Results of used oil analysis - updated 5/23/11

[clapton924]

I use Blackstone Labs.   http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Easiest is to request a sample kit. Its easy to do....take a sample, and send it in.

[striktlyaccord]

^ Mike, I use Blackstone Labs as well.  All you do is order a free kit, then pour some oil into a small bottle that they give you when you do your oil change/drain.  When you ship the sample to them, you pay $22.50 for a basic test, or for an extra $10, you can also get the TBN test done (it tests how much cleaning agents are still left in the oil... I think).  In the long run, my results will save me money and help the environment, like you said.

[timot_one]

I just ordered a kit.  Hopefully I'll remember to do this eventually.

[sherker55]

I'm confused about the oil change interval of 10,000 miles.  Mine tells me the percentage of oil life remaining, and when it gets below 10% it puts up the service reminder.  The time between oil changes for me is usually 5500-6500 miles.

[striktlyaccord]

I'm confused about the oil change interval of 10,000 miles.  Mine tells me the percentage of oil life remaining, and when it gets below 10% it puts up the service reminder.  The time between oil changes for me is usually 5500-6500 miles.

My 2003 model doesn't have that extensive maintenance reminder system, just the maintenance reset button on the dash.  The analysis tells me that based on my driving habits and oil used, I can go longer between oil changes than initially expected.  Those automatic maintenance reminder systems never seem to be very accurate anyway.

[clapton924]

The sample I sent in had 5,500 miles on the oil (Pennzoil platinum).  Report came back very good, and they suggested extending my oil change interval to 7,500k.

[striktlyaccord]

^ The oil companies must hate these testing labs lol.

[status]

i wonder if a genuine honda filter or mobil 1 filter would make a difference. since i use the same m1 syn

[clapton924]

i wonder if a genuine honda filter or mobil 1 filter would make a difference. since i use the same m1 syn

Personally I use the Honda filters.  I buy them in bulk here: http://www.handa-accessories.com/accmaint03.html

$29 for a 6 pack.

[status]

i wonder if a genuine honda filter or mobil 1 filter would make a difference. since i use the same m1 syn

Personally I use the Honda filters.  I buy them in bulk here: http://www.handa-accessories.com/accmaint03.html

$29 for a 6 pack.

i use them as well, just wondering if the m1 might be a better option

[striktlyaccord]

I just use the Mobil 1 filter because when you can find sales, the oil and filter usually need to be bought together.

[striktlyaccord]

Got the results of my third oil test in my e-mail today.  The oil tested (Mobil 1 5w-20 full synthetic) was used for 9,672 miles with a Mobil 1 oil filter.  Here was the writeup:

"DAVID: It's yet another good report for the 2.4L in your Accord. Wear metals stayed very flat and low
compared to universal averages. You're really starting to develop some nice wear trends for this engine, so
any problems that do show up should stick out like a sore thumb. The oil itself was in good shape physically
with no coolant or fuel found. Low insolubles and silicon show good oil and air filtration. The TBN was nice
and strong at 2.6 showing plenty of active additive left. This engine can handle a longer oil run, so try
11,500 miles on the next oil and check back."

Not too shabby once again.  So, save money and save the environment and change your oil less often fellas (under normal driving conditions anyway).

[Jeff Likes Bagels]

I like those results, Dave. Have you ever gotten a used oil analysis with dino oil? I used to have Mobil 1 5W30, but it burnt a lot, so I was going to go back to dino oil. On the synthetic, I was going 6,500 miles before changing, which according to your results, is very low!

[striktlyaccord]

^ I've never tested dino oil since the only time this car had non-synthetic oil in it was when it was pretty new.  I switched to full synthetic fairly early into my ownership of it, so I can't say how well it'd hold up.

[striktlyaccord]

So, now that I'm not driving the Accord daily anymore, I'm not putting a ton of miles on it.  As I do my oil analysis, of which the last one called for a longer change inter val, I'm nowhere near hitting the mark yet, but it's been about a year and a half since my lasy change.  The question I'm asking is, does oil break down just as quick time-wise as it does mileage-wise.  Debating if I should change it soon, or if it'll be fine until 11.5k of use.