WHT Z06: 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 most recent report results:

Elements ppm	@ 96266 miles (4463)	@ 91802 miles (5206)	@ 86596 miles (4711)	@ 81856 miles (5689)	@ 76196 miles (5396)	@ 59549 miles (5500)	@ 27448 miles (5043)	@ 11756 miles (4897)	@ 6859 miles (5859)	Universal Averages
aluminum	5	4	3	3	4	4	5	7	10	4
chromium	1	1	1	1	1	2	4	5	8	1
iron	62	63	76	59	70	73	106	110	123	26
copper	2	2	2	2	3	2	3	7	13	6
lead	11	7	9	8	7	9	15	16	20	6
tin	1	1	1	1	1	3	3	4	5	1
molybdenum	95	83	79	76	80	86	118	99	86	106
nickel	3	3	2	1	1	1	1	2	2	0
manganese	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	4
silver	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
titanium	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
potassium	1	0	1	3	1	2	5	4	6	3
boron	36	45	47	42	46	44	70	60	57	104
silicon	12	10	10	7	9	9	12	28	65	11
sodium	5	7	4	6	5	5	5	8	9	9
calcium	816	1127	1086	1017	1065	1290	2976	2631	2474	1567
magnesium	724	810	758	688	714	694	18	19	15	491
phosphorus	608	760	690	664	703	657	798	717	643	775
zinc	775	828	793	734	790	761	986	903	820	882
barium	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Tested Properties	@ 96266 miles (4463)	@ 91802 miles (5206)	@ 86567 miles (4711)	@ 81856 miles (5689)	@ 76196 miles (5396)	@ 59549 miles (5500)	@ 27448 miles (5043)	@ 11756 miles (4897)	@ 6859 miles (5859)	Should Be
SUS Viscosity @ 210° F	57.5	57.1	58.8	59.4	59.2	59.0	59.5	60.4	59.4	55-63
cSt Viscosity @ 100° F	9.49	9.40	9.89	10.06	9.99	9.82	10.08	10.32	10.06	8.8-11.3
Flash Point in ° F	445°	390°	400°	395°	385°	390°	405°	405°	400°	>385°
Fuel %	<0.5	<0.5	<0.5	<0.5	<0.5	<0.5	<0.5	<0.5	<0.5	<2.0
Antifreeze %	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Water %	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Insolubles %	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.3	0.2	0.4	0.3	0.3	<0.6

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Craig Leres