Practicing Oil Analysis May 2007

How often do you change the oil in your car? One of the most common answers is "every three months or 3,000 miles." Another answer may be "5,000 miles" or even "7,500 miles." I recently asked a...

On-site oil analysis laboratories are becoming more popular as reliability professionals realize the profits a well-designed and well-managed lab can reap. The strengths of an on-site lab include...

Conventional engine oil filters effectively remove contaminant particles larger than 40 to 50 microns from the lubricating oil. Some premium filters state filtration efficiency down to 25 microns. The...

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is an analytical technique used to determine chemical components in new and used oils using a single instrument. Information about the state of...

In the wear metals testing laboratory, as in all laboratories, significant time is devoted to the quality of the analyses. Laboratory management strives to ensure that the instrumentation is properly...

Lubricating oil in gas turbines and hydraulic systems is unfortunately subject to the ravages of varnish. It is well-documented that varnish is a thin insoluble contaminant comprised of oil...

Oxidation is the most predominant reaction of a lubricant in service. It is responsible for numerous lubricant problems - including viscosity increase, varnish, sludge and sediment formation,...

Does viscosity affect ISO optical particle counting results? Generally, particle counting is performed on both new and used (in-service) oils having ISO viscosity grades of 32 to 68, and the...

Water in oil can cause quick and costly breakdowns. This type of fluid contamination can also result in problems such as additive depletion, oil oxidation, corrosion and accelerated component wear...

In May 2007, the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML) will participate in Noria's "Lean, Reliable, and Lubed" Conference and Exhibition in Louisville, Kentucky. As in previous...