Blackstone Oil Analysis after 5100km

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Jul 11, 2012 | 07:42 PM
  #1  
MY2012 C63 Performance Package:

During this first 5200km I added 1L of Mobil 5W40 Formula M. I changed the oil at 5100km and send a sample to Blackstone for analysis.

Here are the results.

Anyone else with an AMG 63 engine to compare with?

Comment: We're not sure how much is "too much" but you mightwant to keep an eye on your oil consumption as changes in how much oil you have to add can signalchanges in the engine's overall condition.
At this point, nothing unexpected turned up.
Metals and silicon arehigh, but that's common in brand new engines and you should see improvements with time.
Averages show expected metal readings following the break-in period after about 8,800 km on the oil.
The viscosity measured in the 10W/40 range. The TBN read 2.9.

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Jul 11, 2012 | 08:07 PM
  #2  
Here is mine as reference. The latest one was just taken a little over a month ago.

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Jul 12, 2012 | 01:09 AM
  #3  
You need more KM to get a better understanding of whats going on in the engine.

You metals are high, but this is probably your first oil change and that is to be expected.

TBN is good. I think it starts off at 6 for M1
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Jul 12, 2012 | 02:54 PM
  #4  
So I did my engine at 8x,000mi at a 7500mile interval

nickel was 5, which was a surprise. Turns out the tappets are 9310 steel with 3->3.5% nickel. You guys have a value of 1.

Now I started to worry about the lawsuit and abnormal wear, but they are also 93% iron. And I had no abnormal wear of iron. Anyone have any other idea where it might be coming from?

Everything else looked excellent.

I will try and post when I can find the pdf.
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Jul 12, 2012 | 03:40 PM
  #5  
Quote: So I did my engine at 8x,000mi at a 7500mile interval

nickel was 5, which was a surprise. Turns out the tappets are 9310 steel with 3->3.5% nickel. You guys have a value of 1.

Now I started to worry about the lawsuit and abnormal wear, but they are also 93% iron. And I had no abnormal wear of iron. Anyone have any other idea where it might be coming from?

Everything else looked excellent.

I will try and post when I can find the pdf.
No idea, you would think Fe levels would be out of whack also with Ni at 5. If it were my engine though, I would repeat the UOA (same oil type, same mileage) to see if the trend to high Ni is confirmed.
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Jul 12, 2012 | 04:11 PM
  #6  
I don't understand any of this!
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Jul 12, 2012 | 07:50 PM
  #7  
Here is another one for comparison. Don't know how to turn this into a picture to post sorry. Tried scanning but it came out poop.


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Jul 13, 2012 | 12:45 AM
  #8  
Im going to test mine again right away,

My Base number was 1.9 last time.

MB goes wayyyyyyyyy too long with oil changes IMO.
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Jul 13, 2012 | 02:02 AM
  #9  
Quote: No idea, you would think Fe levels would be out of whack also with Ni at 5. If it were my engine though, I would repeat the UOA (same oil type, same mileage) to see if the trend to high Ni is confirmed.
It was pointed out to me that my wording was somewhat confusing...what I am suggesting is to run the same brand and type of oil and filter for the same mileage on the new oil change, prior to the next UOA.
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Jul 13, 2012 | 11:33 AM
  #10  
here it is, guess the nickel was 6. I have another sample just waiting for me to ship it. Similar mileage.

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Jul 13, 2012 | 02:08 PM
  #11  
Seriously, what is the meaning of all this? Measuring the residual elements that make up the oil output to see what?
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Jul 13, 2012 | 03:04 PM
  #12  
Quote: Seriously, what is the meaning of all this? Measuring the residual elements that make up the oil output to see what?
This, from Blackstone:

Oil analysis is a quick, nondestructive way to gauge the health of an engine by looking at what's in the oil.

What does a standard analysis include?
In our standard oil analysis, we perform four tests:

Spectral exam:
In the spectral exam, we take a portion of your oil sample and run it through a machine called a spectrometer. The spectrometer analyzes the oil and tells us the levels of the various metals and additives that are present in the oil. This gives us a gauge of how much your engine is wearing. To learn more about the elements we look at and where they come from in your oil, go to our Report Explanation page.

Insolubles test:
The insolubles test measures the amount of abrasive solids that are 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 test tells you how good a job the oil filter is doing, and to what extent the oil has oxidized.

Viscosity test:
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 will 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.

Flash Point test:
The Flash Point test measures the temperature at which vapors from the oil ignite. For any specific grade of oil, 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 off lower than it should, then it's probably been contaminated with something. Fuel is the most common contaminant in oil.
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Jul 13, 2012 | 04:58 PM
  #13  
Cool, thanks for the info. What's the process to get this done and what is the cost? Thx.
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Jul 13, 2012 | 05:52 PM
  #14  
Follow the link below to have Blackstone send you some free test kit mailers. The basic test is $25. They'll provide you with containers ready to be dropped off at the post office that utilize USPS-approved procedures and containers for a sample of motor oil. I don't ship via USPS anymore though, because it's common for someone at USPS to decide the sample is hazardous (even though it isn't) and not send it through. You will then be out the sample as well as postage. My last USPS-shipped sample took over three months to get to Blackstone so I now use UPS instead.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free-test-kits.php
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Jul 13, 2012 | 06:45 PM
  #15  
Quote: Follow the link below to have Blackstone send you some free test kit mailers. The basic test is $25. They'll provide you with containers ready to be dropped off at the post office that utilize USPS-approved procedures and containers for a sample of motor oil. I don't ship via USPS anymore though, because it's common for someone at USPS to decide the sample is hazardous (even though it isn't) and not send it through. You will then be out the sample as well as postage. My last USPS-shipped sample took over three months to get to Blackstone so I now use UPS instead.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free-test-kits.php
Sweet, thanks!
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Jul 13, 2012 | 08:33 PM
  #16  
Use the post office but just enclose the container in a small box and they won't know.
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Jul 13, 2012 | 09:18 PM
  #17  
did you use the Formula M ESP?
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Jul 13, 2012 | 10:20 PM
  #18  
Quote: did you use the Formula M ESP?
Not sure who you are asking but I use the ESP and always have. To the best of my knowledge I'm the only one here who weighs in on oil-related matters that still uses the ESP. I have two interesting ESP samples going in to Blackstone. One is a 3,450 mile (short) OCI that was very high RPM operation for many of those miles (the only period that the car has seen extended redline operation). The other is a 9,120 mile (longest by far) OCI that was almost all highway mileage, for hours at a time.
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Jul 14, 2012 | 12:26 AM
  #19  
I get mine done at my local Cat dealer. cheaper then Blackstone and no shipping.
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