Slick Talk: Powered By Blackstone Laboratories

Blackstone Joe sat down with fellow senior analyst, Raegan, to break down a variety of topics. Fresh off an appearance at the Oshkosh air show, Raegan unpacks what makes Oshkosh such a special experience for aircraft owners and enthusiasts. From there, our analysts delved into the hands-on vehicle maintenance that helped Raegan roll into Blackstone ready to talk all things petrol. Stay tuned till...

A sample arrived from a Volvo diesel, and it didn't look pretty. The engine was clearly wearing poorly, but why? Listen as Blackstone Joe unpacks the results, and how they pointed the customer in the right direction to make repairs and keep the engine running. Oil analysis for the win! Bonus cuts: a preview of what's to come on Slick Talk, and an important update to our shipping process.

What do a bullet in the Blazer, magnetic oil, and phone calls have in common? They're all part of episode 45, which finds our host Blackstone Joe breaking down an unfortunate event in his Blazer ownership, a sample in the lab that was too interesting not to share, and of course the main event: When Data Calls. Phone calls are important not just for checking an address or card number - they're a wa...

A customer recently inquired about which engines we've seen the most, and that got our host, Blackstone Joe, thinking. Sure he had some usual suspects in mind, but it took a deep dive into the database to find the Top 10, and it was a journey worth going on. Join Blackstone Joe as he breaks down not only the engines and systems we've seen customers sample the most, but also fun facts, common issue...

When starting this podcast, our primary goal was to establish a connection with customers where we aren't just pulling the curtain back on Blackstone Laboratories and what sets us apart - we also wanted to learn more about our customers, what drives them to seek out oil analysis, how it aids in their maintenance plan, and what interests/jobs/hobbies they have that rely on the services we offer. Th...

If you're an aircraft owner, odds are good you know the word "inactivity" but have you ever wondered why we ask about it on our slips? Listen as Blackstone Joe delves into the word, what it means to us, and why it's so important to keep an engine active. If you aren't quite sure what the definition of inactivity even is, don't worry - we start with definitions and work our way from there.

Today's episode title is a burning question on the minds of many Blackstone customers. Today, Blackstone Joe unveils the identity of the mysterious Oscar, along with some fun facts and a breakdown of our example report.

Hearing things? Cars love to talk, and what they tell us can have a simple explanation, but not always. Join our host, Blackstone Joe, as he sorts out different noises (e.g. tick, knock, rattle), what they can mean, and how a used oil analysis can tell you more about what's making that sound.

This episode is a collaboration between Joe Adams (senior analyst, podcast host) and Michael Thomas, a senior lubricant technical agent with Shell Lubricants, based out of the Shell Technical Center in Houston, TX.Michael has been involved in the automotive industry for 40+ years, with experience that ranges from hands-on (building up his '69 Camaro, for instance), to scholarship (earning a degree...

Sampling before you buy any car, truck, aircraft, boat, really anything that needs oil to do its job. If you've been following us for a while, you probably assumed as much but there is still a lot to learn when it comes to background info, what to expect in samples that have little/a lot of use, the list goes on. Listen as Blackstone Joe gives the breakdown on a pre-buy sample and how to get the m...

In this episode, Blackstone Joe tackles a few different topics, with the main event being the color of used oil, and how the visual appearance can/can't tell us about what's going on with your engine. Bonus points: imposter syndrome and what to do with it, and a preview about a big episode we have coming up.

For this episode's main event, we're covering Unit IDs and not just what they're for, but what you should be thinking about when choosing the name for what it was you sampled. Key points: Literal is good, nicknames are fun (within reason), and the importance of consistency. Catch pan segment: What are the pros and cons of using high mileage oil?

For a lot of folks, changing the oil filter with every drain is standard practice. Some manufacturers, though will recommend changing the filter every *other* oil change. Blackstone Joe tackles the question "is this normal?" and how you can use a standard oil analysis to learn if the filter can/should stay in use.

It started with a simple enough question: "What do you mean by saying most additives don't "show up?" The answer isn't so simple, though. To detail additives, how they do/don't show up in testing, and benefits of using them, Blackstone Joe sat down with fellow report writer, Ben. Enjoy!

Paperwork is the enemy of many, but when it comes to the slip we put in every free test kit, that's not the enemy; it's your best friend. On the slip we don't just ask about the engine or oil you're sampling -- we want to know if there are any issues you're either aware of, or have reason to suspect. Reason being, there is a big difference between saying "You have a problem that you should fix soo...

A tale as old as time, or at least the times of oil analysis: Can you look at these results? Well, if they're from Blackstone Laboratories, the answer is always a resounding yes. So often, though, folks might ask if we can look at results from another lab. Blackstone Joe is here to break down why analyzing results from another lab is problematic, why folks want to switch to Blackstone in the first...

Blackstone Joe talks diesels, coffee, and a fable from the rig. What more do you need to know?

Welcome to the first installment of "Going the Distance" - this will be a series of episodes where we delve into specific engine types and data that makes it clear whether or not extended oil use is a good idea. For the latest Q&A with the analyst, we had questions come in regarding the flashpoint -- why we use it and what it can say about fuel dilution.

It's time we demystify TBNs and TANs. These are special tests you can ask for in addition to a standard analysis. But do you need a TBN or TAN? Well that depends on what you're sampling, as well as the answers you're looking for in a used oil analysis. Blackstone Joe is here to walk you through it all.

Merry Christmas, Slick Talk fans! Today marks a complete year of this podcast, and we couldn't have made it this far without you! In this episode, Blackstone Joe and Kyle (executive producer) break down what it's like to start a show from scratch, how we've kept this show on the road throughout a very chaotic year, and dish on our favorite episodes thus far. Stay tuned till the end of the episode...

As much as Blackstone Joe likes hearing himself talk (which isn't too much, frankly -- hearing yourself talk is nothing short of awkward), he's even more inclined to bring on a guest to help carry the load, so to speak. With that in mind, it was a relief to bring on yet another guest from the world of Blackstone: Josh. He's a report writer, and in this round of introductions Blackstone Joe and Jos...

Can we find a problem, even one that you didn't ask us to look for? Yes indeed. In this latest sample of Slick Talk, join Joe and Ben as they delve into two separate aircraft samples, wherein we identified some concerning finds and what they suggested. The responses from the customers offered more than just a little vindication for our analysts - it's evidence to anyone out there wondering about u...

For Blackstone customers with an automatic transmission, the frequently asked question has to be "Should I change it?" Listen as Blackstone Joe details the answer, and the data we rely on when making an oil change suggestion. Bonus points: Tattoos and oil reports -- what do these have in common? You'll also find out Blackstone Joe's football team (hint - the mascot is a wild animal but their offen...

As the title suggests, this episode is a motley mix of topics, both directly about our testing but also what makes us a unique batch of analysts in the industry we call home. Joe is joined once again by Ben, and the two take you through diesel fuel testing, what we look for and why it's important to have diesel fuel tested. This episode also makes the start of a new segment, "Tough Questions" wher...

A tale as old as the industry itself - metals are high in a used oil sample and the next question is: Is this too much? Or, maybe the question will go more like "Is my engine finished?" In some cases the data will be clear, and offer a definitive yes/no to these questions. But what about situations where we have to wait and see if metals don't improve from a sample with high levels? This episode i...