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Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z
I've never had a UOA done; I just do frequent changes. But it does sound like an excellent idea if it can be done before you sign on the dotted line. I'm in the market for another car but not sure if getting a UOA would be practical. How much oil is required for a sample and how long does it take to get results? If the seller changed oil/filter the day before I get a sample, will there still be enough "junk" left to show up on the test?
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An oil analysis takes anywhere from 7-14 days, usually closer to the 7 day mark. A brand-new oil change wouldn't give an accurate picture - IMHO you'd want about 3000 miles on the engine oil. Be careful about overinterpreting the results. Some of the stuff, like wear metals, combustion byproducts, and fuel or coolant contamination, is going to be more useful than the other information. A single report doesn't tell the whole engine story but will tell parts of it and might tell more about the oil being used than the condition of the engine. OTOH, it only costs $25.
The biggest value of UOA is for fleet owners. Might help the determine reasonable drain intervals and save money on oil changes on lots of vehicles.