This is number two from a series of 6 very useful, and no cost, oil analysis tests that you can perform in your very own garage.

The crackle test is valuable for establishing whether water ingression from condensation problems is an issue. Typically, you’ll be most susceptible to water in your motor oil if you are a short trip driver and/or if your vehicle sits for long periods without being run.

Why is water in your oil a problem? Because water in your motor oil causes build-up of acid, which causes corrosion. Corrosion causes pitting, and pitting is definitely BAD for your vehicle’s engine. Even a high TBN extended change interval synthetic oil like AMSOIL can eventually be overcome by water/acid build-up.So, it is really quite important to know if your oil is suffering from water build-up BEFORE the acid fighting additives in your oil are used up. THAT is why we do the crackle test.

It should be noted that fuel in your oil can cause the results of the crackle test to be inconclusive. Performing the blotter spot test (business card test) beforehand will tell you if you have fuel dilution. If you do, then you probably don’t need to worry about water ingression and the crackle test is likely unnecessary. You already have a problem that likely will have you wanting to change your oil.

So, how do you do it? Simple. Find a hotplate of some kind. Set it to a temp between 250 and 300 degrees F . Lastly, put a little oil on the plate. Then, drop some oil on the plate.

With a small amount of oil on the hotplate, the oil should boil quickly. Either you’ll hear the crackle or you won’t. If you don’t hear it quickly, chances are there is no water in your oil.

Of course, this hot plate test is not a very informative test, and it will not provide any detail as to the AMOUNT of water in your oil, as a professional oil analysis will, but, it can provide you with some helpful, cheap info.

Would you like to know more about free oil test methods, comparison of engine oils, why you MAY or MAY NOT want to choose synthetic motor oil, how to evaluate oil filter quality and much more? Check out my Motor Oil Bible Blog or you might want to consider reading my Motor Oil Bible ebook.