Pre-launch. Nothing here is live yet. We're gauging interest before we build.
Pre-launch · gauging interest
Dipstick Data is a planned, brand-neutral oil and grease reference. Upload the used oil analysis report from your lab and get a free, plain-English explanation of every section, plus a free oil and grease lookup.
We haven't built it yet. If you'd use it, join the waitlist and tell us. That's how we'll decide.
We don't sell kits or test samples. You choose the lab; we help you read what it sends back.
Order a kit from the lab you choose, pull the sample, and mail it in. Sampling and lab results stay between you and your lab.
Upload the report your lab emails you, with a little context: hours or miles on the oil and how the sample was pulled. PDFs from major independent labs at launch.
See what each section and number means, compared with published typical ranges, alongside your lab's own comments. Reference only, never a verdict.
Planned launch scope: engine oil and grease for cars and small engines, more to follow.
We explain the report. We don't diagnose equipment or tell you what to do.
Brand-neutral, always: we don't recommend, rank or favor any oil, grease or brand, and we're not affiliated with any oil brand or lab.
Illustrative example: made-up numbers for a made-up engine
This shows the planned format only. It isn't a real report, a real machine, or output from a working tool.
Example context: gasoline car engine, 5W-30 oil, 5,000 miles on the oil, sample pulled warm from mid-stream at the drain.
| Test | Example value | What it measures, in plain English |
|---|---|---|
| Iron (Fe) | 14 ppm | A wear metal. Iron in used oil usually comes from steel or iron parts such as cylinder walls, camshafts, crankshafts or gears. Labs compare it with averages for similar engines and with your earlier samples; one number on its own says little. |
| Aluminum (Al) | 4 ppm | Another wear metal, often linked to aluminum parts such as pistons or some bearings. Like iron, it's read against the lab's averages and your trend over time. |
| Silicon (Si) | 22 ppm | Often a sign of dirt or dust getting in, but it can also come from some oil additives or gasket sealers. Labs sometimes note high silicon with normal wear metals as a possible sampling issue, which is a question for you and your lab. |
| Viscosity at 100 °C | 10.1 cSt | How thick the oil is at engine temperature, in centistokes. SAE J300 publishes a range for each grade: for the "30" in 5W-30 it's 9.3 to under 12.5 cSt. Labs compare your result with the grade you used. |
| Fuel dilution | <0.5% | How much fuel has mixed into the oil. Short trips and some engine designs can affect it. Your lab says what it considers typical for your engine type. |
| Lab comments | (your lab's text) | Your lab's own summary is the best starting point. The explanation points you back to it and explains any terms it uses. |
Educational reference only, not a diagnosis or maintenance recommendation. Consult your OEM, lab, or a qualified mechanic before acting.
An optional subscription for people who test regularly: trend charts across your samples, side-by-side fleet comparisons across your machines, and an exportable history. The lookup and report explanations stay free.
Would you pay for this? Tap "I'd pay for this" on the plan that fits. It doesn't charge you or commit you to anything; it tells us which plan to build.
$29/year (est.)
$99/year (est.)
$249/year (est.)
Custom quote
All prices are planned and estimated, annual billing only, and subject to change. Nothing is for sale yet and we aren't taking payments. Waitlist members are planned to get a founding-member discount (amount to be decided). A refund policy will be published before any payments are taken.
One machine = one piece of equipment, including all its sampled compartments. The engine, transmission and hydraulics on one tractor count as one machine.
Free, no commitment. You'll get first access at launch and a planned founding-member discount (amount to be decided).
Dipstick Data is a planned online lubricant reference. We want to make oil and grease information easier to understand, in plain English and without any brand bias.
To be upfront: we haven't launched yet. We're running a short pre-launch test to see whether enough people want this before we build it. These tools are planned and aren't live yet:
We're brand-neutral. We don't sell oil, we don't take money from oil brands to recommend their products, and we don't sell or handle oil samples or lab kits.
