I am a firm believer in oil analysis. Last Monday I performed an engine oil and filter change, and a transmission fluid change on my 355. I pulled a sample of the engine oil, and transmission gear oil and had them sent out to my local lab for analysis. Here are the results. The engine oil was Motul 5w40 and the transmission oil was Redline 75w90. They had 1650 miles on the oil and were changed in May 09. When I drained the transmission the fluid looked VERY old, and highly metallic. The transmission shifts fantastic when hot, and a tiny crunchy until then. I will re-sample again in most likely 3 or 6 months. Mike Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I do...worth it for peace of mind (or to watch for components wearing). I checked mine as purchased not knowing exactly how long the oil was in for and was happy to get a good result across the board. Now I keep it up for each oil change, good supporting data to have for resale too.
My mechanic says that I am crazy for changing engine/transmission synthetic oil once a year because I only make about 1400 miles / year. I told him the Fchat say so .... and there is no discussion about it !
Where do you get your oil analysis done and how much does it cost? I think that this is a fantastic idea.
Blackstone labs does a very good job. http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ they only charge like $25. I am going to do it on the M3 this weekend. Good luck!
I use a place in Houston called Oil Analyzers INC. 877-458-3315 The charge is approx $20.00 I looked at the invoice from the last service done on the car 5/09 Engine oil and Transmission fluid were supposedly replaced. (1700 miles ago) The invoice indicates a 20w50 Motul oil was used on the engine and according to the 17.4 vis @100 on my report I agree with the 50wt. not the 5w40 that I was told when I called them. I however think that there was NO way the transmission fluid was replaced. It was VERY dark in color and highly metallic looking. The wear metal #'s are really high and 1700 mile old Redline should look newish. I wonder if the 12PPM nickel has anything to do with (holding breath) valve guide wear. LOL I am going to sample again at some point next year. UNTIL then I am having a blast with her!! Mike
I am lucky, I can get it done for free through work anytime I wish. You can also call your local oil companies, Shell/Mobil etc... and they can send the oil sample away for you. Well, you can probably get it done in town. But our Shell/Mobil people have to send their oil samples away to get them checked. The Mines are the only people in town that setup their own lab. They check hundreds of oil samples weekly they told me.
I thought I was crazy, but this is a level of neuroses that is just slightly this side of the Twilight Zone.
Oil analysis is pretty much standard with the annual maintenance inspection on aircraft engines. (It is at least if you are a conscientious aircraft owner.) Owning a Ferrari is a lot like owning an airplane, except that it's a lot cheaper to own a Ferrari.
+1... Maybe if it was being tracked all the time but for (most of you) it's just a weekend car??? I drive my car almost everyday, change the fulids when I should if somthing breaks I fix it. Weather its my RR, Ferrari or any other car, it's just a car!!! Sure the Ferrari isn't like other cars but why is everyone so afraid of them breaking??? Just drive the car, fix it when something goes wrong, change fluids when needed and repeat... Just my .02 cents Reg
I don't know why the nickle is so hight on the engine oil test. But I can tell you that 17.4 is unusefully thick on the viscosity side (while still barely a -40 weight oil.) The oil should be closer to 14 cSt.
