In Fort Wayne, Indiana the company called Blackstone Laboratories tests the oil from customer’s engines to provide “easy-to-use, understandable, and accurate oil analysis.” Recently, I sent in a sample of oil from my Alpha H3 Hummer 5.3L V-8 engine to check on the condition of the engine. The #WarWagon has over 200,000 miles on the odometer. Which is why I’d like to know if the engine is functioning well or could use some maintenance.
The process of collecting a sample of oil is effortless. Prior to changing the oil, have Blackstone Laboratories send out a kit to collect a sample of oil. When the kit arrives, change the oil like normal. While the oil is draining fill up the canister with the oil pouring out of the drain plug and screw the cap on tight. Finally, fill out the data card with your information, payment method, and ship it out.
After just a short of a month, Blackstone Laboratories send an email which contained a PDF report of the sample of engine oil they received. In the report the amount of Aluminum, Chromium, Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus, Zinc, SUS Viscosity @ 210°F, Flashpoint in °F, Fuel Percentage, and much more about the oil they tested. The report on the #WarWagon says that the engine is performing very well, in spite of the 200,000+ miles on it. Below is what Blackstone had to say about the engine.
“The 5.3L V-8 powering your H3 Alpha is aging gracefully. We thought wear looked good in your first two reports, and this time around, iron (from steel parts) and lead (from the bearings) are even lower than they have been. The other metals are steady, so engine wear really looks good all around. There aren’t any harmful contaminants like excess dirt, fuel, or coolant in this 5W/30-grade oil, and insolubles at a low 0.2% shows that the oil filter is working well. You’ve got a good thing going with this Hummer.”
Blackstone Labortories
I sincerely recommend spending the time to send in an oil sample to Blackstone Labs so as to found out exactly how that engine is performing.
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