Slick Talk: Powered By Blackstone Laboratories

Appetizer: Blackstone Joe returns to the focus of many FAQs, extended oil use and how to approach it. This time Joe found an interesting connection between man and machine, and why we're not all that different when it comes to finding our limits. Main course: To change the oil, or not to change the oil -- that is the question facing many owners of aircraft, vehicles, and boats as the winter season...

Exciting news first: We have another Slick Talk giveaway! Steps for entry are easy, you just need to listen to our podcast for the details! Now the topic at hand: The Analyst Mindset. It's common for customers to ask questions that go something like "So, what did you really want to tell me?" Or, the question might be "Give it to me a straight, what's *really* going on here?" With that our host, Bl...

Do you know when to sample, and why it's important? If not this episode is for you! Join Joe as he breaks down three common scenarios that bring folks into the business, and what keeps them sampling going forward. So if you're an owner of anything that needs oil to do its job, chances are good this episode has more than a few helpful hints and examples to guide you into the wide world of oil analy...

We use the flashpoint test to determine fuel and how much is present in used engine oil. This test has deep roots in the history of used oil analysis at large, and Blackstone's personal history. If you're interested in uncovering fuel dilution or tracking down a fuel system issue, this episode gives the breakdown of fuel testing and how the entirety of the standard analysis tells you about how con...

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 ri...

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 capabil...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 boa...

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 i...

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 th...

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 f...

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 o...

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 he...

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 in...

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?...

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 h...

"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 co...

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?"