Oil analysis success hinges on the quality of the oil sample. Drawing a representative oil sample involves a combination of factors, including selecting the right location, deploying the right method, using the right hardware, determining the right sampling frequency,...
Lubricant Analysis
Microdieseling Causes, Effects and Detection
What Is Microdieseling? Microdieseling occurs when entrained air moves from low-pressure zones to high-pressure in a lubrication system, reaching localized temperatures above 1000°C and carbonizing the oil. The term microdieseling got its name from the diesel engine....
Particle Counting: The Truth Behind the Numbers
In the late 1980s, I took one of the hardest courses of my graduate studies - quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is the physics and math behind how all matter is formed and interacts with the world around it. Amongst other things, quantum mechanics can answer some...
How Varnish Is Destroying Your Hydraulic System (And How to Stop It)
It is common to hear about deposits or varnish in turbine oils, but can other oils also suffer from varnish? The short answer is yes. Once an oil (regardless of its application or type) has been exposed to thermally stressful conditions, contaminants, and severe...
How to Interpret Industrial Oil Analysis Data Like A Pro
In the complex world of industrial machine maintenance, ensuring the health and longevity of industrial equipment is paramount. Industrial oil analysis plays a crucial role in this endeavor, providing valuable insights into the condition of machinery and the quality...
Oil Analysis Program Maturity: Are You Ready for the Next Level?
Oil analysis, often called Oil Condition Monitoring (OCM), has been integral to industrial maintenance programs for more than half a century. Throughout its history, it has contributed to maintenance and improving the profitability of the industries that effectively...
Here’s A More Comprehensive Approach to Revealing Oxidation Root Causes
Typically, when an oil undergoes degradation, the first culprit to be blamed is oxidation. We often hear that the oil has oxidized, producing varnish, leading to its degradation. While this simple statement may seem plausible, it is not the only way oil can degrade....
Online Sensors for Oil Analysis: Benefits, Concerns and Practical Uses
Online oil analysis sensors can prove to be a contentious topic. Social media comments vary from fitting them everywhere to claiming that they will never be a substitute for laboratory oil analysis. Of course, there is a middle ground where online sensors should be...
How to Get Started with Onsite Oil Analysis: A Step-by-Step Guide
Implementing reliability solutions involves solving problems and deciding how to effectively use oil sample test data as a fundamental building block to drive program success. Many decisions confront the end user when they perform their own oil testing and analysis....
How Reliable is Oil Color as an Indicator of Condition?
Most industrial oils, when new, have a clear, translucent color. This typical color is maintained for a period while the product is in its original container and free of harmful effects. However, once the oil is put into service, it undergoes changes that are...