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© 2003 Brian F. Schreurs
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Blackstone Labs has been increasingly concerned with the levels of our copper; the first report, they noted "Copper tends to read high in new GM engines until quite a few miles have been accumulated -- we've seen it linger past 30,000 miles." So we started out fairly relaxed about the situation; this changed with the second report, which read "We don't think copper should have increased as much as it has. This copper level is either from an additive or a poorly wearing bronze or brass part." Of course, we're not using an additive, so we started to grow concerned. We sent an e-mail asking for a clarification on this evaluation, but never got a response. Finally, the third analysis included, "If you're not [using an additive], it's time to change out this oil. The copper level is causing the wear to be too abrasive for further use. The copper may be coming from a poorly wearing bronze or brass part."

Tester Vehicle Miles Copper Oil Lab “1 FMF” 02 Camaro SS 1,000 201 factory fill Dyson Bud H 00 Z28 3,000 121 Mobil 1 Blackstone   02 Trans Am 3,300 220 Mobil 1   R. Douglas Camaro SS 4,000 167 Royal Purple Dyson Craig Leres 00 Camaro SS 4,500 95 Mobil 1 Blackstone “1 FMF” 02 Camaro SS 4,660 151 Chevron Dyson Shane Shepherd 02 Trans Am 6,125 263 Red Line Blackstone “Vettenuts” 02 Corvette 6,955 169 Amsoil Dyson Ryan 02 Camaro SS 7,159 117 Schaeffer’s   Chris “jimmypop13” 02 Trans Am 7,515 168 Royal Purple Dyson   01 Corvette 8,000 107 Mobil 1   “1 FMF” 02 Camaro SS 8,200 146 Mobil 1 Blackstone   02 Camaro SS 8,850 93 Royal Purple Dyson “Weezz” 02 Trans Am 9,900 106 Mobil 1 Blackstone Shane Shepherd 02 Trans Am 10,128 298 Red Line Blackstone Bud H 00 Z28 10,000 104 Mobil 1 Blackstone Chris B 02 Z28 10,366 118 Mobil 1 Blackstone Patman 02 Camaro SS 10,600 216 Royal Purple WearCheck Paradise Garage 02 Z28 11,009 58 Mobil 1 Blackstone Tom Laverty 01 Corvette 11,264 96 Mobil 1 Blackstone Paradise Garage 02 Z28 11,983 75 Mobil 1 Blackstone Minivette 01 Corvette Z06 13,000 110 Royal Purple Blackstone Paradise Garage 02 Z28 13,021 81 Mobil 1 Blackstone Craig Leres 00  Camaro SS 13,444 51 Mobil 1 Blackstone Steve Hovis 01 Trans Am 13,451 79     Patman 02 Camaro SS 13,600 117 Royal Purple WearCheck Paradise Garage 02 Z28 13,975 99 Mobil 1 Blackstone Paradise Garage 02 Z28 14,947 102 Mobil 1 Blackstone   01 Trans Am 15,000 60 Castrol Syntec Blackstone Tom Laverty 01 Corvette 15,375 69 Mobil 1 Blackstone Paradise Garage 02 Z28 15,949 105 Mobil 1 Blackstone Bud H 00 Z28 16,000 47 Mobil 1 Blackstone Patman 02 Camaro SS 16,600 130 Royal Purple WearCheck Paradise Garage 02 Z28 16,933 101 Mobil 1 Blackstone Paradise Garage 02 Z28 17,950 111 Mobil 1 Blackstone Paradise Garage 02 Z28 18,950 124 Mobil 1 Blackstone Craig Leres 00 Camaro SS 19,557 39 Mobil 1 Blackstone   Camaro Z28 20,000 104 Royal Purple   Paradise Garage 02 Z28 20,028 110 Mobil 1 Blackstone Paradise Garage 02 Z28 20,941 127 Mobil 1 Blackstone Paradise Garage 02 Z28 21,964 124 Mobil 1