Learn used oil analysis sample testing, lubrication reliability maintenance, predictive lab diagnostics to reduce costs & boost profits.

Learn Oil Analysis

Meet the Expert

Secrets of OCM

from industry expert

Welcome to the definitive resource on all things oil analysis. Take a look around the site and register for free to get full access to the learn oil analysis book series.

Click to connect with the expert on linkedin.

Scroll down to read more

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.

Machinery failure will cost you money, but with hydraulics that power so many every day pieces of equipment, failure can also cause accidents and loss of life. The reason is hydraulics are used to provide very precise but powerful movements. This is achieved by use of servo valves and other valve type devices to actively get oil to various parts of the machine to deliver power just when it is needed. If these become blocked by contamination or varnish then movements become jerky or uncontrolled....

4 out of 5 hydraulic failures are missed when you don't use oil analysis

Read More

Foam in a lubricated system can be a real problem. That is because foam is a poor lubricant and can cause significant wear within a lubricated system if the lubricant film is replaced with foam. However, most foam people talk about in lubricated systems is cosmetic foam. This is foam that can spill over the side of machines during operation and although there is a slip hazard from the oil spilling over, most of this foam never reaches the parts of the system where it could cause damage. This is ...

Detecting Lubricant Foaming. What it means and is there a better way to test?

Read More

Extreme Pressure (EP) is the most common anti-wear additive for high load gears. It is Sulphur-Phosphorus based and used when other additives such as ZDDP are not sufficient to give high load wear protection.

If you have ever changed a gear oil, the distinctive smell is from EP.

In normal conditions EP is inactive, but at high temperatures at loaded surfaces EP reacts to form a metal sulphide toughened coating to protect against wear.

However with copper based components care must be taken as...

EP additive for when the loading gets Tough. Extreme pressure additives in gear oils give extreme loading protection in lubricated systems.

Read More

This article will answer the following questions:


Why does soot not settle out in an engine oil?


What is a Total Base Number?


Why is there calcium in my engine oil?


Is my engine oil alkali or acidic?



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 arti...

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.

Read More

Machinery failure will cost you money, but with hydraulics that power so many every day pieces of equipment, failure can also cause accidents and loss of life. The reason is hydraulics are used to provide very precise but powerful movements. This is achieved by use of servo valves and other valve type devices to actively get oil to various parts of the machine to deliver power just when it is needed. If these become blocked by contamination or varnish then movements become jerky or uncontrolled....

4 out of 5 hydraulic failures are missed when you don't use oil analysis

Read More

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 solven...

Is my oil mineral, semi-synthetic or synthetic? Learn what the information on your engine oil container means.

Read More

I was asked recently by a client why does the lab not test viscosity at 100'C when there is a high water contamination. The client was quite concerned as he had quoted his client a test suite including viscosity and was concerned he may have to refund the client. This should never be the case as the suites are always assuming the sample is suitable for the tests requested e.g. I have had clients ask for a ppm water value on samples that are 90% water and sediment contents on bags of sand neither...

Why can't the lab perform viscosity when water present?

Read More

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.

Read the Book

By registering for free to our quarterly newsletter and logging in you can read the industry leading textbook series on oil analysis “Learn Oil Analysis”

Ask a question

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.

See our Training Courses

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.

Welcome to Learn Oil Analysis

Training Videos

Login & Register for Free

To view our training videos

We Hope you enjoy....

Let the Show Begin

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.