Hi all,

Has anyone done an engine oil analysis and can recommend a company, in the UK that is?

I am looking for a chemical analysis and breakdown of contaminants, including fuel contaminants. I am looking for an analysis of fluid collected by an oil catch can and compare that to my current engine oil. Problem is that the fluid is mostly water, humid weather, rain, etc., but it will contain oil, fuel and contaminants. I contacted a few companies to ask if they can do an analysis on the watery substance, but nobody replied. I guess most have enough work.

Many thanks for any help.

Cheers,
Saskak

I'm wondering what you are going to do with the results should you find someone to do the test?


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(09-05-2019, 02:05 PM)jj9 Wrote:  I'm wondering what you are going to do with the results should you find someone to do the test?


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It is mainly driven by curiosity and the cost of a normal engine oil analysis is not that much.
There are plenty of videos around of people emptying these catch cans and the fluid looks a lot like oil and plenty of comments that this is 90% water, but I have never seen an analysis to confirm that this is water. My situation is slightly different, as the catch can works as a quite good dehumidifier. Once summer comes, then it would probably catch more oil, as a proportion that is.
I suspect when I collect summer fluid with more oil consistency, then it will not be a problem to find a company to analyse it.

Good luck with the project.

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When i was on the tools some companies did this and the results are really interesting but can scare some people, interestingly oils get better with a bit of age in them.

I think be used BP's services as they supplied quite a lot of the oils.

I would just do a google search or call a main dealer and ask who they use - thats if you can get past those stupid call centers they use now.

(09-05-2019, 07:32 PM)polar Wrote:  When i was on the tools some companies did this and the results are really interesting but can scare some people, interestingly oils get better with a bit of age in them.

I think be used BP's services as they supplied quite a lot of the oils.

I would just do a google search or call a main dealer and ask who they use - thats if you can get past those stupid call centers they use now.

That is actually very interesting. I have heard the age and oil getting slightly better, e.g. less acidity, etc., but never believed it.

Two companies replied, but will have to see if they can do the watery stuff that I am mostly interested in. It should be possible, as it is a fairly simple spectrometer and the result is wavelengths and intensities associated with them. I guess interpreting the wavelengths/intensity is the difficult bit and they do not want to do it, although I told them I am interested in the raw numbers only without interpretation.

Just wondering what purpose this will serve in the everyday use of your car?

(09-05-2019, 09:32 PM)Gravity Wrote:  Just wondering what purpose this will serve in the everyday use of your car?

Same answer to jj9. It is mainly driven by curiosity, thus no real effect on the everyday use of my car.

Curiosity!

I understand. That's one of mankind's greatest assets.