Resources for oil analysis

Tips for Reducing Wrong Oil Mistakes

2012-02-10T11:15:31-06:00

"Is there any way to tell if an improper lubricant is being used without performing an oil analysis or without a part or system failure? We currently have an oil analysis program in place, but I still find that wrong oils and fluids are being used from time to time in between the oil analysis."

The most effective way to determine if wrong oil has been used is by oil analysis, by looking at either a change in viscosity and/or a change in additive concentration, etc. Unless there is a significant difference in oil type (viscosity, base oil type, additives, etc.) or any dye that may be used in the oil or grease, it is unlikely that a sensory inspection is sufficient.

However, your problem probably has little to do with oil analysis but is more of a procedural issue. The bottom l

Diagnosing Oil Problems with a Laser Pointer

2012-02-06T10:54:49-06:00

"I recently read that a laser pointer can be useful for identifying suspended solids and oil/water emulsions in sight glasses. How does this work?"

One of the things you are looking for is reflective light fragments indicating large solid particles suspended in the oil. You can observe this by experimenting with a new turbine oil or other rather clear oil in a sample bottle.

With the laser passing horizontally through the oil, sprinkle table salt into the open mouth of the bottle. You will see something of a laser light show as the salt falls through the light beam. Without the use of the laser, the salt in the oil is completely invisible to the eye.

Another practice is to observe the laser light beam on a white piece of paper after it passes through the oil. Is the

Controlling Degradation in Biodegradable Greases

2012-01-23T09:11:24-06:00

During lubricant operation, temperature, pressure and load are the main factors influencing degradation. To monitor this degradation process in lubricating oils, industry has defined specific test methods involving correct sampling and analytical techniques to provide efficient information on the correct oil change interval. Applying these condition monitoring practices to lubricating greases is much more complex, especially when they are ester-based biodegradable greases. This explains why industry relies on time-based intervals (preventive maintenance) for grease-lubricated system procedures.

In order to establish a correct maintenance protocol, it is important to understand how the degradation process occurs in biodegradable and mineral greases, and to identify adequate control parameters, limits and sampling frequency (or regreasing frequency).

Oxidation Process

To evaluate the different techniques, a mineral grease and a biodegradable grease were oxidiz

Polaris Laboratories Adds New Lab in Guatemala

2012-01-16T16:01:00-06:00

Fluid analysis provider Polaris Laboratories has extended its global reach with a new laboratory in Guatemala City.

Polaris Tribology Laboratory Central America, S.A., will provide oil analysis products and services throughout Central America, parts of Mexico and northern South America. Its customer base is diverse, serving road transport, power generation, industry, mining and construction as well as the agricultural applications that support the region's sugar cane industry.

According to Bryan Debshaw, Polaris Laboratories CEO, oil analysis can provide multiple benefits to Central American companies looking for ways to maximize equipment reliability and increase production.

“Sending regular oil samples to the laboratory for analysis monitors equipment and lubricant condition and will allow customers to identify and correct small problems before they cause major catastrophic failures,” Debshaw said. “They will also have access to extensi

Condition Monitoring of Tactical Vehicle Engines

2012-01-16T09:22:20-06:00

In 2004, a field trial was initiated over a four-year period with tactical and combat vehicles. The spectrum included armored reconnaissance vehicles (ARV) as well as main battle tanks (MBT). Oil samples removed from the monitoring well were taken every 90 days with an oil sampling kit normally used for aviation components. To avoid cross-contamination with other functional fluids taken from the vehicle, every sample was taken with a new sampling kit.

Among the monitored vehicles were 40 main battle tanks (Figure 1), 25 armored infantry fighting vehicles (AIFV), 16 armored howitzers, 25 armored reconnaissance vehicles (ARV) and 10 mechanized infantry combat vehicles (MICV).

Why Oil Analysis Data Can Vary

2012-01-11T09:05:14-06:00

"What will cause zinc levels in my oil to fluctuate?"

There are several reasons why zinc may be present in your oil samples. These include wear of zinc-containing alloys such as brass, zinc plating and galvanized surfaces, as well as zinc-containing additives, most notably zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), which is a common anti-wear and antioxidant additive.

The most common reason for fluctuating data is improper sampling. Sampling accuracy depends on sampling from the correct location and using the same methods and procedures each and every time. If you do not have a good handle on the correct procedure, this would be the first place to start looking.

Other factors that may impact zinc concentrations include the addition of make-up oil (possibly the wrong oil)

Humidity Saturation Limits of Hydraulic and Lubrication Fluids

2012-01-09T11:27:49-06:00

In order to ensure the required plant availability, it is necessary to regularly check the degree of contamination due to solid particles and to monitor the water content in non-aqueous lubricants. Sensitive applications and components are often classified according to their tolerable limit of water content in milligrams/kilograms (mg/kg) or parts per million (ppm).

In the laboratory, this value is usually measured by the Karl Fischer method. The result is the sum of free and dissolved water. However, water only causes damage if it is free. Dissolved water is not a problem. Each lubricant contains dissolved water. Without knowledge of the respective limit of solubility (saturation) of the fluid in use, it is not possible to interpret the results from the Karl Fischer method. Thus, using proper measurement methods and determining the individual limit of solubility for water are important preconditions to implement modern maintenance strategies.

Free Water and Its Consequ

Using Viscosity as a Drain Indicator

2012-01-03T10:05:30-06:00

"My laboratory provides feedback on kinematic viscosity at 100 degrees C for our engine lubes. At what level of viscosity change should we drain the engine oil?"

Because a change in viscosity, whether an increase or decrease (or both, therefore negating any perceivable change), can be an indicator of a number of problems, monitoring viscosity alone as an indicator of engine oil change is insufficient, especially on engines.

Engines can suffer fuel dilution resulting in a decrease in viscosity, as well as glycol or soot loading resulting in an increase in viscosity. Changing the oil will not cure the root cause of these problems.

In addition, if a multigrade engine oil is used, then a decrease in viscosity is possible because the viscosity index improvers shear duri

What Causes a Short Life for Gear Oil?

2011-12-27T10:49:11-06:00

"About a year ago, we ran a lubricant too long in a high-duty gearbox, and it oxidized and threw sludge. Since then, we've been watching the oil more closely with oil analysis. My problem is that we are now seeing acid numbers increase and oil darken after only one month of service. The lubricant used to last a full year. We keep changing the oil, but the problem just repeats. Why does our gear oil have such a short life?"

It sounds like the gearbox was not thoroughly flushed after the oil oxidized the first time. Sometimes a simple drain will leave more than 15 percent of the old oil behind, occluding to machine surfaces and becoming trapped within the casing. This also leaves behind a host of reactive chemicals (pro-oxidants) that rapidly deplete antioxidant additives, leaving th

Survey Shows Certification Impacts Compensation

2011-12-21T09:32:48-06:00

Machinery Lubrication recently conducted an online survey of lubrication professionals in the United States to discover what they earn based on their experience, education level, geographic location, age and other relevant factors. In addition to earning power, the survey included questions regarding company size, job security, job satisfaction and future potential.

According to the results, professional certification seems to have a big impact on compensation, with those respondents holding some type of professional certification from the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML) or another organization reporting 10 percent higher salaries than their non-certified peers.

“There are bonuses for any type of continuing education relative to our business,

Sources of Silicon in Oil

2011-12-19T16:16:39-06:00

"What are the possible sources of silicon in oil?"

Silicon is measured by oil analysis labs to determine dirt ingression. More often than not, high silicon readings indicate dirt. However, there are several other possible sources. The four most common are:

1. Defoamant Additive — Many oils contain defoamants based on polymeric methyl silicone. Because silicone contains the element silicon, the presence of this kind of additive will show a positive silicon reading in spectrometric analysis. The typical levels of silicon seen under these conditions are around 1 to 10 ppm.

2. Silicone-based Sealant — Many sealants used for industrial and mobile applications are silicone-based. The level of silicon observed wil

Clopay’s Lippert Reaps the Benefits of ICML Certification

2011-12-19T08:18:17-06:00

Scotty Lippert is often referred to as “ICML’s poster boy.” For 26 years, Lippert has been with his current employer, Clopay Plastics of Augusta, Ky. He was originally hired as an extrusion operator, promoted to team leader and then to supervisor before finally landing in his current position as planned maintenance specialist/lubrication systems leader, which he has occupied for the past 14 years.

Lippert truly personifies the spirit of ICML for a number of reasons, including his mentoring, his giving nature and his passion for volunteering, which are demonstrated by his involvement in his community, where he sits on several boards and committees and serves as county magistrate and county deputy judge executive.

In 2004, Scotty Lippert and Clopay received ICML’s John R. Battle Award for excellence in machinery l

How to Develop an Effective Oil Analysis Strategy

2011-12-19T08:04:20-06:00

Joining my sister at the emergency room for an issue with her son was an enlightening moment. The ER doctor walked in, reviewed some historical records on my nephew and began asking questions. As any mother would do, my sister gave the doctor a wealth of information, both relevant and not so relevant, to the current situation. It was the doctor’s job to filter the information and determine what was truly important and helpful. He kept pressing for more information and grilling my sister for clarification on even the smallest comment, which to her may have seemed inconsequential, but to him was significant.

I couldn’t help but realize that this scenario is repeated quite often in our world of oil analysis, with a few changes in characters. In oil analysis, the patient is a machine. More specifically, it is a component of something larger. The end user has the vested interest in the health of the component, and the person evaluating the oil sample data is the doctor.

Don't Delay After Oil Sampling

2011-12-14T09:53:43-06:00

"After pulling a sample from a piece of equipment, will the oil sample change within the sample bottle? If so, what is the longest amount of time we should allow the sample to sit?"

The moment an oil sample is taken from a machine, the sample and the oil in the reservoir begin to experience different environments. As you might imagine, at that point the properties of the two bodies begin to deviate from one another.

The greater the period between sampling and testing, the greater this deviation will be. Yes, the properties of the sample can change over time. However, the in-service oil is more likely to experience significant change.

Once taken, samples should be tested as soon as reasonably possible. To determine a time limit for shipping samples, consider the s

Why Oils Should Not Be Mixed

2011-12-12T12:14:41-06:00

"Is it all right to mix an R&O hydraulic oil with an AW hydraulic oil in a hydraulic application?"

Mixing oils with different additive packages is never recommended. Doing so could compromise the additive performance of both constituents, cause corrosion of component surfaces and lead to increased mechanical wear. Trending of some oil analysis properties also will be compromised.

