Oil Analysis Questions

[lilnasty]

Well 5,200 miles ago I switched to Amsoil motor oil. My plan was to run it for 5,000 miles, drop / replace oil filter and top off oil. At this time I was planning to get a sample to send to Blackstone Labs for analysis to determine a proper change interval. Well, I've never had an analysis done before and don't know if just the regular analysis is all I need or should I get more? Now I'm debating changing the filter this often. The Amsoil filter ( Identical to a Mobile 1) says it's good for 15,000 miles. I'm OK with letting the oil go longer intervals, but filters frighten me going that long. To me a Filter is as or more important then the oil. After pulling apart a few oil filters, I prefer the Bosh Extended Something or other. It has more filter media in it compaired to the Mobile. I normally wait until the OLM reaches 20% before I change my oil. Which has been Pensoil Ultra until now. Should I wait until then to drop the filter and catch a sample for analysis or stick with my original plan?

[Black02Silverado]

What oil from AMSOIL are you looking at using? If you use the OE oil then just change it out when your OLM gets down to around 5%. If you want to go longer then the XL is good for 10k mile drain intervals or 6 months which ever comes first. But it sounds like you want to go even farther to the 15k mark and if so then you need to use the Signature Series 5w-30 and the AMSOIL Ea15k filter.

 

As for oil analysis, that is a good step to determine the condition of the oil. Blackstone labs is good and you want to get the regular analysis with the extra $10 for the TBN reading. That tells you how much of the additive package is left in the oil and so how much farther you can extend your drain interval. It is well worth the extra $10.

[lilnasty]

I'm running the signature series in it now with the Ea15K filter. I've compaired the Ea15k filter with some old used filters I keep for referance. It appears to be a clone of the Mobile 1. You've answered my question on which analysis to get. Thank you for that advice. My other question is should I change the filter at 5,000 miles which is where I'm at now, or wait until the OLM reaches 20%? If I change the filter, I plan to get the oil analized at every filter change until I find my Oil change interval. I just don't trust the 15,000 mile rating on the Ea15K. I've seen the filter on our old 3 series after 15k and it didn't look healthy.

[Black02Silverado]

I would leave the filter on and just take an oil sample. Do you have anyway of pulling a sample from your dipstick tube? That way you don't have to loose any from the drain port. The oil analysis will tell you if your filter is doing it's job or not. The insolubles will be high. I have yet come across an Ea oil filter that was not doing its job and went into bypass before its rated capacity. If an oil filter goes into bypass you can tell from the analysis.

 

Also what most don't know that when you push your vehicle hard and run the RPM's up close to redline, the oil bypasses the filter for that little bit of time. Just an FYI.