WHT Z06: Oil report

I have my oil analyzed at Blackstone Laboratories every few years. The last time I submitted a sample the cost of the analysis was $30 and the test kit includes a pre-paid mailer. You used to be able to mail them in any blue-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 395°.

These days when I take a sample to the post office I bring a printed copy of the letter that can be fond 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	@ 6859 miles (5859)	@ 11756 miles (4897)	@ 27448 miles (5043)	@ 59549 miles (5500)	@ 76196 miles (5396)	@ 81856 miles (5689)	@ 86596 miles (4740)	@ 91802 miles (5206)	Universal averages
aluminum	10	7	5	4	4	3	3	4	4
chromium	8	5	4	2	1	1	1	1	1
iron	123	110	106	73	70	59	76	63	27
copper	13	7	3	2	3	2	2	2	6
lead	20	16	15	9	7	8	9	7	6
tin	5	4	3	3	1	1	1	1	1
molybdenum	86	99	118	86	80	76	79	83	103
nickel	2	2	1	1	1	1	2	3	0
manganese	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	3
silver	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
titanium	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
potassium	6	4	5	2	1	3	1	0	3
boron	57	60	70	44	46	42	47	45	102
silicon	65	28	12	9	9	7	10	10	11
sodium	9	8	5	5	5	6	4	7	10
calcium	2474	2631	2976	1290	1065	1017	1086	1127	1685
magnesium	15	19	18	694	714	688	758	810	457
phosphorus	643	717	798	657	703	664	690	760	782
zinc	820	903	986	761	790	734	793	828	888
barium	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Tested properties	@ 6859 miles (5859)	@ 11756 miles (4897)	@ 27448 miles (5043)	@ 59549 miles (5500)	@ 76196 miles (5396)	@ 81856 miles (5689)	@ 86567 miles (4711)	@ 91802 miles (5206)	should be
SUS viscosity @ 210°F	59.4	60.4	59.5	59.0	59.2	59.4	58.8	57.1	55-63
cSt viscosity @ 100°C	10.06	10.32	10.08	9.82	9.99	10.06	9.89	9.40	8.8-11.3
flash point in ° F	400°	405°	405°	390°	385°	395°	400°	390°	>385°
fuel %	<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
water %	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
insolubles %	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.2	0.3	0.1	0.2	0.2	<0.6

Copyright © 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Craig Leres