Slick Talk: Powered By Blackstone Laboratories

Using the wrong fluid in a Nissan CVT transmission can be a serious detriment, causing anything from rough operation to a complete failure. Used oil analysis is an invaluable tool to know with complete confidence that the correct fluid is in use. In this episode, our host Blackstone Joe gives a rundown of Nissan NS-2 and NS-3 fluids, approved oils for Nissan CVTs and how we can determine if the right or wrong fluid is in use. Episode Guide: Catch Pan Q&A - 2:00 Nissan CVTs - 3:35

In this retrospective episode, we take a look at used oil analysis, it's beginnings at the turn of the 20th century, and how it changed through the years. You'll learn there are some firm beliefs that have carried over though the years (like when to change the oil and why), as well as the test methods/practices that have coincided with complete paradigm shifts in how we look at oil and its capabilities. You'll also hear another catch pan segment featuring questions on magnetic drain plus and oil consuption on the highway versus in-town driving.

When folks start using E85, they often wonder how it might affect maintenance. Common questions are should I change the oil sooner, does E85 cause poor wear ect. We cover those questions and more in this episode of Slick Talk. Thanks to Nishan of Tuned By Nishan (check out his YouTube channel!) for bringing this topic to the show.Episode guide:1:40 - Catch Pan Questions6:10 - E85 from Blackstone perspective9:00 - Does E85 cause a low viscosity? Not Necessarily12:00 - So what if I do have a low viscosity, should I change the oil then?13:00 - E85 and water - a rarity but something to keep in mind.15:17 E85 and engine wear

Customer interaction is a big part of our day-to-day, but mainly just to discuss results and what they mean. Now with recurring Meet the Analyst segments, you have the opportunity to learn more about the person crafting the comments that set our reports apart from so many others in the industry. For this show we sat down with Ben, a relatively new presence in these parts but he's already slinging reports out with the best of them and in this show you learn more about the man himself, his Chrysler Cordoba, and how oil analysis has informed his beliefs about cars and maintenance of them.As an added bonus, we also debuted a brand new segment: Failure Or Not. For this episode we pulled some interesting data from a Nissan Frontier that certainly didn't look good, but did those results translate to a failure or is the engine still on the road? Listen to find out!Episode Guide:Tales of the Cordoba - 2:00Dream Car - 6:35The Beauty of Cheap Oil - 9:30Is this the Right Oil? - 12:45Water Meth Injection - 16:30Aircraft and the Importance of Hours on the Oil - 20:40.Failure or Not - 25:20

If you assumed we spent most of our day looking at engine, transmission, and industrial samples then you'd be right. But does it get weird, you might ask? Yes, yes it does. We'll test samples from literally anything that needs oil to do its job. Enter the first episode in a new series, "Can You Test It?" As the title suggests, this time we'll be focusing on a sample of barber chair oil. Listen as "Blackstone Joe" unpacks what the sample looked like and the insights we were able to lend. This episode also features a Q&A segment and COVID-19 update that you don't want to miss!Episode Guide:COVID-19 Update - 1:25Catch Pan Q&A - 3:20Can You Test It? - 10:53

It all started with the question "Can you find bore scoring in a Porsche engine?" Well if you're familiar with our services, you know that we can indeed find evidence of bore scoring, just like many other wear-related problems. But for Max Revs and his YouTube following, bore scoring was just one of the many topics we covered during our livestream chat. Episode Guide: 2010 Porsche Cayman analysis - 20:16Which oil is best? - 33:50Using an engine flush/cold starts - 39:40Sampling without changing the oil - 45:00All about wear-in samples - 47:40Why does diesel engine oil turn black so quickly? - 51:05Chevy 2500 analysis - 52:25Honda Accord analysis - 57:00Guessing the engine - 60:00

In these days of quarantine and stay-in-place orders, many are worried about oil going bad just from sitting. In this episode, our host Joe digs into the various applications and what sitting can mean when it comes to oil and serviceability. If you've got anything that needs oil to do its job, this episode has something for you!Episode Guide:1:55 - Unused oil3:50 - Vehicles6:00 - Aircraft and boats8:00 - ATF/Gear Lube9:00 - MaxRevs Interview Reminder!10:45 - Customer Q&A

It's a common scenario: a vehicle's OLM (oil life monitor) says it's time for an oil change, but our results don't say the same thing; in fact it's rare to find the customer couldn't have gone even longer on the oil, regardless of what the OLM % was. Why? Listen along as our host Joe dissects what goes into an OLM calculation, and why used our oil analysis is going to take things a step further in gauging the oil's condition and health of the engine. Episode Guide: Intro and Announcement: 0-2:26, Listener Appreciation: 2:27-6:15, OLM Talk: 6:16-14:32.

