Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board

Re: Diesel Survey (?)

Posted By: mike ohlstein
Date: Thursday, 28 October 2004, at 10:33 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Diesel Survey (?) (Tommy)

Some crazy people (like myself) do oil testing religiously. If there are consistently good, regular test results for a particular pair of engines, just do one current test and then buy.

If there is no history on an engine, do an oil test anyway. If the results are bad, just walk away and all you've lost is $40. If the results are good, you can spend the money to properly survey the engines, or you can roll the dice. I would probably do the survey. It probably pays to test the tranny fluid too.

The testing company will need you to provide them with a little information, which the owner should be able to give you. Be wary of engines that have just had an oil change. You need at least 15 hours on fresh oil in order to make testing it worthwhile. 50 hours is better. Be sure to provide the testing company with the serial numbers of the engines. Just because the owner says that he hasn't tested his oil, doesn't make it so. If you wind up using the same testing service, they will probably include prior results for those engines with your report.

I use H.O. Penn, and they can be reached at 860-594-4860. You pay for the test kits in advance. They send the kits to you, you take the samples and return them in the postage paid containers, and they usually get you the results within a week.

Mike

Messages In This Thread

Diesel Survey (?)
STeveZ -- Thursday, 28 October 2004, at 6:09 p.m.

Re: Diesel Survey (?)
Tommy -- Thursday, 28 October 2004, at 9:52 p.m.

Re: Diesel Survey (?)
mike ohlstein -- Thursday, 28 October 2004, at 10:33 p.m.