Oil analysis

[MooneyMitch]

My engine oil has been run through Blackstone Laboratories since overhaul.  Very good experience with these folks.  No complaints other than price of the process.   Anyone had experience with Aircraft Oil Analysis out of Phoenix?  Their service is half the price of Blackstone. 

Ok, enough computer time this AM.  Sun is coming out so off to the airport I go.

[mjc]

I've used AOA in the past and I use Blackstone now. In this case, you get what you pay for, notably a human-written synopsis that makes sense of the numbers on the report and knowledgeable staff you can speak to by phone.

[Immelman]

I tried Blackstone's once but otherwise use AoA. The big money question is whether the comments are worth double the price (AoA can be had at a discount too, shop around). After consulting with my A&P/IA, a guy who has built many an aircraft engine, he suggested the most important thing was the raw data to plot a trend and note anomalies from that trend. So that's what I'm doing with AoA.

[FlyingAggie]

I am planning to change my oil for the first time this weekend and forgot to order an oil sample kit.  Will it work to take a sample in a clean jar and then transfer it to the kit when it arrives?

[danb35]

Yes, that will work just fine.

[fantom]

I, too, have been using AoA for many years, without issue. If anything really looks out of wack you can call them, but they will probably have called and emailed you first.

[KSMooniac]

Alan, you can use a clean jar...just make sure to sample mid-stream and not catch the first oil coming out of the quick-drain.

I read of one account where someone used a baby food jar for their sample and mentioned that in the notes.  Blackstone noted a slight concentration of applesauce. 

[OR75]

I have been using AOA for a while and have been happy. Quick turnaround on results.

Most trouble is at the post office where they wonder what category it should ship.