In a pinch, if the oils are the same viscosity, you may be able to get away with mixing for a short time. If you must mix the oils or live with an accidental mixture until the next scheduled outage, take the following precautions:

1. Visually inspect for signs of sludge, poor demulsibility and foaming.

2. Increase the frequency of oil analysis to spot abnormal

How to Determine if Wrong Oil Has Been Added

2011-11-30T11:52:48-06:00

"We suspect that a small amount of an electrohydraulic control (EHC) phosphate ester fluid was added to a reservoir containing a polyalphaolefin (PAO) synthetic. What is the best way to figure out if this has in fact happened?"

For oils that have wildly different base stock chemistry, the simplest method is usually Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). FTIR looks for functional groups in the oil sample. These functional groups act as molecular fingerprints to identify different components in the oil, as well as common contaminants such as water, fuel and glycol.

In the case of phosphate ester contamination of a PAO, you would be looking for a peak in the FTIR spectrum around the 1,700 to 1,800 wave number corresponding to the phosphate functional group. Because this

Nestle Waters Reports Results of Hydraulic Fluid Conversion

2011-11-17T12:02:33-06:00

Nestle Waters North America recently released the results of a collaborative program designed to eliminate servo-valve failures in its Husky HyPET 500 units, which caused downtime and multiple component replacement. The program also intended to extend drain intervals, reduce energy consumption, reduce bottom-line costs and be environmentally intelligent and appropriate for use in a food/beverage plant.

After two years, the program demonstrated that use of Hydrotex SYN-Nth hydraulic fluid in this application, when combined with the principles of lubrication management, significantly reduced incidence of valve failure and improved energy efficiency. For the second year of monitoring, there were no servo-valve failures, the fluid analysis indicated no wear metals or oil degradation, and the energy efficiency improved by more than 13.5 percent after 13,000 hours of operation.

"With our conversion to the new SYN-Nth hydraulic fluid, we have increased the mean time betwee

Prevent Engine Wear with Air Filtration

2011-11-04T11:06:14-05:00

"I run a fleet of heavy-duty trucks and have learned much about the importance of keeping engine oil clean. My question is how relevant is intake air cleanliness."

On a volume basis, diesel engines can use more than 20,000 times more air than fuel. Airborne dirt is abrasive to engine components, and therefore efficient air filtration is vital in avoiding premature engine wear.

In particular, turbocharger compressor blades are eroded by airborne dirt. This results in reduced efficiency causing engine power loss, increased fuel consumption and higher exhaust emissions.

Quality air-filtration systems are designed to trap most harmful dirt, but regular attention is required to assure efficient filtration without causing air restriction and intake system leaks.

Cambridge Develops New Multi-shear Inline Viscometer

2011-11-04T10:13:02-05:00

Cambridge Viscosity has developed a new multi-shear inline viscometer that is designed to rapidly deliver accurate rheological information in a small sample process stream.

The new viscometer is available for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, ranging from concentrated suspensions to any type of coating application. Measurements from the controller compare well with those on the same fluids under the same conditions as when using a rheometer. The viscometer should be considered anywhere in-line rheometric knowledge is required.

Easy to clean and maintain, the device performs well throughout the viscosity range of 0.2 to 10,000 centipoise. The VISCOpro 2000 automatically cycles through calibrations at three different force levels to test at low, medium and high shear rates. The system allows users to eas

Controlling Lubricant Degradation with Nanoporous Materials

2011-11-01T13:08:12-05:00

Lubricant antioxidants traditionally have attempted to halt the chain-reaction mechanism of oxidation by targeting two key points — radical scavenging and peroxide decomposition. With increasing requirements for performance, lower costs and strict environmental demands, there is an increasing interest in environment-friendly oil formulations. While using traditional antioxidant additives in lubricants leads to an improved overall performance, it comes at the expense of higher costs and environmental concerns.

Materials based on molecular sieves are envisioned as effective, environmentally safe, economical and reusable alternatives to traditional antioxidant additives. These nanoporous materials can be engineered to capture oxidized byproducts and residual water produced during the early and late stages of lubricant degradation.These materials possess tailored porosity along with a variable morphology. Therefore, they can be considered as a trapping s

Using Biodegradable Lubricants in Farm Equipment

2011-11-01T10:54:11-05:00

With 3,000 acres of farmland and 200 pieces of farm equipment, Penn State University’s College of Agriculture has an ideal situation for researching new technology of interest to farmers. However, fluid spills due to line breaks often occur here and must be cleaned up using a strict protocol enforced by the Penn State Environmental, Health and Safety Department (EHS) and the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Over the years, numerous hydraulic fluid spills have resulted in clean-up costs ranging from a few thousand dollars to $20,000. This was incentive to convert to more expensive biodegradable hydraulic fluids.

Conversion to biodegradable fuels and lubricants has been an ongoing effort at Penn State since 2003. All farm equipment hydraulic fluids were changed out to biodegradable fluid. Biodiesel fuel studies resulted in conversion of all diesel farm equipment to B20, and currently some tractors are using B100.

A field test was initiated,

How Filter Quality Affects Oil Analysis

2011-10-27T16:46:06-05:00

"How does the quality of a filter impact oil analysis results (contamination and ferrous wear)? Is it correct to say that using filters with different beta ratios in the same equipment will result in different analysis results? Is there any correlation in setting alarm levels and filter beta ratios?"

The quality of the filter is directly proportional to the cleanliness and wear rate of the system. The higher the beta for the same micron pore size will result in a faster cleanup rate. Thus, it is better able to control ingression of solids in the system. The main system ingression sources typically are seals, breathers and oil top-ups, and wear debris. When catalytic wear metals are removed from the oil, the lubricant will experience longer oxidative life.

Therefore, expect

Is Too Much Filtration a Bad Thing?

2011-10-24T10:29:48-05:00

"A customer of ours is using an external engine oil filtration device designed to remove contaminants down to the 1- to 3-micron range while not affecting the additive package. The customer now believes he can extend the recommended oil change interval from 250 hours to 1,000 hours. My question is if you remove all the normal wear particles, how can you determine or trend the wear in the engine."

By sampling after the pump and before the filter, we can still see an increased rate of wear generation with oil analysis.

By reducing the background level of wear particles (noise), it is comparatively easier to detect the abnormal generation of wear particles assuming, of course, that the sample is drawn after the pump but before the filter.

You will also need to set al

Cambridge Releases Viscosity-Testing Software Upgrade

2011-10-21T16:58:06-05:00

Cambridge Viscosity has released a new version of its PVT software. The 2.0 version features numerous enhancements designed to make viscosity testing of oil, gas and supercritical fluids easier and more efficient. Users can now save graph images in a variety of formats; use time zoom, pause and “add comment” graph functions; and extend graphing colors and settings.

The software optimizes Cambridge’s VISCOlab PVT, which is a viscosity measurement system for high-pressure and high-temperature viscosity analysis. This system combines the VISCOpro processor with an advanced SPL440 sensor. The system employs an integrated recirculating bath that controls temperatures from minus 20 degrees C to 190 degrees C while minimizing warm-up time and space requirements.

The system a

Lubricant Analysis in Steam Turbines

2011-10-18T16:13:29-05:00

Turbine oils are subjected to a wide range of conditions - extreme heat, entrained air, moisture, contamination by dirt and debris, inadvertent mixing with different oil, etc. - that degrade the integrity of the hydrocarbon base stock and deplete the additive chemistries, causing irreversible molecular changes. There are two primary degradation mechanisms in turbine applications - oxidation and thermal degradation.

Oxidation is a chemical process where the oxygen reacts with the oil molecules to form a number of different chemical products, such as carboxylic acids. The rate at which this occurs depends on a number of factors. Temperature is perhaps the most critical one, since the rate of oxidation doubles for every rise of 10 degrees C. The temperature above which this occurs is influenced by the oxidation stability of the oil and the presence of catalysts and pro-oxidant conditions such as water, air, certain metals, fluid agitation and pressure.

The

Eli Lilly’s Wenzel Embodies the Spirit of ICML

2011-10-18T11:15:20-05:00

Ten years ago, ICML held its very first examination session in Biloxi, Miss., changing the course of the machinery lubrication industry. In the small pioneering group of only six practitioners stood Rendela Wenzel, who took it upon herself to be part of the very first group of ICML candidates. By successfully completing that first ICML exam, she not only became one of the first ICML-certified professionals but also the very first ICML-certified female practitioner.

In celebration of ICML’s 10th anniversary, we wanted to tell Wenzel’s remarkable story.

Wenzel remains one of a still few female reliability engineers and machinery lubrication practitioners. Although part of an ICML-award-winning team, she was one of the people ICML recognized at the 2011 Reliable Plant Conference in Columbus, Ohio, as embodying the spirit of ICML in the area of certification.

Wenzel is currently the corporate lubrication technical team leader for Eli Lilly. She has 14

Spectro Introduces New Portable Kinematic Viscometer

2011-10-17T11:47:50-05:00

Spectro Inc. has announced the introduction of a new portable, solvent-free, temperature-controlled kinematic viscometer. SpectroVisc Q3000 uses a patented split-cell capillary technique that allows the user to measure kinematic viscosity from only a few drops of oil. The entire sampling and testing process takes only a few minutes and can be easily conducted anywhere.

"This latest innovation from Spectro Inc. enables our customers to move powerful analytical tools and decision-making from the laboratory to the point of need, notably impacting workflow efficiency and reducing waste and cost of consumables,” said Yuegang Zhao, vice president of sales for Spectro Inc.

The new viscometer is designed for fast kinematic viscosity measurement in the field or any portable environment. The Q3000 has an intuitive software user interface, weighs just less than 1.8 kg and is powered by a lithium-ion battery that provides more than six hours of continuous operation.

How to Improve Oil Sampling Results

2011-10-06T14:11:14-05:00

“We have a quarterly oil sampling program at our mill on many of our critical systems. We have installed sampling ports on our hydraulic and oil circulation systems but rarely see an advance warning of equipment problems. Consequently, we have unexpected failures on sampled systems. What can we do to improve our results?”

There are many factors that can influence the effectiveness of an oil analysis program, including test slate selection, alarm levels, laboratory quality, sample frequency, sample location and equipment operational factors, to name a few. Two common problems that programs encounter include poor test selection and poorly selected sample port locations.

While both of these can confuse the outcome and minimize the effectiveness of analysis, a properly selecte

Measuring Viscosity with Onsite Viscometers

2011-09-28T10:52:11-05:00

“We are using an onsite viscometer to measure viscosity at 40 degrees C. At the same time, our lube supplier is testing samples from the same system regularly. However, our viscosity numbers are often up to 10 percent different from the lube suppliers. What are we doing wrong?”