With this show, we strive to not just provide the analyst's perspective; we want to hear the questions, comments, and concerns of customers too, and that's just what we have in this tenth episode of Slick Talk. Joe, senior analyst and host, sat down with his good friend, Blackstone customer, and friend of the show, Thomas, to deconstruct oil analysis -- what we can find in testing, what some of the elements mean, and how to respond to some bad results -- all through the lens of a 2013 Honda Accord.

We pulled interesting customer questions from the email files, many of them falling under the FAQ category, so what better place to provide the answers then on a podcast that is easy to find and reference when you're getting ready to send a sample in. Join Joe, our host and senior analyst as he tackles the following: I'm going to send in my second sample and want to make sure its compared to the first, what do I need to do? Does make-up oil affect your test? How about additives such as Lucas, Restore, or Sea Foam? Will an engine flush mess with my results? How new or old should an oil sample be prior to sending it in? And more!

It's rare for an engine to fail suddenly - we find it's a lot more common for a problem to crop up slowly, then it goes from a small problem to a big one. Enter the value of used oil analysis. We're checking microscopic levels, so you can catch a problem early, and that was just what happened for a recent customer and their 2013 BMW M3. Listen along with our host Joe as he details just what sort of problem was brewing in this M3, and how we caught it.

For those not familiar with used oil analysis, there can be some skepticism about what a 3.5 oz. sample of engine oil can really tell folks about their engine and the shape its in. The truth is: you can learn a lot about the engine such as how it's wearing, if the oil is holding up well, and if there is any harmful contamination. One of our customers happened to send along a narrative detailing her Subaru's UOA (used oil analysis) history and how the data matched up perfectly with the engine issues she was having. Join our host, Joe, as he digs into the car's sample history and how the car's engine oil was in fact telling the tale.

We test aircraft samples and not just a few: they're a huge part of our day-to-day. And for some analysts on staff, interest in aircraft doesn't stop with oil analysis. Amanda, senior analyst and budding pilot, joined the show to talk about her flying experience so far, as well as a couple of FAQs in aircraft analysis: 1. Why does cylinder type matter? 2. What does it mean if my engine has been inactive?

Motorcycle maintenance and restoration is a passion for Luke, one of our writers and lab operators. On this episode, Luke sat down with Joe, writer and host of Slick Talk, and gave us the skinny on what motorcycle projects he's tackled previously, as well as a couple of customer questions: Do synthetic oils cause clutch slippage? How much mileage on a sample do I need to find a wear/coolant issue? This is only our first foray into the world of motorcycles, so if you've got other topics/questions/concerns that you'd like to hear more about, just send them our way!

A huge benefit of oil analysis is that you can catch problems early, before the situation is dire and you might end up losing a motor. Coolant contamination is one of those problems we look for. Join our host Joe and co-producer Kyle as they walk you through why coolant is an issue, how we find evidence of it, and what role oil analysis can play in monitoring a coolant leak. If you like what you hear, don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

"How long should I be going between oil changes?" That's a burning question for many of our customers, and oil analysis is essential in finding the ideal oil change interval for your car and the use it sees. Join our host, Joe, as he gives the analyst's perspective on testing and how we use the results to determine just how long your engine likes to have an oil in use.

Bearing wear tends to be a common concern for many M3 and M5 owners we know, and oil analysis is an essential tool for monitoring bearing wear without having to take an engine apart (and of course, for catching poor bearing wear before it turns into a serious problem or failure). But what many customers don't know is just what goes into our evaluation of bearing wear and whether or not it looks concerning for M-owners. Even if you're not a BMW owner or enthusiast, don't worry, this episode still packs plenty of worthwhile info when it comes to bearing wear and how poor wear or a problem shows up in testing. Join senior analysts Joe and Chris as they talk through the analyst's process in gauging bearing wear and how testing can be so essential in catching a problem early.

In the first episode titled "Introductions", we meet our host, Joe Adams. He gives us the lowdown on Slick Talk, a podcast that offers a bi-weekly dive into the frequently asked questions, comments, and concerns brewing in the oil analysis world. For episode one, customer questions include "Which oil is best for my Jeep 4.0L?" and "What additives should I be using?"