I just performed my routine oil change and decided to have an oil analysis performed by Blackstone Labs, after reading about it from a member on Honda-tech. They charge $22 to do this, and even send you a FREE container to mail in your oil sample. They can test tranny fluid too, same price.

Honestly, this is the best indicator of your motors health, it's like taking a blood sample. This is probably overkill for a completly stock A3, but if I were FI I would definetly be using them more often. I was just curious what my results would be.

They send a complete PDF printout with the exact chemical analysis, but I was having trouble posting the PDF. So if anyone wants to see the full report just PM with your e-mail address and I'll send it out.

Here's the skinny:
01/26/08
Gasoline (Unleaded)
Mobil 1 5W/20
4.5 qts

SCOTT:
You have a very nice wearing engine at 23,006 miles. The universal averages for typical wear from the Honda 2.0L 4-cylinder are based on an oil change interval of 5,300 miles. Your oil was changed after 5,160 miles of service and most of the wear metals read at or below those averages. Only iron, from steel parts, was a bit higher, but not high enough to be concerned about it. The oil was in good shape physically, containing no moisture, fuel, or coolant. The air and oil filters (see silicon & insolubles) are working well too. Nice wearing Honda!

<U>Here are the chemicals they test for</U>:
MANGANESE
ALUMINUM
CHROMIUM
IRON
COPPER
LEAD
TIN
MOLYBDENUM
NICKEL
SILVER
TITANIUM
POTASSIUM
BORON
SILICON
SODIUM
CALCIUM
MAGNESIUM
PHOSPHORUS
ZINC
BARIUM

http://www.blackstone-labs.com

 

wow thats pretty sick. thanks for the info, i may get into that. how do you ship oil?

 

I shipped it in the free sample container they sent to my house. It's a plastic bottle wrapped in absorbent cloth, put in a plastic bag, then put inside another plastic bottle, with a cardboard sleeve outside of that.

Sounds complicated but it's not. It was only $2 thru USPS to ship.