Not yet, and we want to be honest about that. We're pre-launch and gauging interest before we build. Waitlist sign-ups help us decide.
The free lookup is planned as a reference and cross-reference tool. At launch it's planned to cover engine oil and grease for cars and small engines, with more to follow. You'll be able to:
It'll be free to use. The lookup reports what manufacturers publish. It doesn't tell you which product to use, so always check your owner's manual or OEM requirements first.
If you've had a used oil analysis done by a lab, you'll be able to upload your report and get a plain-English explanation of what each section and number means. For example, what wear metals are, what “viscosity” or “TBN” measure, and how to read the lab's own flags and comments.
It's an educational reference only. We explain the report, but we don't diagnose your equipment or tell you what to do. Your lab's comments, your OEM, and a qualified mechanic are the right sources for decisions.
The optional paid subscription is planned to include trend charts across your samples, side-by-side fleet comparisons across your machines, and an exportable history record.
Planned/estimated pricing, subject to change, billed annually: Enthusiast $29/year (up to 2 machines), Farm/Pro $99/year (up to 10 machines), Fleet $249/year (up to 30 machines). More than 30 machines: custom quote.
There's no separate free trial; the free lookup and free report explanations are the best way to try us out. Waitlist members are planned to get a founding-member discount (amount still to be decided). Nothing is for sale yet and we aren't taking payments. Our refund policy will be published before any payments are taken.
One piece of equipment, including all of its sampled compartments. For example, the engine, transmission, and hydraulics on the same tractor count as one machine.
No, and that's on purpose. Dipstick Data doesn't take, sell, or handle oil samples or lab kits. We're a reference service, not a lab, and staying out of sampling keeps us independent and brand-neutral.
If you'd like your oil tested, you can order a kit directly from an independent lab (see the next question). Getting a good sample and accurate lab results are up to you and your lab. A free “How to pull a good sample” guide is coming at launch.
Here are some independent used oil analysis labs in the US and Canada that work with individual customers, in alphabetical order:
We don't endorse any lab. This list is for reference only. It isn't complete, and it isn't a ranking. We have no business relationship with any of these labs. Check each lab's website for current pricing, turnaround, kits, and tests. To stay brand-neutral, we don't list labs owned by oil brands or equipment dealers.
No. Everything Dipstick Data provides, including the lookup, report explanations, guides, and emails, is general educational reference information.
Educational reference only, not a diagnosis or maintenance recommendation. Consult your OEM, lab, or a qualified mechanic before acting.
We don't diagnose equipment, judge whether a lab result is “good” or “bad” for your machine, or recommend oil changes, products, or repairs. Always follow your OEM's requirements and your lab's guidance.
No. Dipstick Data is strictly brand-neutral. We don't recommend, rank, or favor any oil, grease, or brand, and we don't sell lubricants. The lookup shows published specs so you can compare. The right choice comes from your OEM's requirements and your own judgment, with help from a qualified mechanic if needed.
No. We aren't affiliated with any oil brand or lab.
Joining is free and doesn't commit you to anything. It's also the best way to tell us you'd like Dipstick Data to exist.
Yes, that's the plan. A full privacy policy will be published before uploads open. Our planned principles: your reports are private to you, the uploader; we'll never sell them; we'll only use them in anonymized or aggregate form to improve our reference ranges; and you can have them deleted on request.
Uploads aren't open yet, so please don't email us lab reports or personal information in the meantime.
We don't have a public launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we'll email you.
Not yet. We aren't taking payments, and our refund policy will be published before any payments are taken.
Email support@dipstickdata.com for help, or hello@dipstickdata.com for anything else. We're a small team, so thanks for your patience.
A full privacy policy will be published before uploads open. Our planned principles:
Uploads aren't open yet, so please don't email us lab reports or personal information. For the waitlist itself, see the waitlist privacy notice.
