Marine 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. Even if you do though, it’s not a big deal. Just let us know.
If you’re changing the oil, try to pull the 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 are using a pump, thread the tube down the dipstick and pull the sample into the white 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 most of our tests. If you have questions call us at 260/744-2380.
- Complete the oil sample information slip.
- The Unit ID is what you’d like to call this engine (ideally the boat’s name, plus port, starboard, generator, etc.).
- Make-Up Oil is the number of quarts added between oil changes.
- Wrap the oil sample in the gray material and put both in the plastic bag. Put that in the black mailer tube. Put that and the form into the white envelope and drop it in 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. For a letter describing how our kit meets USPS requirements, click here.
