Learn used oil analysis sample testing, lubrication reliability maintenance, predictive lab diagnostics to reduce costs & boost profits.
See the latest and most popular articles on oil analysis that have been posted to find out more about how oil analysis works and the benefits it could be doing for you.
We all get old - right? Part of the reason we age is down to oxidative processes and their effects on our cells. You may have seen news articles about superfoods and their antioxidant properties to help slow down the oxidation processes and boost a healthier life. However, you may not be aware these same problems occur in your oil.
This article will answer the following questions
What is an antioxidant in my oil?
What are phenols and amines in my oil doing?
Why do oils need changing...
Oxidation - the battle vs antioxidants occuring in your lube oil.
All oils thicken with decreasing temperature & thin when increase it. Thin oil takes little energy to move, but gives minimal separation of surfaces, whilst thick oil gives good separation but uses energy to move shafts through the lube meaning machinery operating temperatures have a big impact on wear rates & energy efficiency, hence why lube oil manufacturers try to work towards a perfect oil that stays the same thickness (viscosity) with temperature....
Viscosity index - how does your oil cope when it feels the burn
Have you heard statements that esters don't form varnish? If so is this an oil that lasts forever?
Why the question?
I have had over a dozen questions in the last couple months about synthetic polyol esters and whether they form varnish or not. A couple examples of these questions below:
Hi Adam, I have had varnish issues in the past. My oil supplier is suggesting I switch to a POE to prevent this in future, is this correct, if so why isn't everyone switching to these?Question from UK
...
Do esters form varnish and if not does that mean they last forever?
See below the learn oil analysis crib sheet for identifying each of the elements you see on your oil analysis reports.
Find out how wear metals, contamination elements, wear particle quantification index (PQ / ferrous debris) and additive metals are tested below, what each element on a report means and how to diagnose which components on failing.
...
Source element guide - contamination, wear metal, additives and multi-origin elements
Today, many in the UK woke up to an unusual sight: cars, windows, and even garden furniture covered in a fine layer of Saharan dust. This phenomenon occurs due to the long-distance travel of sand particles carried by high-altitude winds from the Saharan Desert across thousands of miles. As these winds reach the UK, they deposit the desert's fine particulate matter across the landscape.
My car didn't look quite as bad as above, but for our readers in the very sandy parts of the world or ev...
If You Woke Up to a Sandy Car Today, Then Your Oil Might Need a Check
I'm sorry but it's a fact that not all lab analysis is equal.
I was recently on LinkedIn and saw a post where a filter supplier mentioned that over 80% of failures were contamination related. They were doing an offer to their customers of a free oil sample "no questions asked" using a lab that wasn't ours to identify the problem. I made a comment on the post that this seemed a great gesture, but pity it didn't include LubeWear and what he thought about that. 1 hour later my comment was dele...
A new oil sampling customer of our lab asked me the other day do we provide any training materials on different oil analysis tests. I was so pleased to show him the whole LearnOilAnalysis.com portal of articles, books and videos - all free to read and watch. This particular customer had a key interest in electrical oil sampling and although I have a few materials on dissolved gas analysis, I decided to add a specific one on breakdown voltage testing in response to his query. Hence enjoy the arti...
Understanding Dielectric Breakdown and Breakdown Voltage Testing in Electrical Oil Sampling
Oil Analysis is used by people just like you all over the world to reduce machinery downtime and improve equipment reliability. A small sample of oil from your machinery can provide as much information as a full machine strip down at a fraction of the cost and has been a proven technology for over 60 years to reduce forced shutdowns and failure repair costs. Want to understand how oil and grease analysis works and how it applies to you then watch this short video below.
Oil analysis is a brilliant tool that can save you money each time you sample. The returns on investment vary depending on your machinery type, so feel free to use our sister sites cost saving calculator at the bottom of their FAQ Page.
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Register for free and get access to some of our great short oil analysis training training courses. Content is updated regularly and includes explanation of tests, sources of wear, how to take a sample and the benefits of oil Sampling. You can also book a dedicated training day for you and your team too or enquire about our deluxe online training programmes.
If you have never had your oil tested before then what are you waiting for and get in contact with a lab today. There are many reputable labs all across the world that offer excellent oil analysis services you can use including our sister lab – Oil Analysis Laboratories, which is the only lab in the world to offer the LubeWear test. LubeWear identifies abnormal wear far earlier than traditional wear metal analysis techniques meaning you can catch faults earlier to keep your machine reliability at its highest. A brief video explanation of the rest can be viewed below.
