1. Fly the aircraft before you take the sample to get the oil at operating temperature. How long does it take? We suggest, at minimum, flying around the pattern a couple of times. Getting the oil up to operating temp before taking the sample should help eliminate any normal moisture or fuel build-up.
    
2. If you're drawing the sample through the dipstick, thread the tube down the dipstick and pump a sample up into the sampling bottle.
    
3. We need 3 oz to complete all our tests. But even if you only have 1 oz, we can still do at least two, if not three, of our tests. If you have questions about whether we'll be able to work with your sample, call us.
    
4. Complete the oil sample information slip.
    
   • For the Unit Number field, please use your registration number (N-number) to identify the aircraft you're sampling.
      
   • For the Make-Up Oil field, please put the number of quarts added between oil changes.
      
5. Wrap the oil sample in the gray material and put both in the plastic bag. Roll together the sample, information slip, and a check or credit card number. Put it all in the black mailer tube and send it to us.

Some post offices mistake oil samples for hazardous material. Oil is not hazardous material. Blackstone Laboratories' oil sample kit meets all postal requirements. To see a letter you can give the post office to help reassure them, please click here.