Podcast
Slick Talk: Powered By Blackstone Laboratories
Every oil has a story, especially oil that comes from engines, transmissions, and industrial machinery. Blackstone Laboratories tests it all, and in Slick Talk, Blackstone Joe brings you an exclusive look behind the curtain of the oil analysis industry.
- Automotive chart
- #181
- Episodes
- 181
- Releases
- Every two weeks
- Typical length
- 13 min
- On air since
- 2019
- Latest episode
- 1 week ago
Episodes
181 episodes, newest first
-
15 min
181: Turbo vs Normal
Show notes
How differently do engines with turbos look compared to their naturally aspirated counterparts? Do they wear more? Need the oil changed more often? The answer lies, as always, in the data.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
18 min
180: Age is Just a Number, Redux
Show notes
It’s been a spooky season, and there's a familiar fright that our customers have been asking about, so this episode is a re-release addressing the very same: how calendar time does (or does not) affect the oil in your engine. Look forward to a piping hot, new episode dropping next Monday.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
28 min
179: The Mechanic and the Analyst with Samir Kharbas
Show notes
Blackstone Joe sits down with senior analyst Samir Kharbas. Previously a professional mechanic, Samir shares how joining the Blackstone team has shaped his approach to maintenance.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Guest: Samir Kharbas
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
21 min
178: At First Glance with Suzi Hermann
Show notes
Looks can be very deceiving when it comes to oil, as we analysts learn day after day. Blackstone Joe sits down with fellow senior analyst Suzi Hermann to discuss some of the most common examples. When does dirty oil equal a problem? How concerning is a fuel smell? The answer lies in the data.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Guest: Suzi Hermann
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
25 min
177: Artificial Analysis with Samir Kharbas
Show notes
More people are turning to AI for answers, even when it comes to oil analysis. But how good are those answers? What does a machine know about oil analysis? Blackstone Joe sits down with one of our most senior analysts to find out.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Guest: Samir Kharbas
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
12 min
176: The Way Back
Show notes
Sequel to episode 172: "Trust the Process". Getting an engine back to its old self after a problem is a lot like recovering from a runner's injury: it's easier when you keep your care team informed.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
9 min
175: New Oil or Nah?
Show notes
A customer sent in a sample, asking us to prove whether it was new oil, or if the shop was slacking. The answer isn't a simple one.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
11 min
174: No Stone Unturned
Show notes
You don't like hearing about trouble, and we don't like reporting it. But the data calls, and we'l answer.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
12 min
173: CVT Suspicions
Show notes
The more info you give us, the better our analysis can be. That's never more true than when dealing with delicate machines like transmissions.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
13 min
172: Trust the Process
Show notes
It doesn't matter if it's a coolant leak or tendonitis. You gotta trust the process.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
9 min
171: A Tailored Suit
Show notes
Unit/location averages are one of our most useful tools, though they can be a little difficult to wrap your head around at first. A customer emailed in for some clarification, and Blackstone Joe provides.
On a related note: Rhea Seehorn, please come on our show!
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
14 min
170: Additives, Then and Now
Show notes
How are oil additives changing over the years? Blackstone Joe takes a look at Mobil 1 specifically, and how we answered a customer's question about how their additives levels varied in different samples of the same blend.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
12 min
169: Prius Problem?
Show notes
A Slick Talk listener wanted to know about the Gen 3 Prius, noting concern about EGR issues that lead to a head gasket replacement being necessary, and if our samples could indicate if something needed to be done. If there's a problem with the head gasket, coolant contamination is a telltale sign in our testing. Blackstone Joe went to the data to see how many instances of coolant there are in the 2ZR-FXE samples we've tested, and the data might surprise you!
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
10 min
168: Filtration Forensics
Show notes
If you haven't checked your air filter in a while, this is your reminder to do so.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
17 min
167: Blackstone Social
Show notes
This week, we're highlighting some of our new ventures, including our first foray into the reaction video genre. We also want to introduce some of the excellent content creators we've been honored to pair with lately.
Double Clutch Auto Reviews: "How-To: Get a Used Oil Sample On Your Car: w/ Blackstone Laboratories"
Eleven After Nine: "Bore Scoring is Overblown: Blackstone Labs Porsche Data Revealed"
Rennthusiast Radio: "Bore Scoring: The Risk Isn’t What You Think | Blackstone Senior Oil Analyst"
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
15 min
166: Hot for Answers
Show notes
Typical turnaround for a report is a few weeks after you've shipped the sample to us, depending on factors like distance and weather. But sometimes you need answers ASAP, and that's where our "hot run" comes in.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
14 min
165: Evan's Waterless, a Saga of Mixed Proportions
Show notes
This week on Slick Talk: no water, no problem. We say our testing is great at detecting coolant, but how true is that? Time for a science experiment.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
40 min
164: Oil the World's a Stage
Show notes
How is theatre like oil analysis? This was a burning question that could only be answered by a couple of Fort Wayne's premiere talents: Blackstone Joe and fellow senior analyst Augustia Robinson.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Guest: Augustia Robinson
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
22 min
163: Youtube & You
Show notes
This one's a three-course meal. Starting with a light Q&A aperitif, we move on to the main course of addressing some AI shenanigans, then move on to a delicious dessert consisting of one customer's truly exceptional tutorial.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
-
12 min
162: Instagram Inquiries
Show notes
Everyone is on social media these days, and that includes us. When email is too formal and phone calls are too unwieldy, know you can always send us a message on Facebook or Instagram. Today's episode is thanks to one such message.
Ready to start your oil analysis journey? Get your free test kit.
Have a question or shoutout? Leave a message for Blackstone Joe at 614-407-6169.
Host: Joe Adams
Producer: Arryn Dennard
Automotive lists
More Automotive shows picked out from the charts
More in Automotive
Placed highest on Apple Podcasts' Automotive chart right now