Noe - A quick and detailed oil analysis test at home

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Sun 7 Dec 2014 11:28
Noe - A quick and detailed oil analysis test at home - Anthony_Brewer

Hi, I have been working on an idea for an easy and detailed oil analyses test that can be done at home and I would appreciate any feedback you can offer.

With just a few drops of oil taken off of the dip stick, it gives detailed and quantitative information on the chemistry and properties of your engine oil:

The total base number (TBN)

The viscosity of the oil

The percentage of water in the oil

The percentage of antifreeze in the oil

The percentage of fuel in the oil

The percentage of insolubles in the oil

The number of wear particulates in the oil (NB: Only differentiates between magnetic/non-magnetic).


It will not be as accurate as laboratory analysis with regards to identifying elemental composition, but it takes a few minutes to do and would not cost very much, and is something to do between lab tests, or as a check to see if more expensive and time consuming lab tests are warranted.

With a microUSB or bluetooth, the results are uploaded to your phone or computer and a phone app or the website helps to interpret the results compared to what you should expect with from your oil and engine type, similar to the analysis on Blackstone reports.

I would be interested to know what you think and any feedback you can offer would be appreciated. I am not a big business, just a guy with an idea. If you would like to know more as I develop my idea please signup to my email list here http://physi.launchrock.com/

Thank you for reading, I appreciate your time.

Anthony

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Sun 7 Dec 2014 12:01
Noe - A quick and detailed oil analysis test at home - Wackyracer

Sounds like an interesting idea but, would have to be extremely cheap for anyone to consider it.

A few litres of engine oil and filters are not that expensive to really warrant the need to get the best life from it for cars.

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Sun 7 Dec 2014 12:46
Noe - A quick and detailed oil analysis test at home - craig-pd130

As said above, it is a very interesting idea to the motoring enthusiast, but unfortunately we're in the minority compared with the vast numbers of drivers who take no interest in what happens under the bonnet of their car.

Also, unlike the US, the UK motoring market as a whole does not subscribe to the idea of changing engine oil any more regularly than once per year.

I would be interested in doing such a test on the cars we run to gauge oil degradation, etc. But equally, none has ever had any more than annual oil changes, and none has ever broken down or suffered excess wear / damage as a result, so I'd be approaching it very much as an exercise for my own interest. It would have to be cheap (i.e. under ten pounds) too.

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Sun 7 Dec 2014 12:54
Noe - A quick and detailed oil analysis test at home - skidpan

Cannot see any point whatsoever.

Sensible owners have their cars serviced regularly either at a garage or DIY. The oil is changed during a service so why bother testing it.

Muppets don't bother changing their oil or servicing their cars. They would not bother testing the oil since they think it lasts forever.

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Sun 7 Dec 2014 12:55
Noe - A quick and detailed oil analysis test at home - gordonbennet

Something i would definately be intersted in, as said it has to be relatively cheap and simple.

I would have thought modern Diesel owners especially would like to know the fuel content of their oil as time passes, let alone the presence of other nasties.

When my Hilux developed it's injector rattle of doom (fixed under goodwill by Toyota by new injectors and reflashing the ecu) i sent an oil sample to Millers (bought their products for years), they reassured me all was well, with almost non existent fuel content in the oil, all with no charge.

Edited by gordonbennet on 07/12/2014 at 13:00

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Mon 8 Dec 2014 15:15
Noe - A quick and detailed oil analysis test at home - Anthony_Brewer

Great, thanks for the feedback.

As you all pointed out, it’s not a useful tool to decide when to change your oil because we all have our routine. Although, it is nice to check that when you change the oil it is still in good condition and that you havn't been running on junk the last few 1000 ks.

Instead it’s for after repairs to see if fuel/water is leaking through a gasket etc.

If you think you have a problem with wear due to a noise on cold starts etc.

You're at a track day and just don’t think you're at full performance

You're taking the boat/jet ski out the next day and want to be sure the engine isn't going to quit.

You have a classic car meet tomorrow and want to be sure your engines/oil is ok so that you're not the guy to break down on the Brighton to London run etc.

It's somthing I would be interested in owning and that is why I am trying to push it out there.

Thanks again

http://physi.launchrock.com/


Edited by Anthony_Brewer on 08/12/2014 at 15:19

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