Imagine if you could look inside your Mustang's engine, transmission, and rear axle without taking anything apart. Your lubricants tell a very important story about what's going on inside when you have them analyzed by a laboratory like Oil Analyzers Inc., which helps you make informed decisions about your Mustang's engine and driveline.
Oil analysis is nothing new. Fleet managers have been using it since the 1940s to stay on top of maintenance without the added burden of having to dismantle components. When you consider the cost of an expensive teardown versus a tiny fraction of that cost for oil analysis, it makes perfect sense to have the analysis performed first.
Regular oil analysis when...
Regular oil analysis when your oil is changed keeps you on top of important maintenance issues. If you drive your Mustang rarely, perform oil analysis every six months.
Lubrication analysis is like a blood test performed in your doctor's office. Trained professionals look at your Mustang's lubrication chemistry to help determine a course of action. Oil Analyzers, for example, takes a sample of the lubrication you provide and examines its chemical properties. From that, they can tell if your Mustang suffers from excessive wear or other ailments by the elements that shouldn't be there-such as antifreeze or water from a coolant leak, gasoline from a sticking carburetor float or bad fuel injector, or just routine wear.
Because lubrication flows throughout your engine, transmission, and rear axle, it comes in contact with all moving parts and picks up everything in its path. When oil has been flowing throughout a component for an extended period of time, it shows the condition. As components wear, specific types of metal show up in the lubricant. As engines wear, specific types of metal from tri-metal main and rod bearings show up. If there's copper in the oil, as one example, bearing wear is excessive and a teardown is required. The same can be said for iron particles from ductile iron piston rings and cylinder walls. If you're using the wrong type of lubricant, that will also show up in oil's chemical analysis. Oil analysis isn't just about wear and tear issues, but early detection that can prevent serious engine damage later on.
The type of oil you use in...
The type of oil you use in your Mustang determines what will be found in oil analysis. Oil analysis gives you first-hand information on what kind of oil you should be using along with wear patterns inside your engine, transmission, or differential.
And here's another twist on oil analysis. Use it to analyze a vehicle or engine you're about to purchase. Take an oil sample from a Mustang you'd like to buy and have it analyzed. Oil analysis can yield information to protect you from a lot of potential expense. Few things are more insulting than investing in a classic or late-model Mustang purchase, only to have to rebuild the engine or replace a transmission.
Oil analysis is easy to accomplish. All you have to do is follow simple instructions included with the kit provided by the laboratory. Oil Analyzers sends you a sample kit with all of the necessary shipping paraphernalia along with instructions. Oil samples must be taken when the engine has been at operating temperature for a while, which is why you should grab your sample right after a highway run. Catch it before it hits the drain pan. Included in the kit is a form identifying your account and your vehicle specifics, including engine type; application; fuel type; oil brand, type, and viscosity; oil filter type and micron rating; and date oil was changed.
Oil analysis shows engine...
Oil analysis shows engine wear patterns without the misery and expense of a teardown. Tri-metal main and rod bearings, for example, will leave traces of metal in the oil. When they're badly worn, expect to see unacceptable amounts of copper in the oil.
On average, the cost of oil analysis isn't much more than an oil and filter change-around $25 to $35. We're working with Oil Analyzers Inc. located in Superior, Wisconsin. These folks offer outstanding service and a prompt response when your sample is received.
Here's a badly worn connecting...
Here's a badly worn connecting rod bearing, which would yield huge amounts of copper. This bearing has obviously been extremely hot and oil starved.
Pistons and rings tell their...
Pistons and rings tell their story via oil analysis. Ductile iron rings against cast iron cylinder walls create trace amounts of iron particles. Chrome moly piston rings will leave chromium. If it's excessive, you have serious wear issues.
Replacement bronze or copper...
Replacement bronze or copper valveguides yield either bronze or copper as they wear. Factory valveguides were typically steel.