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.
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.
We have all heard the phrase if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. It’s a common excuse people tell me when I ask why they don’t do oil analysis yet.
They are often surprised when I tell them I agree with them. Just I have a different opinion at what point I call something broken. Is a fuel leak issue a problem when we notice a large viscosity drop at the lab, the point the car struggles to start and is making black smoke or the point the engine fails and it catches fire. Technically all 3 stages ...
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, but how do you know it’s broken?
The answer is they both contain Calcium. Now before you start considering whether it is best to go for a semi–skimmed or fully–skimmed on your next car service, or start pouring a 15W40 on your breakfast cereal I must remind you that is where the similarities end and this article ...
What do engine oil and a pint of milk have in common? Calcium is the most widely used additive to neutralise acids in your engine oil.
Have you ever wondered what happens to your oil after you’ve sent it to our laboratory? In this blog series, we will be discussing some of the tests your oil may be put through and how they give us an insight into the health of your equipment.
FlashpointNo, we’re not talking about the DC Comics crossover series which comes up when you google this word! Our flashpoint detects the safe handling and flammability temperatures of oils and fuels.
How it works? Have a look at the images and captio...
In the current climate we are all in, with increasing restrictions on our lives and higher awareness of infectious diseases transmission, ensuring the nation keeps going through this is more important than ever. Many of our customers simply can not afford to shut down as they are in key industries that are keeping the nation going such as:
Food production.UK business transport infrastructurePower generation of the electricity we all need including coal mines, gas engines, wind farms and power...
COVID-19 - protecting your machinery as well as yourself when failure is not an option.
Foaming is a serious problem in lubricating oils and can cause both safety and mechanical issues as a result of its presence. Traditional analysis of foaming properties of oils uses air stones in the oil to pump air into it and measure the result of volume of foam generated. To read about the add-on analysis option of our proprietary H-FOAM test you can read about this here.
How does the test work?190ml of oil is poured into a 1000ml measuring cylinder and is put into a te...
Foam sequences 1 to 3 explained on lubricating oils
In the labyrinthine world of industrial lubrication systems—those silent workhorses behind countless manufacturing operations—lurks a concealed foe: static electricity. Far from a benign inconvenience or the cause of a bad hair day, rogue static in hydraulic fluids, turbine oils, and gear lubricants can unleash catastrophic electrostatic discharges. But fear not, for this article lifts the veil on this elusive adversary and positions oil analysis as your ultimate shield and sword.
The Enigma of...
Static Electricity can cause more than just a bad hair day
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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Ask a question on oil analysis directly to the site author. This can also include requests on how and with whom to start fluid sampling. You can also contact the author on linkedin.
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.
