I thought I would start with an article on oil analysis simply because I was working on this for the site. I'll continue with more articles as I am also working on some article series for the site as well which I hope to have the revamped edition up in the next week or so though it wont have the ecommerce up until I can make sure all is running smoothly with just the content.
Enjoy, let me know what you think.
Oil analysis is not a new thing. Fleet owners have been using oil analysis for a number of years. It use, though, has been mainly limited to fleet vehicle owners such as over the road fleets and industrial equipment. Its not that it is a tool restricted to these groups rather most are unaware that it is an available tool for them to use.
If you are reading this, then you are at least now aware that it exists. You can do some additional research on the internet using any search engine.
That still leaves us with the original question, what is oil analysis? Oil analysis is simply pulling a small amount of oil from the oil sump and sending it to a special lab for, well, analysis. In broader strokes oil analysis is an extremely useful tool.
There are a number of benefits from practicing or using oil analysis.
Reduced Maintenance Costs
One of biggest benefits of using oil analysis is a reduction in maintenance costs. When the military implemented its oil analysis program it saved nearly $2.6 million. Think thats a lot? Well it is. Consider this, however. That cost reduction was not army wide. It was only from a two year study using about 15,000 combat and tactical vehicles in Europe. When the program was implemented army wide it was estimated they saved some 86% savings (overall). The cost savings not only coming from less oil and filters being needed but less oil and other related materials needing disposal.
The two year study alone resulted in the saving of some 1.4 million quarts of oil (engine and transmission) and also resulted in the avoided replacement of some 69,000 oil filters.
Environmental Impact Reductions
Imagine the oil that we could save from ending up in our water systems, landfills and other areas if we all used oil analysis. As mentioned above the army, in a two year limited study, reduced their oil consumption by 1.4 million quarts of oil (350,000 gallons) and used 69,000 less filters. Local recycling programs are becoming more widespread but there is still more that can be done. If we change our oil less often, as a result of a good oil analysis program, that is less oil that not only needs to be recycled but also less that will end up in areas that are damaging to the environment and ultimately to us. Oil aside, consider the landfill space needed for 69,000 filters. The army study was with approx. 15,000 vehicles. There are some 160 million cars in the United States, which amounts to several thousand times more vehicles than the initial army study. Imagine the environmental impact reduction if all of them used oil analysis and was able to just save one oil change a year.
Prevention of maintenance issues (cost avoidance)
In the initial two year study the army did it was estimated they saved nearly $2.4 million in repairs. Again, this is on approximately 15,000 vehicles. Factor in army wide vehicles and the savings become rather staggering. A cost avoidance would generally be defined as a particular issue costing a certain amount to be repaired versus diagnosing it early. For instance, you have several oil analysis test results that show no issues, then one comes back with an indication of coolant in the oil. You know you have an issue but can fix it much earlier than normal and in most cases with less cost rather than it going undetected and perhaps destroying the motor which is a much higher cost. The difference in cost between those two scenarios would be cost avoidance.
Another benefit that could possibly be rolled into one of the other sections, but I feel warrants separate mention, is that you are maximizing equipment life. With oil anlaysis you can get an accurate picture of the health of your equipment. Using trend analysis of your oil analysis you can see how the equipment is holding up over the bigger picture. So instead of assuming that a particular vehicle at 100,000 miles is becoming a risky venture oil analysis will tell you clearly. Rather than dump it off based on an assumption or accepted pattern you can use the equipment until the oil analysis tells you that that particular piece of equipment is starting to wear out. Instead of getting just 100,000 miles out of it you may get 125,000 or 150,000 or more.
This has far reaching effects. Consider the energy required to build a vehicle such as a tank or passenger car. The labor, the energy and raw materials and so on. These are things that could have not only national but global impacts.
Bringing it down to earth
Okay, so you've read this far and you're saying this is all great but I dont own 15,000 vehicles, I have just one. Or perhaps you have a family fleet of two, three or more vehicles or a business owner with ten, fifteen or more vehicles. How does this help you?
You may not be saving millions as in the case of the army study but what if you saved one oil change? Go further, one oil change per vehicle per year? If you have a single vehicle you're saving not only the cost of the one oil change but also the time it takes to do the oil change. Or if you have someone else do it (such as SyntheticShield. Okay, shameless plug) then you save the time of getting it done plus the gas to get there, etc. However, in many cases oil analysis will help you save more than just one oil change depending on your driving habits and conditions. For an average vehicle the savings is about four to five quarts of oil and an oil filter. For a family fleet it could easily get into several gallons of oil and several filters. The numbers only get bigger with business fleets.
In conclusion
Simply put oil analysis is a tool. A tool that has the potential to save money, resources and time. The cost of oil analysis (varies depending on which lab you use and what tests you have done) is far out weighed by the benefits. One thing not mentioned yet is the ability of oil analysis to determine whether or not your maintenance program is the best one for your vehicle. With oil analysis you can customize your maintenance schedule. You can quickly determine whether or not you need to use a different oil or a different oil change schedule. Driving habits and conditions can vary significantly from one driver to the next and oil analysis can help ensure you are using not only the best product for your application but getting the most out of your product of choice. Even vehicles with identical engines the schedules and products used can vary. What may work for one motor may not be the best or ideal for the next and oil analysis is a fantastic tool for determining what works and for how long.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
I liked it, well done =)