Because the viscosity of an oil is probably its single most important property, it makes sense to measure viscosity frequently, using onsite test equipment. However, like all onsite equipment, it’s important to understand how these instruments work and their relative strengths and weaknesses.

When it comes to viscosity, there are two determinable parameters — absolute and kinematic viscosity. Kinematic viscosity measures the resistance of an oil to flow and shear under gravity, such as o

Water Contamination Remedies

2011-09-19T11:02:40-05:00

“My oil analysis data indicates that there is water in one of my gearboxes. I have put a portable filter cart on the gearbox, but about every three hours the full indicator on the filter pops up. I have changed the filter twice and can’t really detect the presence of that much water. Is it possible that my filter won’t take the water out of the synthetic oil that I’m using?”

If you are using a standard filter for particle removing, then the answer is no, it will not remove water. However, if it is a water-removing type of filter (super-absorbent type), then these are useful for removing small amounts of emulsified and free water after accidental ingress.

If you have significant amounts of water, in excess of say 0.1 percent by volume, you need to address t

Condition-based Maintenance: Tools to Prevent Equipment Failures

2011-08-06T10:00:53-05:00

One of the crucial roles of a reliability engineer is to develop and maintain a long-lasting and effective predictive and preventive maintenance program. The main expectations of this type of program are that a company can reduce unscheduled downtime, increase production and improve overall equipment reliability. It is essential to understand how the equipment performs in a facility and to be able to predict and prevent failures before they happen. The results of the combination of these technologies will give the reliability engineer an even greater confidence when communicating to management when an asset is approaching an impending failure.

This article provides an overview of the utilization of oil, vibration and thermographic analysis in combination with one another to prevent equipment failures. This type of approach, referred to as the “two-out-of-three technology rule,” will give the reliability engineer greater confidence when asking to take an asset out of pro

Setting Limits and Targets for Effective Oil Analysis

2011-08-06T09:50:09-05:00

Historically, users of oil analysis have relied almost exclusively on commercial oil analysis laboratories or oil suppliers to identify when a machine is in alarm. Realizing the limitations of this approach, world-class organizations are taking charge of their own alarm settings to ensure that their specific objectives are met. The advent of sophisticated oil analysis software has put this objective within reach of most anyone who desires it.

The primary purpose for alarms or limits is to filter (funnel) data so that the technologist spends his time managing and correcting exceptional situations instead of laboriously perusing the data trying to find the exceptions. The alarm serves as a “trip-wire” to tell the analyst that a threshold has been passed and that action is required. Some data parameters have only upper limits suc

Spectro Purchased By SFW Capital Partners

2011-07-11T17:00:01-05:00

Filtration and Condition-based Maintenance Can Save an Engine

2011-07-05T08:56:02-05:00

Are oil-change intervals on your truck a concern of yours? If not, then surely avoiding a major engine failure is.

Nichols Concrete Equipment has a long tradition of pumping concrete, but when times are tough, they do not sit with their hands in their lap and wait. Instead, they think smart and focus on maintenance costs because they know that sometimes you need to spend a little now in order to create large savings in the future.

Nichols has 18 concrete boom and line pumps at its site in Pelham, Ala., and a total of 55 trucks at its five service centers. They all run the same Mack AI ASET engine and transmission, but the rest of the trucks vary. The largest seven-axle truck has a boom of 61 meters (200 feet).

Simplify Oil Analysis Report Interpretation

2011-06-27T17:02:26-05:00

Trying to effectively interpret oil analysis data without an intimate knowledge of a machine's internal design and operating condition is fraught with danger. Here's a tip for making interpretation simpler.

Insight Services Expands Oil Analysis Laboratory

2011-06-17T13:53:35-05:00

Insight Services has announced the completion of a significant expansion to its TESTOIL laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio. This expansion added approximately 1100 square feet to the laboratory and includes the addition of several new testing stations designed to meet the increasing volume of oil samples processed daily by this independent industrial oil analysis laboratory.

“Our lab has experienced significant growth over the past few years and our oil analysis lab was beginning to bust at the seams,” said Eric Ambrose, Insight Services, Director of Technical Operations. “In addition to the physical expansion of the building we added several new lab instruments and hired new technicians, all of which have helped us maintain our industry leading position in same day turnaround and customer service”

TESTOIL offers a comprehensive range of oil analysis services that assists reliability engineers with condition monitoring and identification of

Oil Analysis Laboratory Continues Family Tradition

2011-06-07T15:20:05-05:00

The year was 1960 - John F. Kennedy had just been elected president; Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” was making theater-goers squirm in their seats; Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, was just creating his own legend when he won his first professional fight; and Edward Forgeron was founding Analysts, Inc., the first commercial lab to provide spectrochemical analysis of elements in lubricants.

Fast-forward to today, as the family-owned business continues to thrive into its third generation with Michael Forgeron, Edward’s son, who serves as president and chief executive officer and has 41 years of service with the company. Edward, who retired in 1988, remains chairman of the board of directors at AI, but the business also remains family-oriented with Patrick (15 years, support and training), Eric (12 years, laboratory manager), and Cary Forgeron (6

Is Your Turbine Oil Fit for Service?

2011-05-02T16:48:40-05:00

Oil analysis provider unveils unique services

2011-04-25T14:59:41-05:00

How to Select Machine-Specific Oil Analysis Tests

2011-04-13T11:48:26-05:00

Integrating Oil Analysis and Vibration Analysis – Machine By Machine

2011-04-12T13:45:51-05:00

The Power of the Patch

2011-04-12T11:59:12-05:00

ALS Tribology opens new facility

2011-04-07T14:55:55-05:00

International Tribology Partnership Created

2011-03-29T09:29:58-05:00

Case Study: Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station

2011-03-03T09:46:37-06:00

The woman behind the chest-high glass partition at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station dons a fresh pair of protective gloves before beginning her next work order. She gingerly moves a fragile molded shell into place onto a ceramic dish. After acknowledging the customer’s stated instructions, she precisely measures and alights each of the requested materials into the shell. A viscous dollop is gently positioned on top. It is then presented to the customer for full testing.

In the final analysis, it is determined that the plant’s cafeteria makes an outstanding taco salad.

“Everything is done to a high degree of precision at Palo Verde,” says Bryan Johnson, a lubrication engineer at this 4.2-gigawatt electrical power plant site, located 45 miles west of Phoenix in the town of Tonopah, Ariz. “That cafeteria worker was so incredibly precise. It’s an example of just how precise everything is here. That’s our culture. She was goi

A Well-Constructed Oil Analysis Report

2011-03-02T14:08:19-06:00

Think of oil analysis as being like the television game show Wheel of Fortune. There’s a message to be told but you’ll only see and understand it if you expose enough letters in their proper order. Some of these letters are in the oil but many are elsewhere. These include current knowledge of machine operating environment, service history, inspection reports and condition monitoring data from companion technologies. Start by carefully listing what questions you want oil analysis to answer. Then work backwards to determine test slate required to answer these questions. Optimize the data set, don’t minimize or maximize.

Many labs are far better at analyzing the oil than data presentation and interpretation. Expertise in analytical chemistry does not always translate to effectiveness in machine condition monitoring. In fact, frequently users are better served by engaging a lab to provide timely and accurate data than over reliance on interpretation and reporting serv

Animation of Grease Thief Analyzer

2011-01-12T08:29:16-06:00

This video shows an animation of the Grease Thief Analyzer utilizing the die extrusion process to measure changes in grease consistency and flow characteristics, and preparing a thin-film substrate for subsequent lab analysis with typical oil analysis instrumentation.

Free Book: Six Reasons Why Lube Analysis Programs Fail

2010-12-21T09:05:47-06:00

The practice of lube analysis has been proven time and again to be an effective approach to reduce maintenance and downtime costs; however, many lube analysis programs do not deliver outstanding results.

Introduction to Blue Oceans Oil Analysis and Condition Monitoring Software

2010-12-14T09:43:24-06:00

Techenomics can help you save on your preventative maintenance costs with their oil analysis and condition monitoring software "Blue Oceans". Blue Oceans is designed to allow maintenance personnel to schedule and record equipment maintenance, including the recording of all oil analysis results, lubricant and fuel usage, and monitoring the wear on magnetic plugs and trays. Results for each sample are reviewed, interpreted and managed by Blue Oceans software - successfully managing your oil analysis and condition monitoring software records and saving you in preventative maintenance costs.

POLARIS Laboratories Expands, Adds Atlanta as Fifth Location

2010-11-19T10:58:54-06:00

POLARIS Laboratories – one of the largest fluid analysis companies in North America – is again expanding business operations in the United States with a new 6,000-square-foot facility just north of Atlanta. The laboratory is the company’s fifth to open since its headquarters began operations in Indianapolis in 1999. It opened laboratories in Houston in 2003, in Salt Lake City in 2006 and in Edmonton, Alberta, in 2008.

Shell Lubricants Revamps Shell LubeAnalyst Oil Analysis Program

2010-11-12T14:51:35-06:00

Shell Lubricants has revamped its Shell LubeAnalyst oil analysis program that helps customers improve equipment and vehicle reliability and reduce maintenance costs. The upgraded Shell LubeAnalyst program provides an online user interface that offers a worldwide sample history and failure trends on various types of equipment and engine types. The program offers a scientific approach to preventive maintenance.

The Benefits of Oil Analysis, Part 1

2010-11-10T09:35:28-06:00

Stacy Heston, CMRP, Certified Lubrication Specialist and field services manager from POLARIS Laboratories, will take you through the basics of oil analysis in eMaint's best practices Webinar. This is the first part of this three-part series.

Information includes the history of oil analysis, what oil analysis can tell you, basic testing, applying the data and maintenance strategies.

The Benefits of Oil Analysis, Part 2

2010-11-10T09:34:19-06:00

Stacy Heston, CMRP, Certified Lubrication Specialist and field services manager from POLARIS Laboratories, will take you through the basics of oil analysis in eMaint's best practices Webinar. This is the second part of this three-part series.

Information includes the history of oil analysis, what oil analysis can tell you, basic testing, applying the data and maintenance strategies.

The Benefits of Oil Analysis, Part 3

2010-11-10T09:32:43-06:00

Stacy Heston, CMRP, Certified Lubrication Specialist and field services manager from POLARIS Laboratories, will take you through the basics of oil analysis in eMaint's best practices Webinar. This is the third part of this three-part series.

Information includes the history of oil analysis, what oil analysis can tell you, basic testing, applying the data and maintenance strategies.

