How To Make Sense Of All Those Numbers

You don't need a PhD to read an oil analysis report. Certified Lubrication Specialist Lake Speed Jr. walks you through the process of reading (and understanding) your used oil analysis report. Your engine has a story to tell, and the used oil analysis report lets you hear that story.

The next step in listening to your engine is trend analysis, which is the "early warning, doppler radar" for your engine. Here's a link to a video that describes trend analysis.

Trend Analysis:

Here's How To Properly Take A Sample:

[ignaciodelcampo]

Thank you very much Lake for taking the time to make some of the most informative and educational videos on this "lesser known" topics. You're a wealth of knowledge. Greetings from Argentina!

[J.R.F.]

I’m so glad I got my oil tested through SPEEDiagnostix on my 2024 Subaru BRZ @ 555 miles. My oil (from the factory was below viscosity at 100c = 6.9 Additionally my silicone was highly elevated at 793❗️along with copper=90, tin=20, manganese=12, total metals=151 AND wear at 1000 miles=272.1 Although these numbers are not very alarming for a brand new car breaking in…. I definitely want to keep a close eye on the numbers “especially” the silicone due to known RTV issues with the FA24 motor. If you hope and or intend on keeping a vehicle long term, like me… I recommend testing your oil regularly.

[nicholaspetre]

I believe you channel is probably the only one out there that looks into real data and answers real question not just expressing personal preferences like many others. Finally we have somebody who approaches oil topic professionally and scientifically. Where have you been before?! Thank you!!

[needmoreboost]

Instant sub here! This channel is definitely worth a subscription! Only been watching 30sec and it’s already better than 90% of the tube

[flexjay]

Very thorough explanation of the chemicals in your oil.

[redlywaxer]

Man this the best real info on oil analysis that I have found on video! Thank you Lake and keep em coming. Your expertise is such a big help to us!

[kx]

Love these videos, Mr. Speed. Your video on Mobil 1 15w50 helped me understand why the oil has treated me well for many years. I currently run it in a host of vehicles, whether it be a BBC in my flat bottom v-drive boat, 500whp Mazda RX7 (Wankel turbo), and every single motocross bike I have owned for the past 20 years, the 250 four strokes turning well over 14k RPM. It seems to work extremely well with wet clutches as well. Never a slippage issue and clutch disks hold up though extreme abuse.

Enjoying the videos, great work on the Total seal and factory tour videos as well. Love the enthusiasm.

[Devadathanpv]

Looking forward to more informative videos, I'm also a lubricant analyst

[decatoneuser]

Really enjoyed the honesty and accuracy..!!

[sunilayya]

Very useful info. Can you pls do a clip on why GDI turbo engines need synthetic oils to ensure long term reliability. Many dont understand the complexity and the high temperatures and pressures those engines are subjected to not to mention fuel dillution and carbon deposits on the back of valves.

[jameschristian]

What astm test are you using for the oxidation levels? Very informative videos!!

[John__Doe__]

Hi Lake Speed, what oil do you use in your Boxster and for what reason? Thanks!

[damienhenderson]

Hey make a good video on Duralube I always liked how the bottle looks; but I don't use oil treatments because they mess with the additive levels of the oil.

[wwilliams]

I just sent in my oil to SPEEDiagnostix for my 911, I hope the Silicon is not high, and not water or glycol in the oil.
Question, should I send in a sample (VOA) of the oil I use along with the UOA?
It seems there are ranges to be aware of, so a good starting point would help, I think that's what you were talking about.

[salvatorehayes]

This Was The Video I Was Looking For. So Once The Motor Is Broken In Would Testing Different Oils At Each Oil Change Indicate Which One Performs Best In Engine Or Is This Just "Splitting Hairs". I'm Gonna Send In An Oil Sample From My Engine That's Loosing Oil Pressure Just To See What A Really Bad Engine Looks Like lol. I Had A Catastrophic Hydraulic Roller Lifter Failure. Cleaned Out The Metal Best I Could With 4 Oil Filters With Extremely Strong Neo Magnet, Flushed The Oil 4 Times (30Min Run Times Each Flush). 800 Miles Later We Only Got 8PSI At Idle 650RPM Hot. Cold 650RPM I Got 55PSI. Poor Little Turbo Engine Has Been To Machine Shop 3 Times. First Rebuild The Machine Shop Used The Incorrect Bob Weight Percentage. That Wiped Out Only The Main Bearings In 5000 Miles Oil Pressure Was Nearly Non Existent. After Crank Was Turned On Main Journals The Engine Was Doing Great For About 12, 000 Miles. Then I Had An OEM LS7 Lifter Failure. I'm Guessing My Pre Load Was Too Low. The Valve Train Only Had About 20, 000 Miles On It. Replaced Cam, Honed Damaged Lifter Bore And Got My New Lifter Preloads Perfect. Measured With A Dial Indicator This Time Instead Of The "0 Lash And Measuring Rocker Bolt Turns To Calculate Pre Load Based On Rocker Thread Pitch". The Valve Train Was Then Quieter Than Ever. 800 Miles Later And Our First Hot Day Oil Pressure Was Way Too Low. Time To Take It Apart Again And Replace Rod, Main, And Cam Bearings. Make Sure The Crank And Cylinder Walls Look Ok And Play The Game Again hahaha

[gikaradi]

Hi SPEED-X !!viscosity/100C the higher the better? Please make a vid for other parameters like TBN, ash, density, dynamic viscosity, viscosity index, flash point etc.And how to evaluate all these together!!

[Xi-opgg]

When using an oil with esters, the oxidation number is high to start with. If you don’t have a virgin oil analysis as a baseline, what’s a ballpark oxidation number where you would condemn the oil? Thank you for your expertise!

[JoePautler]

Thank you for these videos! Regarding the oxidation value of Mobil 1 0w-40 FS, how high would you say is too high? I have sent a number of samples to SPEEDiagnostix, including 2 samples of brand new oil (straight from the bottles), and those came back with values of 36.7 and 35.7. Per some advice from Jake Raby, I have been experimenting to see whether it makes sense to change my oil once per year (Fall, right before winter storage), or twice per year (right before winter storage, and right after winter storage). The car only sees about 2500 miles per year. Jake suggested that the key factor would be how much the oxidation value increases during the 5-6 months that the car is in winter storage. So far, I have not seen any excessive oxidation happening during the winter storage months (considering that the analysis of two brand new samples had a variation of 1.0 between them). Thank you!

[alexmattucci]

"your engine is talking"

the engine: "knocka knocka knocka *backfire* knocka *bang* *boom*"

[Xi-opgg]

Some people have the opinion that even with a pristine UOA, an engine can have varnish or sludge build up because those things are out of solution and will be undetectable. Is that true? Or can be trust that as long as the additive package is good, varnish and sludge are not forming?