I'm pretty sure my motor is running healthy but every once and a while I get these weird findings when I change my oil... metal shavings, this time it was these metal looking flakes Also my car had some hard start problems I was suspecting a leaky fuel injector but when I changed the oil it didn't smell at all like gas, I guess that eliminates that possibility although the oil analysis will tell for sure. Anyway I was thinking it would be a good idea to do this I just don't know where to go or what to do exactly?? I thought maybe if someone could help me out that woul be great. How does it work? What do they need me to send and how?? Should I keep the filter?

I tried googling but all I could find was oil analysis articles and results that didn't really help me. Thanks in advance!

 

one of your cam journals could be plugged or an oil tube. Perhaps someone has a suggestion on an additive or perhaps detergant oil to free this? I've always used the napa detergant oil every 20k miles in my 67 stang and it's never failed me... Not saying this will help in your case but it's a thought.

 

If you have shavings and flakes it's way too late for oil analysis.

FWIW: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

We get our oil at work tested by Southwest Research (SwRI) in Texas. I'm not sure exactly which of the tests we use though.

http://www.swri.org/4org/d08/GasTests/home.htm

 

I don't think it's that bad... just a couple of shavings on the drain plug a few oil changes ago and now couple of metal flakes in the oil. Oil seems otherwise normal. Last time to check I ran a big magnet through my used oil and it barely picked up anything.

Thanks for the websites, I guess I'll let you guys know the results when I get them.

 

I got the results back in the mail.

I turns out wear metals were well within average ranges. However 2.3% of my oil sample was gas, which is lowering my 10w40 oil viscosity down to a 30 weight (now that I think of it I did have a slight decrease in oil pressure last summer, I'm sure this is all related).