CMS Adds Online Oil Analysis Laboratory Services

2010-11-08T09:18:37-06:00

Condition Monitoring Services Inc. has added a complete oil analysis laboratory to its repertoire of predictive maintenance solutions. CMS LabLogik’s online laboratory takes equipment monitoring to its highest level of efficiency and effectiveness with its unique capability of interpreting oil tests in order to predict the maintenance that your equipment will need.

POLARIS Schedules Oil and Coolant Analysis Training Classes

2010-10-07T09:47:36-05:00

POLARIS Laboratories will host its second set of oil and coolant analysis training classes October 26-28 at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Edmonton.

Analysts Inc. Improves Oil Sampling with SureSample

2010-10-06T10:06:34-05:00

The SureSample oil sample bottle is a new sampling device designed to ensure quality oil samples in a fast, clean and easy manner. SureSample was developed by MecOil and Analysts Inc., two leading global oil analysis laboratories.

POLARIS Laboratories Offers New Fuel Analysis Webinars

2010-09-22T10:43:08-05:00

POLARIS Laboratories has expanded its scope of customer training and technical support with a new diesel fuel analysis Webinar series. The new curriculum is designed to help end-users correct performance issues, maintain standards for fuel cleanliness, and confirm sulfur content, biodiesel content and manufacturer specifications. It also provides guidelines for taking diesel fuel samples and the requirements for properly shipping them to the laboratory.

Learn Effective Oil Analysis Skills through Noria Training

2010-09-21T10:25:40-05:00

Attend Noria Corporation training to learn effective oil analysis skills for maximizing equipment and lubricant life.

How to Perform Industrial Oil Analysis

2010-09-15T10:31:56-05:00

This video provides a general overview of Analysts Inc. and its industrial oil analysis program.

Take an Up-close Look at Polaris Laboratories

2010-09-07T08:10:36-05:00

This video provides a look at Polaris Laboratories and its range of products and services.

Spectro Offers New Analytical Instrument for Predicting Mechanical Failures

2010-08-09T09:11:05-05:00

QinetiQ North America, a global developer of innovative technology solutions, on August 9 announced that its subsidiary, Spectro Inc., is introducing the Spectroil Q100 Oil Analysis Spectrometer, an analytical instrument that detects and quantifies metals in used (in-service) oils and hydraulic fluids that are indicative of an abnormal condition. Spectro Inc. customers will utilize the Spectroil Q100 to help predict mechanical failures in their early stages so corrective action can be taken. Oil analysis has become an extremely successful predictive maintenance tool applied by the military and commercial industry to greatly improve safety and reduce maintenance costs.

A New Technique for Filter Debris Analysis

2010-08-06T15:05:52-05:00

Due to the increasing fineness of filter elements in high-precision machinery lubricating oil systems, monitoring of filter debris analysis (FDA) is gaining increased significance for the early failure detection of moving parts.

Maximize Your PdM Efforts with Oil Analysis Skills Training

2010-07-29T09:47:38-05:00

Most companies achieve less than 10% of the benefits available from oil analysis. Learn how to get the most out of your oil analysis program in this results-producing training course.

Polaris Laboratories Explains the Benefits of Oil Analysis

2010-07-15T09:50:51-05:00

Polaris Laboratories provides oil analysis, coolant analysis, fuel analysis and analysis for other types of machinery / industrial fluids. Fluid analysis is a preventive maintenance procedure that can help identify problems before a failure, so that corrective action can be taken and planned maintenance can be scheduled. This is an important process for trucking fleets, industrial plant machinery, mining and construction equipment, power plant machinery, ship motors, etc. Polaris Labs also offers training classes on various fluid analysis topics.

Screening vs. Testing: Know the Difference When Monitoring Contaminants

2010-06-09T11:05:53-05:00

Noria Offers Limited-Time Discount on Video-Based Lubrication Training

2010-06-09T09:10:42-05:00

Now you can provide best practice lubrication training plant- or company-wide with Noria's five training videos - and save up to 30% when you purchase by June 30, 2010.

What's Hot? Current Trends in Lubrication and Oil Analysis

2010-06-08T14:15:29-05:00

Oil Sampling Do's and Don'ts

2010-04-08T15:47:46-05:00

People love “do’s and don’ts” lists. A quick Google search will yield 10.9 million hits for what to do and not do. A quick scan through the endless supply of D&D lists will show that many of the subjects people feel the need on which to provide unsolicited consulting really don’t have a defined method of approach beyond common sense. For example, the do’s and don’ts of air travel barely stretch outside the realm of common sense. Advice such as “Do not place your firearm in your carry-on luggage” or “Do not smoke while in the aircraft” goes without saying. Then there are the do and do-not-do lists for topics that are highly subjective such as fashion (Don’t wear white after Labor Day).

Thankfully, in the realm of oil analysis and machinery lubrication, few do’s and don’ts can be considered subjective. In this case, we’re talking about what to do and not do related to oil sampling for analys

Introduction to Lubrication and Oil Analysis Training

2010-04-01T12:47:45-05:00

Introduction to Machinery Lubrication and Oil Analysis: In this three-day training course, you'll gain skills that you can use right away to reduce downtime and operating costs.

POLARIS to Provide Fluid Analysis for AES Early Failure Detection Centre

2010-03-01T09:52:22-06:00

POLARIS Laboratories, a leader in fluid analysis services in North America, announced March 1 its partnership with United Kingdom-based AES Defence, who provides oil analysis services for more than 1,500 British military vehicles. The company’s Machine Care Plus oil sampling and analysis service monitors equipment condition and usage, identifies signs of distress and alerts appropriate personnel when maintenance action should be taken.

A Primer on FTIR Spectrometry

2010-02-23T14:57:23-06:00

This is an education video on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Access this 6-minute, 32-second video by clicking on the link below.

How Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Works

2010-02-23T14:54:33-06:00

Mike Martin gives a description of how Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy works.

Access this 1-minute, 23-second video by clicking on the link below.

ISO Standard Leads to Changes for MLA, MLT Certifications

2010-02-19T09:01:50-06:00

Starting January 2010, the International Council on Machinery Lubrication’s examinations in oil analysis will follow the now published ISO 18436-4 standard.

Lubrication Expert Receives ASTM International Charles B. Dudley Medal Award

2010-02-16T14:03:08-06:00

ASTM International has presented the 2009 Charles B. Dudley Medal to Alan Riga, Ph.D., president and CEO of TechCon Inc. in Cleveland.

GE Invests $1M in Plant that Makes Coriolis Flow Meters

2010-02-03T08:33:30-06:00

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies on February 3 announced a $1 million investment to expand its Odelzhausen, Germany, facility, which designs and manufactures Rheonik coriolis flow meters used in the oil & gas and power generation sectors.

Army's Oil Analysis Program Saves Money, Protects Personnel

2010-01-24T13:01:58-06:00

Behind the scenes at Joint Base Balad (JBB) in Balad, Iraq, stands a man who keeps United States service personnel safe and saves the government money, but he and his crew remain backstage until something goes wrong.

U.S. Army Oil Analysis Program site lead Mark J. Bass and his team of three technicians check used oil samples from aviation components, generators and military-tracked vehicles for breakdown of metals, sand contamination and ways to extend the oil life in that equipment.

These checks can help extend oil life, which is especially beneficial at JBB (located in northern Iraq, approximately 75 kilometers north of Baghdad), where some generators take up to 50 gallons - five gallons short of a barrel - of oil each, he said.

"On these generators, manufacturer warranty requires you to change the oil every 250 hours," Bass said. "You're going through a drum of oil every time you have to do an oil change.

Energizer Receives Gill Award For Excellence in Oil Analysis

2010-01-24T12:58:28-06:00

Energizer's battery manufacturing plant in Maryville, Mo., was the recipient of this year's International Council on Machinery Lubrication Augustus H. Gill Award for Excellence in Oil Analysis. Rick Staley, the predictive maintenance steward at the Maryville plant, and Ernie Flanders, Energizer's manager of World-Class Maintenance, accepted the award during a ceremony at the recent RELIABLE PLANT 2009 conference and exhibition in Columbus, Ohio.

ICML congratulates Energizer for its vision and support of its lubrication and analysis technicians in the development of its best-in-class program.

The focus for the ICML awards (which includes the Gill Award as well as the John R. Battle Award for Excellence in Machinery Lubrication) is not just to identify award recipients, but to encourage performance of excellence and create a means to share best practices among user organizations on a global scale. Energizer's team, like previous Gill and Battle award recipi

On-site Oil Analysis Tools Provide Value ... if You Use the Test Data

2010-01-24T12:57:21-06:00

Companies invest in some form of on-site oil analysis with the understanding that any information is good information. But the reality is that most facilities have little or no idea what to do with the information revealed by the analysis.

Companies considering some level of on-site oil analysis frequently have trouble with the concept of on-site vs. off-site analysis. Many believe that you can replace off-site oil analysis with your on-site program. This may be the case for a few on-site labs with highly sophisticated facilities. But for the remaining 99 percent of on-site setups I have seen, these would be considered screening operations meant to provide go/no-go results that may prompt some further action which may include actual laboratory testing and analysis.

Even in the world of on-site oil analysis screening, there are certainly levels of sophistication and many opportunities for choice of test, ease of use and accuracy among othe

Exelon Lubrication Coordinator Juggles Host of PdM Responsibilities

2010-01-19T14:21:37-06:00

Keith Swearingen, our second "Get to Know ..." subject, is the lubrication coordinator at Exelon Corporation's Braidwood Generating Station, a nuclear power plant located in Braceville, Ill., 60 miles southwest of Chicago. He has been an Exelon employee for 33 years, including the past 14 on the nuclear side.

What has been your range of roles with Exelon?: My career began in fossil plants in the technical/engineering staff. We were responsible for efficiency testing of major electrical generating equipment. This position was discontinued in the fossil division after 19 years and I transferred to the results section of system engineering for the Braidwood nuclear facility 14 years ago. Coincidently, the results section also performs efficiency testing of major in-plant electrical generating equipment. One of the results section responsibilities is lubrication analysis for equipment condition asse

Count on Our Readers to Supply More Technical Tips

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The "Lube-Tips" section of Machinery Lubrication magazine features innovative ideas submitted by our readers. Additional tips can be found in our Lube-Tips e-mail newsletter. If you have a tip to share, e-mail it to editor-in-chief Paul V. Arnold at parnold@noria.com. To sign up for the Lube-Tips e-mail newsletter, visit www.machinerylubrication.com and click on the "Newsletters" link found at the top of the home page.

