Next, insert the plastic tubing into the engine or transmission dipstick tube. While it is idling, remove the cap from the sample bottle and screw the sample bottle onto the vacuum pump asĪs shown here in the second photo, attach a section of plastic tubing to the vacuum pump and tighten the brass fitting around the tube tightly. Start the engine and run at idle for about 10 minutes before you take your oil or coolant sample. Remember, you want accurate data about your engine and power train. Just be sure to use caution to keep sampling equipment and samples clean so there’s little chance of contamination that could throw off results. But, if you’re uncomfortable taking samples, get your mechanic to do it for you. The collection process becomes an easy task, once you do the first one. Test kit prices include the prepaid analysis and may also be purchased with return postage included. Their coolant analysis kit includes all the testing you’ll need to ensure your coolant is in “tip top” condition. Johnson recommends you get the complete array of engine and transmission tests. This will ensure against oil/water sample contamination. If you plan to sample both oils and coolants, then two handheld vacuum pumps are recommended-one for oil sampling and one for coolant sampling. Tubing is available in 54” sections or in bulk (100’ or 1000’ rolls). If you’re in an RV club or have RV travel buddies, it would be cost effective for the club or your circle of RV buddies to purchase the sampling supplies. You’ll need a hand operated vacuum pump (about $25.00) and some plastic tubing. As an RV owner, you can take advantage of “Predictive Maintenance” instead of reacting to unanticipated random failures that could take you off the road for a lengthy period of time-a critical factor to “fulltimers.”įirst, you’ll need to purchase sampling kits and sampling supplies. Catching these minor wear conditions before they get out of hand helps the RV owner stay ahead of potential problems. Based on the analysis and recorded values, the lab issues precise comments that explain what wasįound in the oil (or coolant) and recommendations on what to do about it (change oil, find and fix leaks, etc.). Labs compare these values against wear metals from many thousands of samples stored in the lab’s database for similar equipment and similar oils. Wear is detected in the analysis by observing the level of “wear metals” (iron, copper, lead, aluminum, etc.) and these are typically reported in “parts per million” (ppm). If the analysis detects wear in the early stages, and the cause is determined, this may save a major repair bill and improve the overall reliability of your RV power train. It can even detect very small coolant leaks long before you’d notice a loss of coolant.Īny of these conditions (oxidation, viscosity loss, or contamination) can produce wear that could lead to major problems down the road if undetected. A proper analysis can also find oil contamination problems due to fuel, water, or solids (dirt and sand). Viscosity is the “thickness” of the oil and is a measure of the oil’s resistance to flow at a particular temperature. Oil analysis testing also detects small losses in viscosity. Trending data over time shows how oils and coolant are changing and if these changes are having an adverse effect on your engine, transmission, and cooling system. Through periodic sampling, you are able to determine coolant and oil condition and the condition of the host equipment (engine, transmission, differential and cooling system). For example, in the case of engine and transmission oils, qualified labs conducting coolant and oil analysis can detect the early onset of oil oxidation-a chemical breakdown of the oil that results in sludge, varnish, and acid buildup if left unchecked. Testing and analysis reveals evidence of small problems and help you resolve them before they become major problems like excessive wear or impending failure. and President of JG Lubricant Services, making coolantĪnd oil analysis a part of regular RV maintenance dramatically reduces unanticipated failures. According to Tom Johnson, retired Oils Engineer from Allison Transmission, Inc.

Coolant and oil analysis is a process whereby the owner of a diesel rig-such as a motor home-collects samples, on a periodic basis, and sends them off to a lab to be tested.

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