A year or so ago, on this site, there was a link to a company that would test your car's oil. They sent you a "kit" to collect a sample of the oil, you sent it back to them, and they'd do tests on the oil and report back the percentages of all sorts of things: trace metals, traces of coolant and or other fluids present in the oil, viscosity, efficacy of the oil at its present condition, etc. etc.

Well, I am going to have my MINIs original oil (the oil that it had upon delivery almost a year ago!) changed coming soon (almost ready for 10k service). And with all this talk about how bad--or not--it is to keep the oil in the car for that long, I'd like to see for myself, by taking this seemingly unbiased oil analysis, if the oil really does lose some/most/all (yea right) of its original lubricating properties at nearly 12 months and 10k miles "old."

Anyway...who has a link to this/these oil-testing companies? anyone? I'll post the results when I get them.

-MB

 

Boognish,

Here's a link to Amsoil's online store, where they carry oil analysis kits. The G-1451 kit includes everything you need to take a sample of the oil, and Oil Analyzers, Inc. will analyze and return the results. Let us know what you find!

http://intershop.amsoil.com/cgi-bin/...3/Catalog/1183

 

>>
>>A year or so ago, on this site, there was a link to a company that would test your car's oil. They sent you a "kit" to collect a sample of the oil, you sent it back to them, and they'd do tests on the oil and report back the percentages of all sorts of things: trace metals, traces of coolant and or other fluids present in the oil, viscosity, efficacy of the oil at its present condition, etc. etc.
>>
>>Well, I am going to have my MINIs original oil (the oil that it had upon delivery almost a year ago!) changed coming soon (almost ready for 10k service). And with all this talk about how bad--or not--it is to keep the oil in the car for that long, I'd like to see for myself, by taking this seemingly unbiased oil analysis, if the oil really does lose some/most/all (yea right) of its original lubricating properties at nearly 12 months and 10k miles "old."
>>
>>Anyway...who has a link to this/these oil-testing companies? anyone? I'll post the results when I get them.
>>
>>-MB

This is the lab of choice for E46 M3 owners :

Blackstone Labs

Oil analysis became critical as the infamous engine problems became an issue.