About Kristin Huff

Kristin deviated from the family flock by attending Indiana University, earning an English degree. She worked as an editor and writer in Colorado and Michigan before the siren call of Blackstone brought her back to Indiana. Kristin started at Blackstone in 2002 and has since learned to love the intoxicating world of oil analysis. When she’s not working on the website, creating newsletters, doing HR stuff, or writing reports, Kristin enjoys running, swimming, gardening, and working on visiting all 50 states with her husband and kids.

Gale M.

I absolutely love how simple you make this process for us non-professionals!

Thanks for the great summary and the care that is taken to compare results against run hours.  This report is invaluable to me.  I’m a 60- something female that never even changed the oil in her car.  Bought a boat so I could cruise to Canada and back and decided I needed to know how to do all the maintenance, winterizing, etc. by myself.  This report gives me peace of mind that I’m maintaining the engine properly.  I won’t talk about the quart of oil that ended up in my lap and bilge this year!

Thanks for the great service.  Very much appreciated!!

By |2024-11-11T11:19:55-05:002024|Testimonials|Comments Off on Gale M.

Jason C

Before coming to work answering phones and setting up samples at Blackstone, Jason C spent 5 years remodeling spaces for his dad’s company. Jason didn’t give us a lot to work with for his bio, besides the fact that he speaks Spanish, he’s a dog guy, and he’s into Anime and Manga. So let’s play two lies and a truth, shall we? Only one of these things is an actual name of a dog Jason has: Tobby, Dobby, Knobby. (You’ll have to call him here at Blackstone to find out if your guess is correct!).

By |2024-08-26T15:13:28-04:002024|People, Receiving|Comments Off on Jason C

Ronak P.

Sweet, thank you very much for the detailed analysis. I appreciate your personal attention and notes, thank you for the congratulations on the new truck.
It certainly is a fun zippy truck!

I expect y’all don’t hear back often from folks, but I wanted to say thank you for giving that personal touch to the report. You make the world more connected, more human. :)

By |2024-06-28T14:37:48-04:002024|Testimonials|Comments Off on Ronak P.

Dan B.

Thank you very much Joe. I mean it, thank you very much. So refreshing to work with a company that responds to emails, gives detailed information. It’s really helpful to me since I don’t know much about this stuff, but I’m trying to learn. And you taking time out of your busy day is really awesome.

By |2024-06-28T14:34:24-04:002024|Testimonials|Comments Off on Dan B.

Arthur

Arthur was a student worker in the lab at Marion University before joining the lab at Blackstone. When he’s not putting his degree to good use, Arthur likes to read (holla Terry Pratchett!), runs a D&D campaign, and tries to wean his cat Blackbeard off people food and cat treats.

By |2024-06-28T13:09:42-04:002024|Lab, People|Comments Off on Arthur

Cory W.

Have had multiple oil samples tested, and results were always prompt and easy to understand. Recently I lost a copy of results and only realized it less than an hour prior to an appointment to show the truck to a potential buyer, I called and Jason was able to get me a copy with in a few minutes. No long hold time, no automated menu, just great customer service!

By |2024-06-28T14:38:46-04:002024|Testimonials|Comments Off on Cory W.

Naomi K.

That’s actually REALLY insightful thank you!

The amount of stuff in that one report alone is truly wild. I thought the intake leak diagnosis with the last car I tested was impressive, this latest one takes the cake. Coolant and fuel in the oil is one thing, but being able to tell the bearings are shot, and the piston and camshaft are grinding away? From an oil change? I mean it makes sense that it’s possible, but it’s still nuts to me that it’s as affordable as it is for the insight it gives me, it feels like I should be adding a zero or two to the price for it to make sense.

Knowing the engine is toast is one thing, but the level of toast that the oil testing came back with is an advertisement itself. I’m just gonna show it to people. The engine’s that one thing you can’t tell the health of by just looking at it. Being able to tell basically EVERYTHING about the engine by just testing the oil (and the cooling system by the coolant testing!) is nuts to me.

By |2024-04-24T08:30:39-04:002024|Testimonials|Comments Off on Naomi K.

Gene B.

I cannot praise enough the invaluable information provided by BLACKSTONE Lab in each and every oil analyses performed. I have discussed this with you on multiple occasions re: my Jasper replacement on my 01 Grand Cherokee 4.0L. A Jasper installed Feb 2022 with 152k and as of 3/13/24 under 30k on this reman 4.0. I have meticulously changed the oil and sent samples to BLACKSTONE with each and every oil change, except the first 500 miles. Low oil pressures from the onset and then progressive antifreeze and metallic particulate(s) contamination demonstrated with with each sample- and great narratives with each report.

Jasper Warranty Div has everything and will soon swap out this failing eng to another 4.0. I just sent another sample 3/13 and await the analysis. And for the first time ever, a few days ago, I found mayonnaise on my oil filler cap – none in the radiator, dipstick nor the overflow tank, and never an external leak.

THANK YOU MUCHLY- it has been worth every dollar I spent!!

By |2024-04-18T10:06:07-04:002024|Testimonials|Comments Off on Gene B.

Ram G.

I am following up on this issue of the higher silicon content from my January oil report for my Jaguar XKR.  For a variety of reasons it has taken me until this weekend to check the air filters. Lo and behold both air filters showed signs of damage and wrinkling of the corners, allowing in a bit of unfiltered air.

I mentioned previously that the air filters were not easy to get to in this car. Removal and replacement involves a unique design. I now realize that I installed the air filters incorrectly the last time. The filters need to be placed into the frames and situated inside the air boxes BEFORE the bracket is wedged in; previously I had placed the frames inside the brackets and then slid the whole thing into the air boxes.  I recall it being very tight and needing to use a mallet to tap it into place. When properly installed it is still very tight but goes in with hand pressure because the gasket of the filter isn’t proving sliding resistance.  In any case I have now discarded the damaged filters and replaced them correctly with new ones.

THANK YOU for the quality of the analysis that Blackstone provides!  I would not have checked on my air filters for probably many thousands of miles had it not been for the elevated silicon finding.  I am hoping that there hasn’t been any long term damage to my engine from the approximately 5,000 miles driven with these improperly installed air filters, but there might very well have been if I continued to drive for many more thousands.

By |2024-04-18T10:08:54-04:002024|Testimonials|Comments Off on Ram G.

Isaac A.

The report on the Kohler engine was spot on. The oil was probably 3 or 4 years old in that mower, but the hours on that oil was probably 100-150 at best.  The air filter had also been neglected and was saturated with dirt, so it has been replaced.

By |2024-04-17T15:50:38-04:002024|Testimonials|Comments Off on Isaac A.
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