Filter Changes Can Disrupt Particle Counts
This technical tip was submitted by Brian Mann, a rotating equipment specialist at ConocoPhillips:

"Have you ever seen a sudden spike in particle count for a stable circulating oil system, where no oil has been added or lost? Check to see if the oil filter was changed just prior to the oil sample date. It is not uncommon for a spike in particle count after changing oil filters due to the

Virgin Particles and Weak Signals: Finding Meaning in Wear Debris

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

I often mention the wear debris universe when I lecture on oil analysis topics. This refers to the extensive array of wear particle technologies and tactics that can help reveal the true tribological condition of a machine. Individually, these tools are often inconclusive when it comes to identifying the source, cause and severity of abnormal wear conditions. They may not even be able to identify the problem at all. Yet when used in combination, they can expose a vivid image of a current or impending failure condition.

A skilled analyst should be well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of these technologies and tactics. Not all of these tools need to be at your fingertips, but nonetheless should be available when called upon. Too often, an inexperienced technician will attempt to draw a premature conclusion from little more than a sliver of information in the wear debris universe. Examples might be a muted iron trend from elemental data or stabilized ISO codes from particle coun

Oil Analysis is Team Game For Kuchler and Johnson Controls

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

"Get to Know …" features a brief question-and-answer session with a Machinery Lubrication reader. These articles put the spotlight on industry professionals and detail some of the lubrication-related projects they are working on. If you know of an ML reader who deserves to be profiled, e-mail editor-in-chief Paul V. Arnold at parnold@noria.com.

Featured ML reader: John Kuchler

Employer: Johnson Controls Inc.

Job title: Manager of the predictive diagnostics team at the company's facilities in Milwaukee.

How many years have you been at this company?: 17 years

Where else have you worked over the years, and what has been your range of job titles?: I previously worked at Wisconsin Electric (now

Optimizing Oil Drain Intervals Using BN vs. AN

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Safely extending oil drain intervals by using fluid analysis to monitor oil condition and engine wear has always been a significant means for reducing a maintenance department's consumable costs. But in today's economic environment, it is becoming even more critical to achieve optimal drain intervals and, at the same time, minimize engine damage.

Advanced oil formulations have allowed the industry to make great strides in extending drains. The CI-4 and CI-4 Plus oils used in diesel engines manufactured prior to 2007 had a significant impact. Although many felt this progress would be jeopardized by the CJ-4 oils that were later introduced with a lower starting base number (BN), better CJ-4 additive technology actually enabled many fleets to increase drain intervals even further.

While fluid analysis is the best way to safely determine an optimal drain interval, the appropriate testing should be done by a reputable laboratory that uses reliable testing methods.

How to Choose an Oil Analysis Laboratory

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

There are three aspects to every purchase: price, service and quality. Conventional business wisdom says you can have two of them, any two of them, but not all three at the same time.

Partnering with an external oil analysis laboratory is a strategic decision. Too often, like many other business decisions, price is (wrongly) the overall decider. There are many aspects of the oil analysis service that need to be considered: tests available, interpretation skills, turnaround time and, yes, price.

If I were to ask you, "Why are you using this particular oil analysis lab?", what would be your response? Most often, the answers I hear are: "I don't really know"; "It's what we've always used"; "It's close by"; or (my personal favorites) "They're nice and cheap" and "The service is free".

Choosing a commercial oil analysis lab should not be taken lightly. Therefore, this artic

Good Features of an Oil Analysis Suite

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Oil analysis software has one primary function - to convey to the user, with a minimum of confusion and a maximum of efficiency, the state of a machine and its ability to continue to perform its designed function. The ability of a software suite to do this, and its flexibility to adapt to varying user requirements, determines its success as a viable product. The suite is challenged to present and analyze, both automatically and on demand, laboratory data in such a way that meaningful decisions may be made with regard to future machine operation. This article will highlight important functions and requirements of oil analysis software required to achieve reliability goals.

The System
Oil analysis software is a database application. It has a back end (the database) to store the information and a front end (the user interface) to manipulate the data into useful information and present it accordingly. Sound automatic backup, repair and security f

Mesh Blockage Particle Monitoring

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Mesh blockage often gets overlooked as a particle monitoring technique. Several articles have identified mesh blockage (or pore blockage) in its more successful role: dealing with the problematic oil samples that elude the use of light extinction units. This article reviews the techniques of light blockage and mesh blockage, bringing back to the spotlight this useful approach to trending solid particulate levels in machines.

The Success of Light Blockage
Historically, the light extinction principle enjoyed success due to its reference in the ISO standards. As the technique was readily available, a number of suppliers provided units for either portable or laboratory applications. Because of its flexibility in sample size (usually requiring less than 20 milliliters), light extinction is the preferred technique for most laboratories.

However, many laboratories offer a particle count only on hydraulic and turbine flui

Nine Reasons Why Oil Analysis Programs Fail

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Many oil analysis programs are failures. Maybe not total failures, but they are almost certainly not delivering the results they could be and should be. Here are some of the most common reasons why oil analysis programs do not live up to their expectations.

1) Poor Analysis Strategies
A commonly beholden oil analysis strategy is to take samples only when the machine is suspected of having a problem, or when some other condition monitoring (CM) technique, such as vibration, triggers an exception. Oil analysis, like most other CM tools, is a trending game. If the only samples that are ever analyzed are problems, then without a background of the known-normal situation, the diagnosis is likely to be unreliable. So, don’t only take samples when problems are suspected; make sure to sample regularly and frequently.

Filter Analysis Describes the History of Wear

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Across-bar cooler is one of the main pieces of equipment in cement production. It is used for the transport and cooling of clinker, one of the ingredients of cement. Cement kilns operate with a cross-bar cooler which consists of four grates driven by a hydraulic station.

Any pump failures cause downtime and stop cement production. Therefore, it is important for the pump to operate smoothly on continuous basis.

Hydraulic Circuit

Pilot Pump
The pilot pump provides oil flow to the proportional valve which controls the position of the swash plate. It also controls the oil flow from the main pump (axial piston pump) at 22 liters per minute.

Boost Pump
The boost pump refills the main pump with the same amount of oil removed by the shuttle valve to cool the oil. Oil flow is 50 liters per minute.

Main Pump
The main pump consists of an axial piston pump with variable

Statistical Techniques to Simplify Oil Analysis Data

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

In oil analysis, we often must interpret a change in one parameter relative to a change in another to reach a meaningful conclusion. For example, an increase in wear levels combined with a corresponding decrease in zinc might tell us that wear is increasing due to the loss of antiwear additive protection. Further “reading between the lines” using viscosity, acid number (AN) and infrared analysis data might tell us whether the reduced antiwear protection is the result of the addition of the wrong oil or additive depletion, and so forth.

Unfortunately, while these parameters are all important to our analysis, they use widely varying units and each has its own degree of random variation (data fragility). That makes charting the values over time on a common graph difficult. Also, different alarming logic is applied to the different parameters. One way around this problem is to trend statistically derived percentile ratings instead of actual parameter values.

Evaluating Cross-equipment Oil Analysis Data

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Evaluating data for oil samples can be a tricky venture. The person tasked with the diagnostics of sample data must be aware of the different parameters of the machine tested, as well as the laboratory testing procedures and processes.

When teaching the skills of data evaluation, much of the focus is given to topics such as setting alarms and limits and establishing targets. While the establishment of appropriate alarms is vital in helping to identify current and potential problems, there is a level of evaluation that simply cannot be defined by conventional black-and-white rules.

Apples to Apples
In addition to utilizing the standard alarming tools to trigger various condition potential and corresponding evaluations, there should also be a level of cross- equipment evaluation. Cross-equipment evaluation is a practice by which the results of like equipment are compared to determine if an actual condition exists or if there are simi

Utilizing Oil Analysis Results As a Key Performance Indicator

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

With the focus on oil analysis as a key performance indicator (KPI) for the health of a piece of equipment, are you sure your oil analysis is pointing you in the right direction? Many factors can affect the results of an oil sample, and one of them is how the sample is taken. Personnel can be trained to draw an oil sample, but do they understand how to collect the sample properly?

Coolant in the Transmission
Consider an incident involving a 40-ton rough-terrain crane located 1,500 miles away. The oil analysis results showed coolant in the transmission. When problems like this were detected, a second sample was taken before any serious work was performed. The second sample confirmed coolant in the transmission. The on-site mechanic gave the crane a thorough examination and detected nothing out of the ordinary that would cause the coolant to be present.

The crane was taken out of operation, and a third sample again showed coolant in

Causes and Solutions for Foaming in Oil

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Foaming is a common problem with oil-lubricated components. It can be difficult to troubleshoot, and for this reason, accurate testing to determine the root cause of the foaming is essential.

Symptoms
Foam is a collection of small bubbles of air that accumulate on or near the surface of the fluid. In severe cases, the foam can leak out of the machine through breathers, sight glasses and dipsticks. Foam is an efficient thermal insulator, so the temperature of the oil can become difficult to control. The presence of air bubbles in the fluid can lead to excessive oxidation, cavitation, the reduction of lubricating properties of the oil and hydraulic system failure.

Causes
The causes of foaming are many. The most common include:

Water contamination

Solids contamination

Depleted defoamant (possibly due to the u

Five Essential Lube Oil Properties Not Routinely Reported By Your Oil Lab

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

You may be surprised to learn that there are no less than five lubrication performance properties that are missing from nearly all in-service oil analysis reports. These are not esoteric properties that are of limited value or interest to those in charge of machine reliability. Instead, they represent the core foundation of a lubricant’s formulation and purpose. In other words, they relate to the essence of what we expect and need from a lubricant. And, these are the properties that are imparted by additives and commonly found on a lubricant’s product data sheet (spec sheet).

Don’t get me wrong; I am not suggesting that commercial oil analysis labs are duping their clients by shortchanging testing services. Many of these missing tests cannot be practically performed on routine oil samples because they are expensive, involve prolonged test periods and/or require large sample volumes. Yet it is important that the user community fully understand what they get and wha

Understanding Failure Modes Before Sampling Oil

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

There is little doubt that oil analysis is a vital tool in helping to ensure that critical oil-lubricated assets remain reliable. Used properly, oil analysis can provide early warning of impending mechanical failure and provide vital feedback to help ensure contamination levels are below the danger level, all the time validating that the physical and chemical properties of the oil have not changed. By now, you’ve heard about the importance of taking a representative sample from the right location using the right methodology.

But what about sampling frequency? How often should we take samples? All too often, sampling frequency is driven not so much by sound reliability or lubrication engineering logic, but rather by the cost of the analysis. Believing that we’re spending too much on analysis for a specific machine or class of machines, the temptation is to back off and sample less frequently to save money.

