Is it possible to chemically analyze an engine's emissions to detect presence of oil in the fuel? I am losing a lot of oil but it's not dripping when running to indicate a leak. So I would like some chemical analysis to support for or against the suspicion of burning.
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So proper lab, with all equipment? Or as is much more likely you have a bonfire, old dented saucepan and a twig for stirring? – Solar Mike Aug 07 '21 at 18:25
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What is " a lot" oil ? In the 50's and 60's it would be common for an older car to burn a quart ( 0.94 L) every 500 miles. One just put in more oil. So one could burn that much with no obvious evidence. There may be a slight blue cloud , but may not have been obvious which car made most of it. For your analysis you would need a base line for the motor oil; heavy elements in the additives would be about all there is to find. I am obsolete but years ago it would have been Ba, Zn, Ca and Mg. – blacksmith37 Aug 07 '21 at 18:42
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Many places in the world have "smog checks" to evaluate vehicle emissions. Perhaps a smog check facility could provide you with your vehicle's emissions data. – End Anti-Semitic Hate Aug 07 '21 at 18:54
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@blacksmith37 like 4 qt per 1K mi -- a lot. I just want to check if there is oil in the exhaust – amphibient Aug 07 '21 at 20:34
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If there is no sign of an oil leak and it is not going in your coolant, which doesn’t seem possible seeing as you are loosing a lot, then it must be getting burnt. It seems a waste of money getting a test done. – HandyHowie Aug 07 '21 at 20:38
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I have heard of cars burning amounts like one quart in a 200 miles , they have a noticeable blue cloud of exhaust. At that time some service stations would sell drained motor from oil changes very cheap for heavy users ( Chicago , 1950's) – blacksmith37 Aug 07 '21 at 21:24
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Yes it is possible but it requires special equipment called an "Exhaust Gas Analyzer". Call around to some local shops to find one that has such a setup.
They can detect excess oil, coolant, and other issues. Many state emission testing centers use these also.
Here is a link that describes some of the measurements that these can make:
Specifically it says:
High CO levels indicate partially burnt fuel or oil
You can also often tell there is excess oil being burned by inspecting the spark plugs. An oily and carbon-encrusted electrode is a good indication of an oil burning problem.
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