Is there a way to test the oil that's in my car? My digital speedo and odometer has been on the fritz for a while and I have lost track of when I changed my oil last. It's probably been six months or more and maybe around 5-6000 miles. I had put in Mobile One full synthetic, so theoretically it should still be good, but I just checked it last week and it was a quart and a half low and pretty black. I added some 10W-30 dino oil for now but I wonder if there is a way to check the current state of the oil in there before I drain it out just to see how or if it is still working. Does anyone know where or how to get such a test done? Thanks.

 

You can send it off for oil analysis. But if you're unsure how "old" it is, why not just change it anyway? If it's black, I'd change it either way

 

I just wanted to take a snapshot of where my engines at, and want to see how well it's been protected (or not) recently.

 

+1 if youre unsure just change it

 

Blackstone labs will test the oil- I think it's about $30 to test. of course you have to give them a sample of it, which means pulling hte drain plug to get enough. might as well just dump it and change the oil.


FYI, oil is only good for 3-4 months once it's been put in the engine and exposed to oxygen, heat, and unburned fuel and whatnot. the additives in the oil that make it do its neat stuff will break down with exposure to oxygen and gasoline, so it's best to change the oil every 6 months (or less) regardless of mileage on the oil.

So for the cost of figuring out if the $25 of oil you have in the car is good or not, you can just change it.

 

The test is about $20 but then again, that's 5 qt jug of Penzoil Plat at walmart.

 

Thanks Matt. That's good to know. I knew that it was recommended to change oil by month, not only by mileage, but I didn't know why.

I will definitely just change my oil. (BTW, what is the best brand of synthetic, best weight for Florida, and best filter for a VG?) The real reason I wanted to test it was to see how far gone the oil in there is so I can kind of know if by neglecting it I have caused any damage or accelerated wear to the engine. It has also been running rich from larger injectors and misfiring for about 7 or 8 months. I just want to know the health of my engine so I could know how far I have to go to "nurse it back to health".

 

When in doubt, drain it out!

 

Anyone here use Amsoil products in their VG? If so, what would you recommend?

 

if your speedo and odometer is out then estimate your driving for a week then take that for a month then once you feel you have achieved the miles that you typically change the oil then do it.. as a rule of thumb i have changed the oil on a car once every 3 months