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Latest & Popular Articles
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.
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. B...
How do I reduce maintenance costs?
How much money can oil analysis save me?
How do I start an oil analysis programme?
How do I know if I have taken an lube oil analysis sample correctly
What should I do if I get a critical, monitor, caution or serious oil report.
When thinking about how to make your oil analysis programme a roaring success there is some effort required on your part to get past the initial inertia. This may...
1) molybdenum grease contamination but this would be cause lots of wear and potential be showing an increased visibility too.
2) molybdenum from ring wear. Some engines have on the top ring a molybdenum coating to cope with high temperatures. You would need to check with the engine manufacturer if this is the case.
3) molybdenum as an additive. It is molybdenum disulphide, which acts the same as graphite would as a solid lubricant within the oil an...
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 a...
Many of you know being stuck in traffic is not good for your fuel consumption, when you are usually in a lower gear leading to less bang for your buck in fuel economy both from the lower gear, and once some speed is gained it is all lost as heat when you brake meaning a waste of energy and higher fuel...
"I have heard of tests such as TAN, TBN and oxidation, but what is the best way to tell how degraded my lubricant is. Do the tests all do the same thing?"James - lube and filtration manager
Your oil will not last forever. Oil analysis helps you change it at the right time.
Hi James, yes the various tests have all different uses. I will not cover contamination causes such as e.g. water that degrade the lubricant an...
Why Oil Analysis Matters?
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.
How Much Can Oil Analysis Save Me?
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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Get your oil tested
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.
