It's a common scenario: a vehicle's OLM (oil life monitor) says it's time for an oil change, but our results don't say the same thing; in fact it's rare to find the customer couldn't have gone even longer on the oil, regardless of what the OLM % was. Why? Listen along as our host Joe dissects what goes into an OLM calculation, and why used our oil analysis  is going to take things a step further in gauging the oil's condition and health of the engine. Episode Guide: Intro and Announcement: 0-2:26, Listener Appreciation: 2:27-6:15, OLM Talk: 6:16-14:32.

With this show, we strive to not just provide the analyst's perspective; we want to hear the questions, comments, and concerns of customers too, and that's just what we have in this tenth episode of Slick Talk. Joe, senior analyst and host, sat down with his good friend, Blackstone customer, and friend of the show, Thomas, to deconstruct oil analysis -- what we can find in testing, what some of the elements mean, and how to respond to some bad results -- all through the lens of a 2013 Honda Accord.

We pulled interesting customer questions from the email files, many of them falling under the FAQ category, so what better place to provide the answers then on a podcast that is easy to find and reference when you're getting ready to send a sample in. Join Joe, our host and senior analyst as he tackles the following: I'm going to send in my second sample and want to make sure its compared to the first, what do I need to do? Does make-up oil affect your test? How about additives such as Lucas, Restore, or Sea Foam? Will an engine flush mess with my results? How new or old should an oil sample be prior to sending it in? And more!

It's rare for an engine to fail suddenly - we find it's a lot more common for a problem to crop up slowly, then it goes from a small problem to a big one. Enter the value of used oil analysis. We're checking microscopic levels, so you can catch a problem early, and that was just what happened for a recent customer and their 2013 BMW M3. Listen along with our host Joe as he details just what sort of problem was brewing in this M3, and how we caught it.

For those not familiar with used oil analysis, there can be some skepticism about what a 3.5 oz. sample of engine oil can really tell folks about their engine and the shape its in. The truth is: you can learn a lot about the engine such as how it's wearing, if the oil is holding up well, and if there is any harmful contamination. One of our customers happened to send along a narrative detailing her Subaru's UOA (used oil analysis) history and how the data matched up perfectly with the engine issues she was having. Join our host, Joe, as he digs into the car's sample history and how the car's engine oil was in fact telling the tale.

We test aircraft samples and not just a few: they're a huge part of our day-to-day. And for some analysts on staff, interest in aircraft doesn't stop with oil analysis. Amanda, senior analyst and budding pilot, joined the show to talk about her flying experience so far, as well as a couple of FAQs in aircraft analysis: 1. Why does cylinder type matter? 2. What does it mean if my engine has been inactive?

Motorcycle maintenance and restoration is a passion for Luke, one of our writers and lab operators. On this episode, Luke sat down with Joe, writer and host of Slick Talk, and gave us the skinny on what motorcycle projects he's tackled previously, as well as a couple of customer questions: Do synthetic oils cause clutch slippage? How much mileage on a sample do I need to find a wear/coolant issue? This is only our first foray into the world of motorcycles, so if you've got other topics/questions/concerns that you'd like to hear more about, just send them our way!

A huge benefit of oil analysis is that you can catch problems early, before the situation is dire and you might end up losing a motor. Coolant contamination is one of those problems we look for. Join our host Joe and co-producer Kyle as they walk you through why coolant is an issue, how we find evidence of it, and what role oil analysis can play in monitoring a coolant leak. If you like what you hear, don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

"How long should I be going between oil changes?" That's a burning question for many of our customers, and oil analysis is essential in finding the ideal oil change interval for your car and the use it sees. Join our host, Joe, as he gives the analyst's perspective on testing and how we use the results to determine just how long your engine likes to have an oil in use.

Bearing wear tends to be a common concern for many M3 and M5 owners we know, and oil analysis is an essential tool for monitoring bearing wear without having to take an engine apart (and of course, for catching poor bearing wear before it turns into a serious problem or failure). But what many customers don't know is just what goes into our evaluation of bearing wear and whether or not it looks concerning for M-owners. Even if you're not a BMW owner or enthusiast, don't worry, this episode still packs plenty of worthwhile info when it comes to bearing wear and how poor wear or a problem shows up in testing. Join senior analysts Joe and Chris as they talk through the analyst's process in gauging bearing wear and how testing can be so essential in catching a problem early.