This approach is like canceling your life insurance po

Oil Analysis and Lubricant Management Prove Successful

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Southern Champion Tray Company is a manufacturer and printer of food containers. The firm was motivated to change its oil analysis and lubricant management programs after company personnel were introduced to Noria Corporation's Machinery Lubrication Technician (MLT) training. This case study chronicles how plant personnel made important changes after oil analysis reflected high contamination levels.

Solving the Problem
Southern Champion Tray made a proactive decision to implement a filtration process. Two targets were selected for improvement: the baler's hydraulic systems and the printing press' circulating oil. The company installed desiccant breathers on all of its hydraulic systems, with quick-disconnects and sample ports, then added an off-line filtration cart (kidney system) with 12- and six-micron filtration. From a philosophical standpoint, the plant veered away from using

Certifying Condition Monitoring Personnel

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

There has been much discussion in the industry lately regarding the upcoming ISO 18436 standard series on training and certification of condition monitoring (CM) personnel. Many managers are eagerly awaiting the publishing of these standards to defer to ISO certification of their personnel for matters related to skill assessment of the CM staff.

The ISO 18436 series specifies the requirements for assessment bodies, training bodies and procedures for qualification and assessment of personnel who perform machinery condition monitoring and diagnostics.

While these upcoming standards are indeed a milestone in industry and quite overdue, it is necessary to understand the intent of these standards, as well as the limitations. This will enable industry to optimize the use of such standards and avoid being misled by false representation of such ISO certification.

On this note, it is also important to explain that the series 18436 has been renamed from "training a

Unlocking Free Radicals With Micro Electron Spin Resonance

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Free radicals are highly reactive chemical species that govern many fundamental chemical processes in nature, most notably combustion and oxidation. Until now, direct measurement of the composition and concentration of free radicals has represented a challenge for chemists due to the complexity and expense of the necessary equipment.

An innovation in sensor design, the Micro Electron Spin Resonance spectrometer (Micro-ESR), measures free radicals with a compact, low-cost and ruggedized device.

The spectrometer enables new low-cost applications such as online measurement of lubricant breakdown in engines and machinery, online airborne particulates monitoring in diesel engine exhaust and even spin immunoassay medical diagnostics.

Figure 1. Micro-ESR Sensor

The Benefits of Utilizing Wear Debris Analysis in Industrial Machinery

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The analysis of powertrain lubricants for the purpose of detecting faults and abnormal wear patterns is a useful practice in mobile equipment applications. Unfortunately for many users, these techniques don't always transfer successfully into stationary equipment applications. In recent years, new approaches and techniques have been advanced to improve the detection of incipient and developing faults in bearings and gear units using wear debris analysis.

As opposed to the application of any singular new or emerging technology, these new methods are more systematic and functional. It begins with improvements in the sampling process to enrich the data and proceeds through the use of specific strategies and tactics. After detection is confirmed, the final analytical phase involves wear particle identification using both classic and advanced techniques.

Like so many endeavors, success depends more on the quality of execution than the strength of the underlying technologies. This idea

How to Dramatically Increase Throughput and Turnaround

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Predictive maintenance is the science of determining how and/or when a piece of equipment will break down. As a result of this, the analysis of used lubrication oil and engine oils for metals is commonplace in many industries such as aerospace, marine, military and heavy machinery.

One of the main benefits of predictive maintenance is the reduction of downtime of a piece of machinery. Another benefit is safety. In the aerospace industry, it is a requirement that engine oil is tested every 250 hours to prevent the failure of a component midflight. The speed at which the results of this analysis are obtained and interpreted is critical. For example, an airplane is often grounded until the results of this analysis are returned with pass criteria.

The challenge for analytical laboratories is to provide an efficient service where speed of analysis and the interpretation of the results is unparalleled. The dichotomy organizations face is how this speed and coordination are o

Advancements in On-site and Laboratory Ferrous Wear Debris Testing

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Condition monitoring of machinery lubricants is an established method of predicting and avoiding impending machinery breakdown. With Kittiwake's ferrous debris monitoring technology, laboratories and on-site maintenance engineers identify and detect worn machinery parts before serious damage occurs.

Development of the Monitors
The ANALEX range of ferrous debris monitors from Kittiwake provides an accurate means of detecting and measuring ferrous wear debris in lubricating oils, hydraulic oils and greases regardless of particle size. Used by oil analysis laboratories worldwide, the ANALEXpq technology has been developed and enhanced by Kittiwake since the acquisition of ANALEX in 2002 and is now part of a full suite of ferrous debris products on- and off-line.

The rugged, compact and stable monitors deliver retrievable data quickly and simply, ensuring fast, accurate and consistent management of oil condition samples. The range i

Understanding Ferrous Density

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

As part of my job, I regularly present oil analysis training seminars. One of the tests we discuss is ferrous density. I find that this test is seldom well understood, and, probably as a result, is seldom used.

Explanation of the Test
Ferrous density is the density of ferrous, or more correctly, of ferromagnetic particles distributed in the oil. The other ferromagnetic elements that one might encounter in lubricated components are nickel and cobalt, but in practice, these elements are likely to be present only in comparatively small quantities. Therefore, we are effectively measuring the concentration of magnetic steel alloys.

There is no single way to conduct a ferrous density analysis. There are many ways of performing this rather essential test. Perhaps the two most common are the direct-reading ferrography, a technique which uses light blockage analysis of material deposited on a glass slide; and

The Five Cardinal Signs of a Healthy Machine

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

You cannot monitor your way to a healthy machine just like frequent tests for cholesterol and blood pressure do not make their readings lower. Or do they? Monitoring physical conditions brings vision and awareness to health. It is continuous feedback about how we're doing. In a similar manner, from measured readings we can report and categorize machine conditions as being safe, cautionary or at alarm levels (critical).

Bad news needs a rapid and strong delivery. And it needs an equally spontaneous response. Indifference and procrastination to nonconforming conditions becomes habit forming. It is true that no one likes a negative report, but it doesn't make it go away; just like we cannot ignore-away the trauma of sudden-death machine failure. It is better to have to deal with 20 minor health inconveniences than the jolt of one terminal case of cancer.

By responding to an aberrant alarm or condition in near real-time, we likely can spare ourselves from having to r

When It Comes to CBM, Inspect Success

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Most companies have discovered to some degree the benefits of condition based maintenance (CBM). By definition, CBM entails performing maintenance tasks, not on a scheduled interval basis (such as operating hours, miles, cycles, etc.) but rather based on data gathered from certain predictive maintenance tasks such as oil analysis, vibration analysis, thermography or ultrasonics. The key benefit to a condition-based maintenance strategy is that maintenance tasks get done only when required, based on data, optimizing the utilization of increasingly scarce maintenance resources. Done properly, there is little doubt that CBM can and does work.

Routine Inspections
While CBM has proved successful for many companies, all too often they mis

SPM Instrument Launches New Online Condition Monitoring System

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Anew high-performance online system for condition-monitoring of critical industrial equipment is launched by SPM Instrument, Sweden. The system, named Intellinova, complements the Nova family of products - condition-monitoring software and instruments.

This system provides overall asset maintenance and control. It is a carefully designed and dependable workhorse, developed to fit the needs of a wide range of machinery applications.

The online system ensures a durable and scalable system at an affordable price. The use of modern technology throughout the system makes measurement and signal conditioning fast and enables extremely high levels of measurement accuracy and repeatability.

The system measures shock pulse for in-depth bearing analysis. Shocks emitted by rolling element bearings are analyzed with fast Fourier transform (FFT). Band alarms enable easy alarm management and improved alarm reliability. For vibration analysis, the monitor uses evaluated vibrat

Detecting Hidden Corrosion

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The corrosion of metallic structures is an industry- and government-wide maintenance problem that has been rapidly spreading due to the increased amount of infrastructure and military assets that are aging. However, even in the case of newer systems and components, corrosion can be a significant problem because of the harsh operational environments encountered.

Recognition of the severity and the economic impact of the corrosion problem by various industries and government agencies has led to significant effort over the past 50 years to prevent and control corrosion. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) plays an important role in this effort by enabling the detection of early signs of corrosion so that corrective action can be taken before the damage becomes severe.

Figure 1. An F/A-18C Hornet

Update Your Oil Analysis Program

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Has your oil analysis program been running for a few years, or maybe longer, in its current state? Have you been wondering if it could be better? If so, then it may be time for an evaluation and tune-up.

When to Review
We tend to implement programs in our facilities, then leave them to run on their own while we move on to other projects. A comprehensive review of your oil analysis program may be just the ticket to revitalize the program, fix some shortfalls and eliminate some unnecessary testing or sampling.

The review should include the equipment sampled, the lab you are using, sampling locations and frequency, the tests performed, alarms and limits, reporting, the responsibilities of the people involved, training and certification. You will likely find some improvement is needed.

Many plants have had oil analysis programs in place for years. But like most things in life, we continue

FTIR Spectrometers Used For On-site Lubrication Analysis

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The manufacturer of the PAL series of portable Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analyzers, A2 Technologies, announces new enhancements to this product line. The PAL systems quantify the level of water in these oils in the range of 50 to 5,000 ppm with accuracy of better than five percent.

This advance now permits the PAL systems to be as analytically effective as the gold standard Karl Fischer titration for measuring water in the aforementioned concentration range. The FTIR method is less time consuming, requires no hazardous or expensive reagents and can be performed on-site.

In addition to measuring the water level in lubricants, the PAL system immediately yields the amount of oxidation and nitration by-products present and the amount of antioxidation, antiwear and extreme pressure additives that remain in the lubricant. With this information, lubrication specialists and equipment maintenance personnel can make on-the-spot decisions about the condition of the lubric

Estimating Turbine Oil Oxidation

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

From steam turbine to gas turbine, from power generation to refining, turbines are pervasive throughout industry. While turbine systems can endure a whole host of different failure modes, studies by major turbine manufacturers such as General Electric have pointed to the lubricant as one cause of poor reliability.
However, other factors such as maintenance and operational practices, electrostatic discharge, contamination, and lubricant chemistry have been identified as root causes. Turbine oils must endure a host of different challenges due to heat from the process itself, compressive heating, aeration, and internal and external contamination, including water and particles.

