Aircraft Oil Sampling Procedure
It doesn’t matter if the oil is cold or hot when you take a sample. Just try not to start the engine immediately prior to sampling. If you do, no worries, just let us know.
If you’re changing the oil, try to pull your sample from the middle of the drain. The first oil out might have some dirt from around the drain plug. If you wait till the end, you might not have enough oil left to fill the bottle.
- If you’re using a pump, thread the tubing down the dipstick to draw the sample into the bottle. The tubing can be cleaned with kerosene.
- We need 3 oz to complete all our tests. But even if you only have 1 oz, we can still do at least some of our tests. If you have questions, call us at 260/744-2380.
- Complete the oil sample information slip.
- For the Unit ID, use your N-number to identify the aircraft.
- For Make-Up Oil, put down the number of quarts added between oil changes.
- Wrap the sample in the gray material and put both in the plastic bag. Put that in the black mailer. Put the mailer and the form into the white envelope and drop it into a mailbox.
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.
