I put a mustang part number amsoil micron air filter on order.
be cautious. if the fit is not absolutely perfect, unfiltered air will make it to your MAF and engine. the OEM "A" filter is so good - and inexpensive - and it lasts so long that comprehensively raising the bar on it will be tough.
whats the cheapest-- best method for pulling a good clean sample?
generally, cheapest and best don't work out to be the same - and oil sampling is no exception. fortunately, there is a free method that's pretty good - just catch a sample directly into the oil sampling container as oil drains from the drain plug. it's not ideal since you are not able to do a container rise like you can when using a $20 sampling pump... and u can never extract intermediate samples. i.e. you can only sample when changing your oil.
if you are going to spend your hard earned $$ on used oil analysis, i highly recommend investing roughly $20 in a vaccuum oil sampling pump like the Amsoil model shown in my previous post. any CAT dealer can also order you a nearly identical pump - also for ~$20. it's worth it!
Would new hose and a large syringe from the vet supply store work?
no, and here's why. when using a sampling pump the fluid (oil) goes directly from the engine to the sampling container. the first "cleansing sample" is then discarded, and then the second sample again goes directly from the engine into the now clean sampling container. transferring from syringe to sampling container is just another two chances to contaminate the sample - plus you have to throw away both the sampling tubing and the syringe every time - too much waste.
by using a sampling pump, only the sampling tube is discarded after every use. the $20 oil sampling vaccuum pump should last forever.
FWIW - every CAT SOS oil analysis kit comes with 10" of sampling tubing.
I was thinking that a Mity Vac would work well also.
i don't know how a mity vac works, but only vaccuum extraction pumps can be used for oil sampling. with mechanincal extraction pumps the fluid being extracted passes through the pump and is contaminated.
by now many of you are probably thinking that i'm overboard anal retentive or something, but used oil lab analysis is science and when the procedure significantly compromises the results, the results can not be used to determine oil condition, performance or the condition of the engine. compromise the procedure and used oil lab analysis is no longer science.
Who did you use for the oil analysis? And where can we order that cool looking amsoil oil sample extractor.
i'm currently using my local CAT fluid analysis lab, just because they're consistent, the lab is less than 2 miles from my office, and they fax results to me the day after i drop off my samples. i've used and like Amsoil / Oil Analyzers too.
regarding the extractor - any CAT dealer / parts supplier. any Amsoil retailer. TDIclub member AndyH will gladly have one sent to you.
sorry to semi-hijack, but how long are most you guys pushing the ELF evo CRV intervals? I used amsoil 5w-30 on my turbo gas flat4 and changed every 10,000 without any problems, but I was way too paranoid to push it any further despite the amsoil 25,000mile rating.
every engine, driver, and driving environment is different. then there's fuel differences, maintenance, etc. etc.. the only way to determine the point at which an oil is no longer performing optimally in your engine is with used oil lab analysis. Elf CRV 506.01 is VW rated for up to 2 yrs / 31,000 miles. with outstanding fuel, a healthy engine and optimal driving conditions i'm sure it could go further...
I did mine and filled with 506 on that change and am afraid i will have really high silicon levels due to the new silicone sealant used.
FWIW - my Si was 6 after roughly 200 miles on Elf CRV after my oil pan change. i sampled ~2000 miles later and Si is now 7 - so it has already stopped leaching in from the sealent (if that was what was happening - and i think it was).