Perhaps the most misunderstood failure modes are those induced by the turbine oil itself. While turbine oils are naturally pure, well-formulated oils, the long-term stress caused by adverse operating conditions can result in both thermal and oxidative degradation of the oil which can cause problems wi

Employing Oil Analysis Metrics

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

In my previous column, I discussed the importance of using metrics to measure the success of a lubrication-management program, specifically metrics that one would develop from oil analysis data. In that column, I alluded to what I called use-dependent parameters and use-independent parameters. I'm going to discuss these further in this article.

Let's assume that you have a lot of pumps in your plant. You've learned, by experience, that most pump bearing failures are attributable to water contamination. So two of the important metrics you've identified as ones you'd like to monitor are water contamination and elemental iron (Fe).

It might be reasonable to assume that calculating the average water contamination and average elemental iron would be a good way to track the health of your pumps. This method works well for determining water contamination, but it is misleading for determining bearing wear.

Let's say the plant has just had a maj

Evaluating the Source of Silicon in Oil

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Let's say you have silicon showing up on your oil analysis report. Where does it come from and what does it mean? The laboratory suggests the source is due to external contamination and is abrasive, and recommends an oil change.

Great Abundance
Being the second-most abundant element on the planet next to oxygen, silicon is versatile in the world of lubrication and can lead to initially misleading analysis reports. Therefore, it is important to know what to look for and how to evaluate the overall source and severity of silicon.

Silicon is used in many oil types as an antifoaming additive. As an additive, silicon is used in engine, gear, circulating and other types of oils. The consistent variable in the use of silicon is the amount in the new oil.

Oil manufacturers will use amounts of silicon based on different types of oil (Figure 1).

It should also be note

The Richness of Machine Failure

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

"Before you are old and wise you have to be young and stupid." This clever T-shirt aphorism caught my attention recently because it says directly what we all know to be true. However, viewed a little differently, it seems possible to be wise and stupid at the same time. Stupid is another name for ignorant, which we all are to different degrees. Being wise includes knowing what you don't know, seeking knowledge and learning quickly from mistakes.

It makes sense that in the beginning we hope to be both stupid and wise so that we won't eventually end up being old, stupid and foolish. In reliability, foolishness is turning a blind eye to the richness of knowledge and the teachings of our experiences. It's much like a self-inflicted sentence that condemns us to repeat the blunders of the past.

Switching Failure from a Liability to an Asset
The definition of an asset is something that delivers futu

Easy Ways to Measure Water in Oil

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Moisture, upon contaminating hydraulic and lubricating oils, has a degrading effect to both the lubricant and the machine itself. While some additives adsorb to the water and are removed when the water separates from the oil, others are destroyed by water-induced chemical reactions. Water also promotes oxidation of the oil's base stock, causes rust and corrosion of machine surfaces, and reduces critical, load-bearing film strength. Essentially, water represents a real risk to equipment and should be aggressively controlled.

The Varying States of Water
Water coexists with oil in either a dissolved or a free state. When single water molecules are distributed throughout the oil due to the water's chemical attraction to the fluid, it is in a dissolved state. Numerous factors such as viscosit

Key Oil Analysis Metrics

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

It's often said that an oil analysis program is a metric of the overall health of a lubrication management program. If this is true, then why is oil analysis seldom used as such? Sure, it gets used, and sometimes well-used, to manage machine health and detect incipient problems on an individual machine-by-machine basis.

Unfortunately, however, it is rarely used to actually measure the health of a lubrication management program as a whole. Although oil analysis statistics are not the only measurements of the health of an oil analysis program, they are the focus of this article.

Useful Data
A more thorough analysis of the plant's oil analysis results is needed, as well as some statistics and metrics that can be generated on a monthly basis. It is important to be able to perform this analysis. If a lubrication excellence program has been initiated at a plant, then capital funds have likely been provided, and if so, sooner or l

Examining Sensor-based Condition Monitoring

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The complex nature of machinery in industrial environments requires sophisticated maintenance practices that continuously evolve to meet new application demands. In addition, new marketing strategies now often include service contracts that go beyond traditional warranty considerations. Consequently, the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) are often directly responsible for equipment availability and reliability.

Figure 1. OEM Equipment Design Trends

Frequently, availability and reliability are based on concepts such as the overall equipment effectiveness, lifecycle cost and the total cost of ownership. The key trends in equipment design considerations and their implications for fluid power technology and condition monitoring (CM) programs are shown in Figure 1. These hardware consider

Tribology: the Key to Proper Lubricant Selection

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

In the past, the lubrication requirements for a specific application could be satisfied by using general-purpose lubricants. Lubricant selection was typically based on experience and knowledge. Today, this approach is no longer viable due to the requirements of the current demanding environments to run faster, longer and hotter. Today's lubricants must satisfy extreme requirements that are specific to each application.

Tribology - the study of friction, lubrication and wear - has become the basis for selecting lubricants. The lubrication requirements for a given application can be identified by examining the effects of tribological system parameters on lubricant chemistry.

Figure 1. Minimum Allowable Viscosity for Lubrication of Rolling-eleme

Lube In-service Time Key to Proper Analysis Interpretation

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

One of the most important pieces of information in oil analysis is the amount of operating time on the lubricant, which is typically reported in hours or miles/kilometers. The time that the lubricant has been in service, or "lubricant time", is vital to determining the severity of a wear or contamination condition and whether maintenance action is warranted.

Consider the following scenario: A mobile hydraulic system has 50 parts per million (ppm) of silicon/silica (dirt), which would be a cautionary level for a lube in service for 500 hours. However, if the lubricant time reported was only 25 hours, the 50 ppm of silicon is a more severe condition. A recommendation of investigating and correcting the source of contamination would be appropriate.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Testing

ASTM Approves Method to Determine Moisture Content in Lubricants, Additives

2009-10-08T00:00:00-05:00

ASTM International Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants has approved a new ASTM method which covers the determination of moisture content in new and in-service lubricants and additives by relative humidity sensor. The standard, ASTM D 7546, offers users an alternative to moisture testing by Karl Fischer titration, or the less quantitative “crackle test”. Determination of moisture content in lubricants is important as the presence of water, even at low levels, can:

· &

Electrodes for Karl Fischer Testing

2009-08-25T00:00:00-05:00

This video demonstrates electrodes for Karl Fischer testing.

Access this 1-minute, 41-second video by clicking on the link below.

Automated Particle Analysis for ZEISS Scanning Electron Microscopes

2009-08-17T00:00:00-05:00
Carl Zeiss on August 17 introduced the Smart Particle Investigator (SmartPI), a software package for use with ZEISS Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) that enables the automatic detection, investigation and characterisation of particles of interest.

SmartPI integrates all aspects of the SEM control, Image Processing and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis for particle detection and characterisation within a single application. A high degree of automation for repetitive sample analysis provides non-subjective results with minimal user involvement and enables continuous unattended operation of the instrument. Automated calibration and diagnostic procedures ensure results accuracy and system stability and an advanced stop-criteria allows early termination of the analysis if a predefined threshold is reached, thereby significantly reducing the analysis time.

The applications of Smart PI are virtually unlimited and include manufacturing cleanli

Oil Analysis Part of Routine at Air Force Base in Guam

2009-08-12T00:00:00-05:00

Airmen assigned to the 36th Maintenance Squadron's Fabrication Flight at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam are a mixture of permanent party and deployed Airmen supporting the U.S. Pacific Command Theater Security Package deployments and Continuous Bomber Presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The flight is composed of Airmen who work in the aircraft structural maintenance section, aircraft metals technology section and nondestructive inspection section.

Nine Airmen are permanently assigned to the flight while 24 are deployed from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, and 10 Airmen are deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La. As a team, the fabrication flight is the sole repair facility for any air frame that arrives on the flightline.

"On average, the fabrication flight is responsible for more than 1,600 aircraft dispatch repairs each year, which can range from replacing a rivet to an aircr

Petrolab Introduces Grabner MINIHYD Karl Fisher Moisture Meter

2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00

The new Grabner MINIHYD Karl Fisher (KF) moisture meter from AMETEK Petrolab has been specifically designed for the determining the water content of crude oil, petroleum products, liquids, gases and powders. The MINIHYD uses an absolute technique that gives very accurate results on water content within minutes without requiring the calibration of reagents.

The highly versatile instrument combines coulometry with the Karl Fisher method to determine the water content of samples by measuring the amount of electrolysis current necessary to produce

Overcome the Challenges of Trace Element Analysis in High Matrix Samples Using ICP Technology

2009-06-25T00:00:00-05:00

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. announced the availability of a new Webinar which demonstrates how to achieve a more robust and reliable means of trace element analysis in high matrix and spectrally rich samples using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometry. The Webinar, entitled "Getting Great Results From Tough Samples", is available via www.spectroscopynow.com/thermowebinars.

While many laboratory analyses are repetitive and can be carried out using relatively simple par

IPC's Lab Offers Filter Membrane Compatibility and Studies

2009-06-24T00:00:00-05:00

International Products Corporation's research laboratory is now capable of performing filter membrane compatibility and performance studies using a versatile lab filtration system.

"We have the ability to evaluate any type of membrane media, from UF to RO, and its interaction with different cleaners," says president Kathy Wyrofsky. "Our goal is to be able to recommend the most effective cleaner for your specific application by working with your soil and membrane to help you achieve maximum flux results."

Optimizing Drain Intervals Using TBN vs. TAN

2009-06-15T00:00:00-05:00

Safely extending oil drain intervals by using fluid analysis to monitor oil condition and engine wear has always been a significant means for reducing a maintenance department’s consumable costs. But in today’s economic environment, it is becoming even more critical to achieve optimal drain intervals and, at the same time, minimize engine damage.

Advanced oil formulations have allowed the industry to make great strides in extending drains. The CI-4 and CI-4 Plus oils used in diesel engines manufactured prior to 2007 had a significant impact. Although many felt this progress would be jeopardized by the CJ-4 oils that were later introduced with a lower starting TBN, better CJ-4 additive technology actually enabled many fleets to increase drain intervals even further.

While fluid analysis is the best way to safely determine an optimal drain interval, the appropriate testing should be done by a reputable laboratory that uses reliable testing methods and produces quality results you c

Slide Show: Water/Oil Measurement Solutions

2009-06-11T00:00:00-05:00

This slide show provides a brief introduction to EESIFLO International. The company's activities involve the design, engineering, production, fabrication, sales and service of specialist water/oil measurement solutions.

Access this 1-minute, 34-second presentation by clicking on the link below.

An Introduction to WearCheck, Part 2

2009-05-12T00:00:00-05:00

This video provides background information on WearCheck Africa, a full-service oil analysis laboratory.

Access this 4-minute, 21-second video (Part 1 of a two-part series) by clicking on the link below.

