Got my oil analysis today...

[340_833 dart]

I know there have been countless threads about which oils are best, which have the highest levels of zinc, etc., etc.
I switched to Valvoline VR-1 20w50 racing in my 340 Dart earlier this year. Just before I put it away for this winter I changed the oil and filter and sent an oil sample for analysis.
The first column in the chart is for the VR-1. You can see its zinc levels are comparable to the Delvac oil from 2007. I had been testing the oil regularly since 2003, but didn't do it in 2008, so I can't say if, or how much, Delvac has lowered its zinc content.

 

[Badart]

Cool post. Thanks. I am also running VR-1 in my dart.

 

[inkjunkie]

can you post the contact info for the company you used? thanks

 

[clifftt]

Wow, that is so cool. Never seen anything like that before. Interesting how you see traces of the some of the metals decrease as the engine breaks in, and how some (phosphorus and zinc) increase.
Two questions: What do they charge to do this? What do they charge?? How long does it take to get a reply???
Thanks for sharing!

 

[rumblefish360]

Yes indeed, what company and where are they and how long did it take to get the results?

 

[340_833 dart]

Blackstone Laboratories is where I send my oil for analysis. It costs $22.50. I sent the sample to them this past Monday and they emailed the report to me on Friday. They also snail mail a copy of the report.
Here's their web site: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
Click on the Free Test Kit link and they will send you the bottles needed, free, for the sample.

What I like about this last report is the comparison of the zinc levels in the VR-1 versus the older Mobil Delvac and the "regular" Pennzoil that I had in the engine when I first built it.
I'd be curious to see if today's Delvac still has the same levels of zinc as what it did in 2007.
The Properties table in the report is probably the most interesting to me. The VR-1 maintains its viscosity better at 100*c and has a higher flash point than the other two oils I had used.