| [GMCnet] Blackstone Labs [message #147181] |
Thu, 20 October 2011 08:29 |
George DV
Messages: 132
Registered: August 2004
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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At the latest rally held at Goshen, IN. last fall, one seminar was conducted
by the founder/owner and his son, of Blackstone Labs of Ft. Wayne, In.
They presented a story of how they analyze engine [or even tranny] oil
samples and print out the results.
The mechanism they use is a Spectrophotometer, an expensive laboratory
machine which analyzes samples and determines, both qualitatively and
quantitatively] what constituents are in the sample
[Rob M.--That means what is in the sample and how much of it is there]. ; )
They distributed the sample containers which are a small, perhaps 3 oz.
plastic bottle within a mailing tube, with a standard form.
I took one and when I got back home, changed engine oil, having accrued
about 5,000 miles on the existing oil.
I filled the sample bottle carefully and sent it to Blackstone.
In the package, I also added some comments to the enclosed form regarding
the fact that I used Mobil 1 5W-40 and have regularly added a ZDDP
zinc/phosphoric additive [I got from Joe Mondello at the Southern Illinois
rally.]
For your memory bank, Mobil 1, only in grade 5W-40, is still made to a
formulation that boasts higher zinc and phosphoric content blended for flat
tappet engines.
Also enclosed my email addy and a check for $25. and off it went thru snail
mail.
As I recall it cost about $2.20 to mail the tube to them.
In about a week, I got an email from Blackstone with the chemical report
results.
It enumerated and detailed the pertinent ingredients found in my oil sample,
specifically detected extra high levels of zinc and phosphorous [as
anticipated from the additive] , and specifically responded to my original
notes regarding my knowledge of the engine, time between oil changes,
mileage, etc..
On the data sheet also, in addition to my engine's unique data profile,
appears a comparative listing column of the values of chemical elements
found in their accumulated listing of all the other 455 engines they have
tested to date, which have an average of 2,600 miles between oil changes.
They even measured and recorded the oil viscosity at high temperature. And
comfirmed it was indeed 5W-40.
As a result of the report results [and the fact that the performance was
within the bounds of the base line sample of all the 455 Olds engines in GMC
motorhomes that they have in their database, ] they recommended that I go up
to 6,000 miles between oil changes with confidence.
Moreover the data did NOT find elements that would be precursors to trouble,
as in high sodium or potassium, which would indicate leaking or intruding
radiator antifreeze, as an example. Or high iron or copper metallic
components, presaging bearing failure.
In addition, just yesterday, a week later, I received a hard copy in the
mail of the original analysis report.
Therein was a blurb about buying a package deal and one can get the unit
price down to $19 ea. when buying in a 6-pak.
You can get a sample tube mailer jsut by asking them on the internet. A good
deal.
All in all, I am very satisfied with the service, the timely response, the
professional report , the appropriate recommendation, and the overall
relationship with Blackstone.
I heartily recommend that all our GMC owners utilize the service. It is a
small price to get a headsup on the engine or tranny condition and could
save a whole lot of money.
I can see where this plan could easily save a whole bunch of money and it
does give some peace of mind.
Should have done it sooner.
{NOTICE--I am in no way affiliated with or related to Blackstone or the
owners}
George DV
_____________
/ ][ ] [ ] [ ] \
o O-----------O-----O-o
1976 GLENBROOK
TZE166V 100976
455 HEI 3.70
225 UniroyalsAlcoas
Beautiful Upstate NY
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