An Introduction to WearCheck, Part 1

2009-05-12T00:00:00-05:00

This video provides background information on WearCheck Africa, a full-service oil analysis laboratory.

Access this 9-minute, 57-second video (Part 1 of a two-part series) by clicking on the link below.

Oil Analysis and Advances in Wireless Condition Monitoring

2009-04-30T00:00:00-05:00

Condition monitoring for rotating equipment is a decades-old field. The most basic practice is to take vibration measurements of machine shafts or bearing casings. The magnitude and phase relationships of this vibration are compared with historical values to infer changes in condition. The other major data inputs are lube oil analysis, motor electric current, infrared thermography and ultrasonic measurements.

Read the full article from PennEnergy by click

Oil and Fuel Monitoring Using the ViSmart Viscosity Sensor

2009-04-27T00:00:00-05:00

There exists a critical need in the mobile and fixed asset market to empower field units to determine oil quality on demand and provide complementary oil condition information that has been traditionally obtained from oil analysis labs. The current methodology of testing in off-site labs is non-optimal and costly due to the logistical challenges of shipping samples and the time delay in getting information back to personnel to be able to make quick and informed decisions. Determining oil quality in real time with embedded and portable oil assessment devices operated by mechanic personnel provides the operational flexibility and rapid means of screening oil quality that is key to establishing a program to provide real-time condition based monitoring products for the care of all assets.

Measuring the viscosity of oil is a rapid method of determining oil condition, and is considered an important parameter in assessing asset readiness. The SenGenuity ViSmart viscosity sensor, which can compl

Industrial Intrusion Detection and Oil Condition Monitor

2009-04-27T00:00:00-05:00

IntelliStick is a patented, real-time intrusion detection and oil condition monitoring system that continuously reports vital information in mission-critical engine parts. It continuously scans for water, fuel and coolant intrusion, reports and graphs oil condition, and triggers alarms based on customer specifications, for increased uptime and productivity.

IntelliStick/TS is available for condition-based oil monitoring in engines, gearboxes, turbines and compressors in remote locations as well as local sites. The industrial instrument features

Introduction to the On-Site Analyzer

2009-03-23T00:00:00-05:00

Will Willis Jr., president of On-Site Analysis Inc., provides an introduction to the On-Site Analyzer.

Access this 2-minute video by clicking on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5q59mAswR8

On-Site Analysis Introduces the OSA 3

2009-03-09T00:00:00-05:00

This video explains the OSA 3 from On-Site Analysis Inc.

Access this 1-minute, 15-second video by clicking on the link below.

How Used Oil Analysis Should Be

2009-03-05T00:00:00-06:00

The typical used oil analysis sample takes seven to 10 days, start to finish, before the results cross your desk. Many times, at risk equipment is overlooked and becomes useless because of unnecessary downtime. Why? The length of time involved and inefficiencies of the entire oil analysis management process. Not necessarily because of poor service from a vendor, or shipping company. But because oil analysis business methods do not maximize the use of current technologies to improve upon the users' experience.

MyLubeTrak allows users to login with their own private ID and password whereas each user has the ability to access their sampling and equipment data in a hierarchical fashion. Once logged in, users are able to inspect their equipment sampling history, view new reports posted, examine past due samples, and spot dangerous trends in a practical and graphical outlook. It's simplistic, yet powerful design allows users to quickly manage samples and equipment in these important ways: And because LubeTrak understands the world of oil analysis and equipment maintenance, we constantly update MyLubeTrak with new enhancements based upon our users feedback and input, all without time consuming downloads or installs.

MyLubeTrak is free for the first 30 days. This gives you an opportunity to validate your decision to utilize MyLubeTrak without any risk or obligation. To get started today, or if you have specific questions, and would like to receive additional information ... simply submit the email response form by clicking the link at the end of the video.

Access this 9-minute, 13-second video by clicking on the link below.

Expand Fluid Analysis to Reduce Equipment Downtime

2009-03-04T00:00:00-06:00

Engine oil tends to get all the attention when it comes to fluid analysis discussions. Legitimately, it should get a lot of press because of the expense associated with engine repairs and failures. Yet, there are additional fluids that can, and should, be analyzed to ensure your equipment will continue to run productively without untimely breakdowns.

Read the full article from Equipment Today by clicking on the link below:

Oil Sensor Developed for Continuous Engine Oil Monitoring

2009-02-23T00:00:00-06:00

Micromem Technologies Inc., through its wholly owned U.S. based subsidiary Micromem Applied Sensor Technologies Inc. (MASTInc), has developed an oil sensor device to provide simple, easy-to-use monitoring of the basic properties of engine oil, and allow vehicle owners to change the oil at intervals that optimize engine performance. With 250 million automobiles and trucks on the road in the United States alone (Source: 2007 Plunkett Research, Ltd), this oil sensor represents significant market opportunities for MASTInc, which leverages its expertise and experience with sophisticated magnetic sensor applications to successfully power the development and implementation of innovative solutions for not only the oil sensing industry but also healthcare/biomedical, natural resource exploration, government/defense, information technology, manufacturing, and other industries.

Instruction on testing for Total Acid Number

2009-02-12T00:00:00-06:00

This is an instructional video for oil analysis showing how to test for the Total Acid Number (TAN) of oil using the Kittiwake Oil Test Center.

Access this 3-minute, 52-second video by clicking on the link below.

Simple Technique for Visually Inspecting Oil Sump Bottoms

2009-02-10T00:00:00-06:00

We have been trying to determine the condition of the oil sump tank bottoms on our turbine packages. We came up with a pretty easy (and cheap) way to inspect them. Use a 1/2" PVC pipe that is long enough to reach the bottom of the sump. Glue a collar on one end with a piece of clear Lexan glued into it. Feed the pipe into the sump until the "viewing window" is close to the bottom. Then insert a borescope into the pipe.

It works like wearing a divers mask underwater, allowing you to see the debris clearly and then document it's condition. We did this on several units and have found that over the years, a lot of debris collects at the bottom of the tank.

Below are some pictures taken with this this system.

Useful comments we received about this article:

"I have recently purchased a hand held tool from Snap-On for this very task it was about $600 dollars aust and works well f

Items Needed to Run a Karl Fischer Titration Test

2009-02-03T00:00:00-06:00

This video provides a brief overview of the items necessary for running a Karl Fischer titration test. Reagents, Karl Fisher titration vessel features and accessories are explained.

Access this 4-minute, 27-second video by clicking on the link below.

Instruction on Testing for Total Base Number

2009-02-03T00:00:00-06:00

This is an instructional video for oil analysis showing how to test for the base number of oil using the Kittiwake Oil Test Center.

Access this 3-minute, 3-second video by clicking on the link below.

Oil Analysis Optical Spectrometer for Wear Particle Analysis

2009-01-30T00:00:00-06:00

The Spectroil M/C-W is a compact, rugged, transportable and easy-to-use optical spectrometer designed specifically for wear particle analysis, contaminants and additives in lubricants, hydraulic fluids and coolants. They use the time-tested and reliable rotating disc electrode (RDE) technique to measure quantities of dissolved and suspended fine particles in natural or synthetic petroleum-based products and coolants.

Read the full article from AZoM by cl

Identifying Root Cause Failures with Oil Analysis

2009-01-27T00:00:00-06:00

One of SKF’s mining customers was up in arms because they were having catastrophic axle failures on CAT 789 dump trucks and the oil analysis results did not give them enough warning to prevent the axle from destroying itself. Three trucks were stranded within a three-week period with a repair bill of $200,000 per failure.

This case study proved that root cause analysis has to be done to prevent similar failures from occurring again. Data from periodic oi

Running a Karl Fischer Titration Test

2009-01-23T00:00:00-06:00

The creators of this video decided to run a test on the MKC610 Karl Fischer titrator. They handled the sample and input the sample weight to obtain a result.

Access this 4-minute, 17-second video by clicking on the link below.

Laboratory Test of Various Lubricants

2009-01-21T00:00:00-06:00

This video features a laboratory test of various lubricants to compare against the Bi-Tron additive.

Access this 9-minute, 53-second video by clicking on the link below.

Kittiwake Heated Viscometer Instructional Video

2009-01-20T00:00:00-06:00

This is an instructional video showing how to test for viscosity of oil using the Kittiwake Heated Viscometer.

Access this 4-minute, 16-second video by clicking on the link below.

Karl Fischer Water Standard Oil Test Tutorial

2009-01-15T00:00:00-06:00

This video demonstrates the CSC Scientific Aquapal III coulometric Karl Fischer Titrator for running a new low-level oil water standard.

Access this 5-minute, 49-second video by clicking on the link below.

Oil Analysis: Five Things You Didn't Know

2009-01-13T00:00:00-06:00

I'm sure that you are well aware of the value brought by oil analysis. Used appropriately, there is little doubt that an effective oil analysis program can help identify lubrication-related failures, often before any significant machine wear has occurred. But as a veteran instructor of oil analysis and lubrication courses, I find all too often that companies miss the boat on oil analysis simply because they don't understand what oil analysis can and can't do. So in the interests of setting the record straight, I present to you what I like to call the "five fallacies" of oil analysis - things that are often overlooked or not understood but vital to the long-term benefits of oil analysis as a conditioning monitoring tool.

Fallacy #1: Reservoir sampling is fine.

Fact: Oil analysis, just like real estate, is all about location, location, location. While certain homogeneous properties such as viscosity are unchanged no matter where in

New Book Examines Methods, Benefits of Oil Analysis

2009-01-13T00:00:00-06:00

Modern manufacturing operations must have reliable equipment to maintain stable delivery schedules and operate with the greatest overall efficiency. This reliability is a key element of overall global competitiveness. To get maximum benefit from advanced maintenance reliability-based operational strategies, an excellent understanding of equipment lubrication is a prerequisite. Machinery Oil Analysis is a unique book that describes the what, when, where and how-to for:

·

Kittiwake Demonstrates DIGI Test Cell

2009-01-13T00:00:00-06:00

This is an instructional video for oil analysis showing how to test for water in oil using the Kittiwake DIGI test cell.

Access this 1-minute, 5-second video by clicking on the link below.

FluidScan Oil Condition Monitor Wins Great Ideas Award

2009-01-13T00:00:00-06:00

QinetiQ North America, a global developer of innovative technology solutions for national defense, today announced that its FluidScan monitor has won the 2008 Great Ideas Competition Award presented annually by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) at the Department of Defense (DoD) Maintenance Symposium & Exhibition. The competition recognizes promising new technologies, processes or business practices that participants decide will have a positive impact on DoD equipment maintenance.

This year’s aw