Diagnosing engine wear may not be as life and death a matter as the coronavirus, but the concept of oil analysis operates on the same principle You use tools that have been designed to help identify things that are going on that you can't see. In other words, the data you can read will help you see that which is hidden from view, much the way x-ray machines hep doctors identify broken bones and ultrasound identifies what is happening in our internal organs.
This week an article by Karl Dedolph in the January 2021 edition of The Shop magazine goes into detail about the benefits of oil analysis for racers. Dedolph, director of racing and performance products for Champion Brands, begins by comparing oil analysis to a dyno. "Our complete oil analysis kit with mailer and sample bottle is just like using a dyno to measure horsepower," he writes.
The article discusses how sophisticated the process has become, using spectrometers to identify the metals and fluids found in a sample. Each element has its origin, enabling trained specialists to recognize where the wear might be occurring inside the engine and how serious it is.
In addition to explaining what oil analysis is, the author addresses some common misconceptions about performance aftermarket oils and fluids.
You can find a digital copy of this article here in the January online edition of The Shop.
