Black CTS-V: Oil Report

Black CTS-V: Oil Report

I do my own oil changes and have my engine oil analyzed at Blackstone Laboratories. The last time I submitted a sample the cost of the analysis was $40 and the test kit includes a pre-paid mailer. You used to be able to mail them in any blue collection box but as of October, 2019 items that measure more than 1/2 inch in thickness may not be deposited into collection boxes. (Most collection boxes have been modified to enforce this new policy!)

This means you have to take your sample in to the post office. Which can turn into a huge hassle. One time I tried to mail from a satellite post office and was told flat out that motor oil is flammable and could not be accepted under any circumstances. I went to the main post office. It took three employees 15 minutes in a backroom consultation before it was agreed my sample could be mailed. Quoting from the Blackstone Laboratories website) the key is that, "A liquid with a flashpoint above 200° F (93° C) is not regulated as a hazardous material and may be mailed subject to the general packaging requirements in DMM 601.1-7, provided it possesses no characteristics of another hazard class." The lowest flashpoint of any sample I have sent in was 385°.

These days when I take a sample to the post office I bring a printed copy of the letter that can be found on the Postal Requirements page.

All of the samples I've taken have been of Mobil 1 5W-30 synthetic oil. Here's the most recent report:

Here are the report results:

Elements
ppm @ 43492
miles
(5603) @ 37889
miles
(5296) @ 32593
miles
(6080) @ 26513
miles
(unknown) Universal
Averages

aluminum 9 8 9 9 7

chromium 1 1 1 1 1

iron 41 37 43 29 22

copper 3 4 4 3 5

lead 0 0 0 0 6

tin 1 0 0 0 1

molybdenum 77 82 88 144 131

nickel 7 4 1 0 0

manganese 2 4 5 4 5

silver 0 0 0 0 0

titanium 0 0 0 2 2

potassium 1 3 2 0 3

boron 35 42 40 28 67

silicon 15 10 16 20 14

sodium 9 10 13 25 23

calcium 1081 1152 1292 1468 1673

magnesium 747 715 559 385 437

phosphorus 687 697 640 684 822

zinc 789 776 751 841 942

barium 0 0 0 0 0

Tested
Properties @ 43492
miles
(5603) @ 37889
miles
(5296) @ 32593
miles
(6080) @ 26513
miles
(unknown) Should
Be

SUS Viscosity @ 210° F 56.8 57.5 62.6 57.9 55-63

cSt Viscosity @ 100° F 9.30 9.50 10.96 9.63 8.8-11.3

Flash Point in ° F 400° 420° 405° 420° >385°

Fuel % <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <2.0

Antifreeze % 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Water % 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Insolubles % 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 <0.6

Elements ppm	@ 43492 miles (5603)	@ 37889 miles (5296)	@ 32593 miles (6080)	@ 26513 miles (unknown)	Universal Averages
aluminum	9	8	9	9	7
chromium	1	1	1	1	1
iron	41	37	43	29	22
copper	3	4	4	3	5
lead	0	0	0	0	6
tin	1	0	0	0	1
molybdenum	77	82	88	144	131
nickel	7	4	1	0	0
manganese	2	4	5	4	5
silver	0	0	0	0	0
titanium	0	0	0	2	2
potassium	1	3	2	0	3
boron	35	42	40	28	67
silicon	15	10	16	20	14
sodium	9	10	13	25	23
calcium	1081	1152	1292	1468	1673
magnesium	747	715	559	385	437
phosphorus	687	697	640	684	822
zinc	789	776	751	841	942
barium	0	0	0	0	0

Tested Properties	@ 43492 miles (5603)	@ 37889 miles (5296)	@ 32593 miles (6080)	@ 26513 miles (unknown)	Should Be
SUS Viscosity @ 210° F	56.8	57.5	62.6	57.9	55-63
cSt Viscosity @ 100° F	9.30	9.50	10.96	9.63	8.8-11.3
Flash Point in ° F	400°	420°	405°	420°	>385°
Fuel %	<0.5	<0.5	<0.5	<0.5	<2.0
Antifreeze %	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Water %	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Insolubles %	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2	<0.6