A precise report that reveals exactly how much of a certain metal is in your oil is nearly useless unless the lab knows exactly what model engine you have. An amount of a certain metal that may be perfectly normal in one engine could be a sign of serious trouble in another.

Oil analysis ensures you’re changing your oil at the right interval and warns you of developing trouble. Owner-operator Charlie Flexter, who hauls grain in often heavy central Illinois traffic, says oil analysis found that his conservative 15,000-mile oil change interval was actually too long for his Cummins engine, and he went to 12,000-mile intervals.

On the other hand, when using the latest, high-quality CJ-4 oils and running relatively new engines, truckers who drive over-the-road and don’t idle much can often safely use analysis to extend changes, in some cases to 30,000 miles or more. Why throw good oil away?

Experts from several refiners made it clear to us that oil analysis is a science. Unless you know a little about that science and how to make it work for you, you won’t be getting the full benefit of oil analysis.

Filling out the sample form
Something as simple as correctly filling out a form can have a big impact, says Lilo Hurtado, CVL applications engineer at ExxonMobil.

“People do not always take the time to fill out the form that comes with the sample properly,” Hurtado says. “It makes a huge difference.”