheck

I agree!

I recently submitted the Castrol EDGE Euro 0W-20 M to WearCheck (https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/castrol-edge-euro-0w-20-m-voa-from-wearcheck.407375/). They were great to work with. Very fast results, friendly, informative, etc., etc. I will definitely be using them again.

Ed

 

[Z28racecar]

I normally use SPEEDiagnostix, but his prices are getting a little out of hand with the price increase and the shipping costs. I'm considering switching to Amsoil's oil analysis, it's slightly less than half the cost of Speed's and it would mean a one stop shop for me since I already use Amsoil's lubricants

 

[rstsco]

Regardless which lab you choose, send them a virgin oil sample (VOA) of whatever oil you will be using. UOAs are not definitive tests and should be used to compare a known sample, the VOA, to your used sample, UOA. After the first UOA, use each subsequent test to compare with the previous tests. This is the power of UOAs, trend analysis. Not looking at each value of each test individually.

 

[kschachn]

Regardless which lab you choose, send them a virgin oil sample (VOA) of whatever oil you will be using. UOAs are not definitive tests and should be used to compare a known sample, the VOA, to your used sample, UOA. After the first UOA, use each subsequent test to compare with the previous tests. This is the power of UOAs, trend analysis. Not looking at each value of each test individually.

And then I am assuming you’re applying standard statistical analysis to the results?

Because without that then all you have is another collection of random samples with no correlation to anything.

Just because you see something that doesn’t mean you can attribute it to your variable of choice.

 

[rstsco]

And then I am assuming you’re applying standard statistical analysis to the results?

Of course not. Too many variables which I have no control over and too few data points. It's more entertainment than a tool which to make hard-and-fast decisions, though it might give indications if something needs further investigation.