This episode is a collaboration between Joe Adams (senior analyst, podcast host) and Michael Thomas, a senior lubricant technical agent with Shell Lubricants, based out of the Shell Technical Center in Houston, TX.Michael has been involved in the automotive industry for 40+ years, with experience that ranges from hands-on (building up his '69 Camaro, for instance), to scholarship (earning a degree in automotive technology), and working as an automotive technical adviser (starting in the '80s with Jiffy Lube, and from there joining Shell's Technical Center.Joe and Michael's paths happened to cross recently and upon a brief conversation both of them found out they're tasked with answering many of the same questions, such as how long you should go between oil changes, what oil you should be running, additives, and so on.While different in approach and experience, Joe and Michael have the same goal in mind, and that is helping folks take care of the engine they love. Listen as they discuss what they've learned over the years, how they approach the tough questions, and so much more.

Sampling before you buy any car, truck, aircraft, boat, really anything that needs oil to do its job. If you've been following us for a while, you probably assumed as much but there is still a lot to learn when it comes to background info, what to expect in samples that have little/a lot of use, the list goes on. Listen as Blackstone Joe gives the breakdown on a pre-buy sample and how to get the most out of one.Bonus points: update on an upcoming podcast collaboration, and customer appreciation.

In this episode, Blackstone Joe tackles a few different topics, with the main event being the color of used oil, and how the visual appearance can/can't tell us about what's going on with your engine. Bonus points: imposter syndrome and what to do with it, and a preview about a big episode we have coming up.

For this episode's main event, we're covering Unit IDs and not just what they're for, but what you should be thinking about when choosing the name for what it was you sampled.Key points: Literal is good, nicknames are fun (within reason), and the importance of consistency.Catch pan segment: What are the pros and cons of using high mileage oil?

For a lot of folks, changing the oil filter with every drain is standard practice. Some manufacturers, though will recommend changing the filter every *other* oil change. Blackstone Joe tackles the question "is this normal?" and how you can use a standard oil analysis to learn if the filter can/should stay in use.

It started with a simple enough question: "What do you mean by saying most additives don't "show up?" The answer isn't so simple, though. To detail additives, how they do/don't show up in testing, and benefits of using them, Blackstone Joe sat down with fellow report writer, Ben. Enjoy!

Paperwork is the enemy of many, but when it comes to the slip we put in every free test kit, that's not the enemy; it's your best friend.On the slip we don't just ask about the engine or oil you're sampling -- we want to know if there are any issues you're either aware of, or have reason to suspect. Reason being, there is a big difference between saying "You have a problem that you should fix soon" and "Hey, here is the coolant you're already aware of -- here is how the engine is doing in spite of that," or "here are other issues that warrant your attention." Blackstone Joe illustrates the importance of filling out a slip with a recent story from a 6.0L PSD.Bonus point: What testing do I need if I'm worried about a coolant leak?

A tale as old as time, or at least the times of oil analysis: Can you look at these results? Well, if they're from Blackstone Laboratories, the answer is always a resounding yes. So often, though, folks might ask if we can look at results from another lab. Blackstone Joe is here to break down why analyzing results from another lab is problematic, why folks want to switch to Blackstone in the first place, and the obvious exceptions to the rule.

Blackstone Joe talks diesels, coffee, and a fable from the rig. What more do you need to know?

Diesels, coffee, and a tale from the rig. What more do you need to know?