What is an Oil Analysis?

Most vehicle owners should understand the importance of changing their oil. While you might know that it’s something you should do, knowing why is also important. Healthy oil is necessary to lubricate your engine and keep it from wearing itself down, but how do you know if you have healthy oil? One way to determine how well your oil is working is to perform an oil analysis. An oil analysis tells you a lot about your engine and oil, and it can even point to other issues within your vehicle. Oil looks and works differently when it’s brand new and at all intervals between changes, and analyzing the oil at different points will give you different information. Good oil is just as important for a new vehicle as a used one, so let’s explore what you can learn from analyzing your oil.

What Your Oil is Telling You

An oil analysis can tell you a lot about the health of your oil – and your engine. The first thing to look at is both wear and contaminants. Wear typically indicates different metals that make their way into the oil through where, while contaminants are from outside sources. For example, aluminum is present in your pistons and engine block, and lead or copper could mean worn bearings. When it comes to finding contaminants in your oil, it could be a sign that gaskets are leaking or you need a filter change, which might require further investigation. Both the wear and contaminants show your engine’s health with contaminants measured in parts per million.

Then there’s the health of the oil itself. Oil health is measured in lubricant components and additives, which are what help keep your engine from wearing. Also measured in PPM, these components will measure the viscosity and dilution. The oil is measured by a Total Base Number that shows how well your oil is fighting wear, oxidation, contaminants, and acidity buildup in the engine.

To keep your oil healthy, the best thing you can do is change the oil at the factory-recommended interval. Not sure how often you should get your oil changed? Consult your owner’s manual or a technician who can help.

Keep Your Oil Healthy at Honda of Burien

If you’re past due for an oil change or want to know more about keeping your engine running its best, don’t hesitate to contact the service department here at Honda of Burien! Our trained technicians are experts when it comes to Honda engines and the best types of oil to use, and they’re ready to help keep your Honda in peak condition. Schedule your oil change today!