how much oil do i need and who do I send it to for an oil anaysis?
thanks
Call your local DD dealer, they should be able to help.
You didn't ask, but for others who may not realize it, a single analysis won't tell much.
An analysis is just a tool, like a compression tester, exhaust analyzer, torque wrench, volt meter, etc.
A series of them at regular intervals along with the maint logs will provide much more information concerning engine health and potential problems.
I have heard that a coolant analysis can be usefull also.
so... since I am going to look a a bus in the very near future - getting a quart from the bus and sending it to a DD dealer for analysis will not give me insight as to the condition of the engine since I don't have a series of analysis's over a period of time? Hope that made sense.
Rube, the analysis does a couple of different things.
Any given one give you a snapshot and it must be read that way.
Several snapshots in sequence will tell you a story that goes beyond what any single snapshot will.
A single snapshot will tell you a lot about what's NOT wrong.
For what it's worth.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher
Ketchikan, Alaska
A single analysis can tell you some things. But what if the oil was recently changed? What if it was used oil that was put back in to hide a big problem?
I would do the oil analysis, just be careful about reading too much into one snapshot.
If you can drive the bus, take it for a 30+ min ride (longer is better, or so I hear ;)) & put it on the hi-way before you take the sample.
just my $.02 worth,
Enjoy the trip to look at the bus, and remember, there are lots of good ones out there, so don't settle for a basket case.
DD has a kit that includes everything you need to do the analysis except the postage. They're about $16 for everything. The postage from Alaska is only a couple of dollars.
If you've never done this try it once and get your eyes opened. It cost less than 5 gallons of fuel.