Drip test of engine oil. How is it carried out?
Oil drip test. How to conduct it?
Of course, the option of checking engine oil using paper is not the only way to test this fluid. However, all other tests are intended to test the oil in the laboratory and are carried out globally. Therefore, a drip test is a universal option for every motorist, which allows you to determine the life of the oil.
The idea of testing on a piece of paper appeared in the late 40s and belonged to the employees of a well-known manufacturer, which is the market leader in the production of motor oils.
The idea of the test is so simple that not everyone believes its plausibility. To make a check, it is necessary to heat the power unit to operating temperature under standard conditions and turn off the car. Next, you need to pull out the dipstick, on which there are always particles of working oil, and bring it to a piece of paper. Paper must be clean. Then it remains only to wait until a drop of liquid falls on the sheet.
After some time, the oil will be absorbed into the paper sheet and a stain will form on its surface. Its size will always be different. However, there are always several zones in which the fluid performance is detected. It is for these zones that the car owner will be able to understand whether the fluid needs to be replaced, as well as determine the condition of the power unit.
What can you find out?
By conducting a drip test of engine oil, a motorist will be able to determine the following technical parameters of the engine and the fluid itself:
- Is it necessary to change the oil, based on its condition.
- Motor condition (whether it is overheating). When the engine fluid is on the verge of wear or oxidation processes can be noticed in it, then the power unit will be subject to overheating and this can cause jamming.
- If the oil stain on the paper has a black tint, and most importantly, it smells of gasoline, then this indicates low compression in the engine and possible fuel ingress into the crankcase. This nuance affects the presence of traces of soot and ash in the oil. The reason for the low level of compression may lie in the wear of the cylinder rings. Therefore, it is worth checking their condition.
Use the described option for checking engine oil not only for synthetics, but also for all types of this fluid. In addition, such testing can be carried out not only in the garage, but also on the track. The whole process will take the driver no more than ten minutes. True, the complete drying of a sheet with a drop of oil takes much more time. But the information obtained from the results of the check will allow not only to determine the condition of the oil in the engine, but also to identify problems with the engine itself, as well as with the piston system.
It is better to carry out a drip test every time after a car has run several thousand kilometers. If the test reveals any shortcomings, you should not put off solving the problem for several days. The performance of the “heart” of a car should always be a priority for a car enthusiast, because it will be very unpleasant to shell out several tens of thousands of rubles for a major overhaul.
