Oil Analysis

What Can Used Oil Analysis Tell Me?

Analyzing used oil samples has existed as long as lubricants have been around. Oil analysis can provide critical information for any equipment requiring lubricants — both gasoline and diesel engines, transmission, gears, bearings and hydraulic systems. It's useful for owners of passenger cars, over-the-road fleets, off-highway equipment, boats and high performance vehicles. It's also right for any industrial plant equipment. Today many construction equipment operators, transportation fleets and industrial plants rely on lube testing as an integral part of predictive/preventative maintenance.

Oil analysis is a useful tool for extending the service life of an oil. By analyzing used engine oil, a qualified lab can determine the degree of protection that an oil is delivering and make certain the oil has not been contaminated due to engine malfunction or defect. Here are some issues oil analysis can answer for you:

• Viscosity out of spec, either high or low
• Water or coolant contamination
• Fuel dilution of crankcase oil
• Presence of fuel soot due to combustion inefficiencies
• Accelerated oxidation
• High nitration due to emission system problems
• TAN (Total Acid Number) – indicating overheating (for non-crankcase lubricants)
• TBN (Total Base Number) – indicating whether additives are still capable of providing adequate engine protection against corrosion (primarily for gasoline and diesel motor oils)
• Abnormal component wear in engines, gears, shafts and bearings
• Air filter failure

Trend Analysis

A single sampling analysis is useful in providing information when critical failure conditions exist. However, trend analysis is a better tool for estimating the useful life or overall condition of your engine or equipment.

Trend analysis samples are taken and analyzed at regularly scheduled intervals. Comparing a component's most recent samples to its historical data is instrumental in identifying trends that can pinpoint potential problems. Monitoring these trends enables early detection of internal abnormalities — tested values falling within acceptable limits may show a pattern of subtle variance, which could signal a developing problem. It is important to note that machines of the same type will accumulate contaminants and wear at different rates. Performing trend analysis on each machine is the most effective method of giving you an internal look at your equipment.

Using oil analysis to evaluate contaminants is a scientific approach to predictive maintenance. You'll extend vehicle or machine life, head off major maintenance costs and prevent catastrophic failure that can shut you down or leave you stranded. Oil analysis saves owners the cost of major repairs or engine replacement, and also allows owners to anticipate and schedule maintenance when downtime is most convenient.

Read about how a Mack Engine went 409,000 Miles without an oil change, based on the findings of used oil analysis, and see the results of his engine teardown.

Oil Sampling Procedures

Oil analysis is most effective when samples are representative of typical operating conditions. Dirt, system debris, water and light fuels tend to separate from the lubricants and coolants when system temperatures cool — dirt, water and other debris tend to settle to the bottom of the reservoir while light fuels tend to float. This separation will compromise your analysis. For optimum results, consider the following best practices:

• Take samples while systems are operating under normal conditions or immediately after shutdown while they are still at operating temperatures.
• Take samples at regularly scheduled intervals.
• Take samples from the same sampling point each time.
• Do not sample a component directly after an oil change or after a large amount of makeup oil has been added.
• Use a clean, dry, unbreakable container (a container comes with the test kit). Never reuse containers or sampling tubing.

Good locations for sampling include an oil gallery, the engine crankcase, the drain plug or dipstick tube and the equipment reservoir or sump. When taking oil from industrial machinery through a bottom drain, be careful to draw oil until your sample has a uniform, representative appearance. Use samples from the drain pan or oil filter only as a last resort. For a failed engine that has had the oil drained, a drain pan or oil filter sample may help detect the cause of the failure.

Oil Sampling Methods

Collecting a clean and representative oil sample is critical to the oil analysis process. Put simply, an oil analysis is only as good as the sample taken. The accuracy and reliability of the data produced by an analysis hinges on receiving a representative sample from the equipment to be tested. To assure that the sample extracted is representative of the system, always follow proper oil sampling procedures.

Oil Drain Method:

Clean the area around the drain plug thoroughly to avoid sample contamination. Allow oil to drain for three to five seconds prior to catching a sample. Place a clean, dry sample bottle in the oil stream and fill to within 1/2 inch of the top. Seal bottle tightly. Wipe bottle clean.

Oil Suction Pump Method (photo below):

A vacuum pump is used to take samples from a dipstick or non-pressurized system. The pump is attached to the sample jar (included in the test kit), a tube is inserted into the pump and then into the dipstick retaining tube or oil fill port. Activating the pump handle, the sample jar should be filled 3/4 full or to its shoulder. The oil sample vacuum pump will come with complete instructions and will enable you to draw a sample quickly and easily. Request an oil suction pump (G1206-EA) when ordering your oil analysis test kit.

Oil Sample Valve/Petcock Method (available on AMSOIL Bypass Oil Filter Units):

The valve should be wiped clean and any stagnant oil should be drained prior to catching a sample run. Seal bottle tightly. Wipe bottle clean.

Oil Sampling Intervals

The frequency of sample analysis from your equipment depends on the machine type, machine application and condition, operating environment and other variables. For example, many machines that operate in harsh environments, such as heavy equipment in mining or construction, and vehicles that make short trips with heavy loads and excessive idle times require short oil sampling intervals. However, certain power transmission systems, such as gearboxes and hydraulic systems used inside manufacturing and production facilities, require no more than quarterly sampling intervals. How critical a piece of equipment is to production is also a major consideration for determining sampling frequency. Below is a list of suggested sampling intervals and methods for common equipment types and is provided as a guideline only. Additional information is available from Oil Analyzers Inc., your lubricant supplier, and the equipment manufacturer.

Postal Service Disclaimer

Equipment downtime while waiting for lubricant analysis results is something everyone wants to keep to a minimum. Unfortunately, losing a test sample in the mail can extend this downtime even further and result in costly delays. That is why Oil Analyzers, Inc. offers a UPS Prepaid Oil Analyzers, Inc. Test Kit (KIT02-EA) that allows you to track your sample all the way to the lab so you will know exactly when it arrives.

If you choose the least expensive option, the Non-Postage Paid Oil Analyzers, Inc. Test Kit (KIT06-EA), we suggest you use a traceable shipping service that will enable you to track the progress of your sample and let you know if it has encountered delays. Oil Analyzers, Inc. cannot be responsible for any samples lost in the mailing process.

For more information download
Oil Analyzers, Inc. brochure (2.21 MB pdf)
Please use Customer Referral #392704 (printed on the brochure) when ordering direct from Oil Analyzers, Inc. This will allow us to get credit for your sale.

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