a dark art?

Replace the oil in kind with the recommended viscosity range from the manufacturer. The engine running clearances are based on the recommended viscosity range.

Analysis at 14K over 6 years....forget it....change the oil every 6 months to keep the oil dry.

Dear Zip
If you wish to know as more as about condition of your engine you must to do oil analysis on regular base, for example every one-half interval. In this case you can see the alterations of oil’s characteristics during operation. If you see severe departure of any parameter(s) it will be alert. On base of regular monitoring of motor oil also can to judge a possibility to prolong oil used. But if you make oil analysis once you will to see only emergency situation, for example coolant leak, fuel dilution or abnormal wear. If your engine is normal, oil analysis give to you numbers sequence on base which difficult to do a far-reaching consequences.
Regards,

Mikhail

Dear Zip,

Your query is very interesting. Yes, why does one need to do oil analysis at all, unless one wants to know or learn something. Having spent 17 years selling lubricants I would answer your query as follows:

1. Oil analysis is best utilized when one operates a fleet of vehicles and customised "oil change alerts" can be set up and maintainence schedules drawn up.
2. In your case of 14000 plus mileage a ferrography report can be a good indicator of the performance/condition of the engine.
3. The sample can be handed over to the oil company whose oil you have used; along with all parameters of engine/model, usage etc and topup details.

Frankly speaking, for a fleet of (single) or a couple of vehicles, oil analysis is not rewarding.

Hussam Adeni

Zip, my thinking is oil analysis is important if you want to use a synthetic oil and extended oil drains. Analysis then becomes worth the time and effort. You'll know before your oil breaksdown and causes any damage. Otherwise I agree with everyone elso on this forum. Unless of course you have a new vehicle in which you may want to monitor your eng wear characteristics from the start. I posted another thread which explains oil analysis in laymen terms, please let me know what you think.

2003 BMW 325i
Dinan CAI, Throttle body
Dinan Exhaust
Dinan stage 3
Dinan Strut Braces

[This message was edited by lpquick on Sat February 14 2004 at 03:35 PM.]