Oil sample analysis

[Mr Tidy]

I thought about getting an oil analysis done on my Z4M, but in 2020 Millers were closed!

So I got the bearing shells replaced anyway seeing as it had done 76K miles with 7 previous keepers.

But it might be worth doing over long-term ownership where you have a good starting point.

[E90_M3Ross]

I have been in touch with a company that I'm willing to use to give this a go. However, they have said to get meaningful data you need regular samples and ideally a baseline sample too (ie fresh oil) and to send in samples, initially, every 2k miles or so.

I'm happy to do this but I'm not sure how I would extract enough oil from the car to do this? The car, stupidly, doesn't have an oil dipstick so couldn't be syphoned that way.

Any thoughts?

Cheers!

[Hoofy]

E90_M3Ross said:

Any thoughts?

Well, even if you did it only with every oil change eg 10k miles, it's still giving you a trend that you're looking for, just over a longer timeframe.

[E90_M3Ross]

Hoofy said:

E90_M3Ross said:

Any thoughts?

Well, even if you did it only with every oil change eg 10k miles, it's still giving you a trend that you're looking for, just over a longer timeframe.

Yes, agree, but I was asking about whether it's possible to get a sample without draining it? Or was your answer implying just do it every change?

[Hoofy]

E90_M3Ross said:

Hoofy said:

E90_M3Ross said:

Any thoughts?

Well, even if you did it only with every oil change eg 10k miles, it's still giving you a trend that you're looking for, just over a longer timeframe.

Yes, agree, but I was asking about whether it's possible to get a sample without draining it? Or was your answer implying just do it every change?

Sorry, I'd just do it every change unless you can get a small ladle into the oil filler hole to scoop out oil. Or syphon out oil. But, particularly in the case of the Porsche IMS issue, all you need is to see metal and it's already an issue that needs dealing with. You might not see 2000 miles if the IMS bearing is breaking up!

[donkmeister]

E90_M3Ross said:

I have been in touch with a company that I'm willing to use to give this a go. However, they have said to get meaningful data you need regular samples and ideally a baseline sample too (ie fresh oil) and to send in samples, initially, every 2k miles or so.

I'm happy to do this but I'm not sure how I would extract enough oil from the car to do this? The car, stupidly, doesn't have an oil dipstick so couldn't be syphoned that way.

Any thoughts?

Cheers!

Just found this thread while looking into doing oil sampling myself.

Doesn't the E90 M3 have the oil filter up top? Should be able to whip that out and get a large enough sample from what's sitting in the housing.

I've only ever removed an up-top oil filter (any oil filter, indeed) after draining the oil however they're well above the sump and aren't pressurised with the engine off so should be relatively unmessy.

Failing that I have removed a sump plug to drain a bit of oil in the past (an overfilled engine - not by me!) and it's not TOO messy... YMMV.

[TonyChocolony]

100 % for EOA. Have done it for years. Another poster said he did not see the point. EOA lets you make timely interventions and take precautionary measures that can head off either unnecessary costs or mitigate them. For example, a report that indicates impending coolant leak damage can prompt you to stop driving and intervene and or conduct diagnostics if concurrent with coolant flush and replacements. Both can avoid expensive towing and other inconveniences and head off additional damage. It’s a no brainier for any car with high end mx costs or sentimental value. To me it comes with the territory of owning a valued car and is part of the reason why everyone has to remind themselves that depreciation might allow you to buy in, but the mx costs remain as new or higher.

I take my tests a step further and send them to Blackstone in the US.

[donkmeister]

TonyChocolony said:

I take my tests a step further and send them to Blackstone in the US.

Do they have kittens at the prospect of annual oil changes?

According to American videos on YouTube, at about 2,000 miles engine oil is ruined sludge, and past 3,000 miles it turns into Armus, climbs out of your dipstick and goes on a rampage of punching elderly nuns and burning down orphanages.