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.
Are lubricants being designed more to pass a specification than real world conditions?Almost without exception every machinery lubricant you can name will have had a raft of new lubricant tests before you even knew it existed. These can range from the additive manufacturers test bed testing to equipment manufacturer approval tests to even batch production testing to confirm the product still meets specification before being released from the production line to the end users.
You only need to lo...
Why new lubricant testing is no longer up to the job - is it time to shake things up?
Strawberries and cream, gin and tonic, salt and pepper are all classic things that go together. Oil and analysis might not strike you as a traditional match, but we can tell you they definitely are!
Evidence of using lubrication for machinery dates back as early as the 14th century BCE with the Egyptians using animal fats to ensure the smooth running of their chariots. After the advent of the Industrial Revolution, oil gradually became the most widely used lubrication commodity across the...
Lubricating Oil And Analysis: A Match Made In Heaven?
This little image may have made you smile hopefully, but it raises an interesting question about price vs service and how we focus on giving our customers real value but never compromise on the service even if it occasionally means losing a sale. To elaborate I write a lot about customers who either start analysis for the first time or move to us from an existing lab. Some move overnight, some need a trial first but some take a bit longer, but all the case studies are based on people who actuall...
Low Price vs Good Service - why you could have both and you just don't realise it
Introduction: Grease – More Than Just Slippery Business
As we delve into the world of grease, its hidden intricacies are not just about smoothly gliding surfaces - there’s much more than meets the eye. The core functionality and performance of a vast range of products, from industrial machinery to household appliances, hinge on a component that often escapes our notice – lubricating grease. To truly appreciate the importance of this hidden champion, it's crucial to understand its composition ...
Grease Separation by Conical Sieve - sifting through the test
This is a common question I get asked and it's not as simple to answer as you might expect, but please keep with me.
Lubricating oil properties are derived from a combination of the base oil used and the additives used to enhance or remove certain desirable/undesirable characteristics. There are 5 groups of base oils – there are no good or bad groups and all the base oils have their purposes for different industries and applications. Groups 1 and 2 are mineral oils, and tend to be good solvents...
Is my oil mineral, semi-synthetic or synthetic? Learn what the information on your engine oil container means.
What is a Total Acid Number (TAN) and what is a Total base number (TBN)?
When to change engine oil and what indicates an oil is spent?
Acid Number – This is the concentration of acid in the fluid. The new oil value may not be zero since some oil additives react similar to acids with the reagents used for testing. Hence it is important to monitor the trend in change of TAN from a baseline sample or new oil reference. In engine app...
What do Acid Number (AN / TAN) and Base Number (BN / TBN) mean on a lube oil sample analysis report?
After years maintaining machinery you start to develop a 6th sense to know when something is not right. There is not really a 6th sense, but the other 5 play a crucial role of on sight inspections. Well maybe only 4 as I wouldn't advocate tasting your machine fluids. You do however, listen for abnormal noises, use your eyes to inspect damage, deposits or contamination, and touch to feel vibration etc. The final one is smell. Smell is an extremely sensitive sense and is a fundamental diagnostic t...
Take a whiff, why if your oil doesn’t smell right you should get it tested.
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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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.