Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/629709
6 | January - February 2016 | www.machinerylubrication.com OIL ANALYSIS AND OTHER REPORTABLE CONDITIONS WHAT IT COULD MEAN WAYS IT CAN CAUSE HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION WAYS HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION CAN CAUSE IT WAYS IT CAN OCCUR CONCURRENT WITH HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION Low base number/ high acid number High blow-by, water contamination, distressed base oil, high sulfur fuel Corrosion of piston- ring-liner (PRL), piston ring-pack deposits Low oil level prematurely depletes overbase deter- gents and antioxidants High blow-by gas ingestion due to poor compression/ combustion efficiency High oil viscosity High soot load, wrong oil, glycol in oil, hot oil, extended oil drain, oil oxidation High ring float, piston ring-pack deposits Fractional evaporative light-end oil loss High blow-by (soot) due to poor compression/combustion efficiency Low oil viscosity Fuel dilution, wrong oil, VI improver shear Evaporative light-end oil loss, PRL wear Incomplete combustion and blow-by (fuel dilution) High soot load High blow-by, extended oil drain, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), long idle, etc. High ring float from elevated viscosity, piston ring-pack deposits, PRL wear Low oil level concentrates soot High blow-by (soot) due to poor compression/combustion efficiency Low soot dispersancy Water contamination, high soot load, fuel dilution, extended oil drain, coolant leak Piston ring-pack deposits Low oil level depletes dispersant prematurely High blow-by (soot) due to poor compression/combustion effi- ciency, incomplete combustion and blow-by (fuel dilution) Water contamination Coolant leak, short intermittent opera- tion, cold temperature PRL corrosion High blow-by and short intermittent operation Sludge and oxide insolubles Extended oil drain, base oil oxidation, poor dispersancy, depleted detergency Piston ring-pack deposits, PRL wear Low oil level raises sump temperature and prematurely depletes antioxidants Fuel dilution High blow-by, PRL wear, extended oil drain, injector issues, overfueling/lugging PRL wear and blow-by, premature base oil oxidation (piston-ring deposits) Incomplete combustion and blow-by (fuel dilution) Coolant (glycol) contamination Coolant leaks from defective seals, cavitation, corrosion, damaged cooler core, head gasket leak, etc. High ring float from elevated viscosity, PRL corrosion, PRL wear, piston ring-pack deposits High blow-by gas ingestion due to poor compression/ combustion efficiency Dirty oil (silica) and other solid contaminants Dirty air induction, defective oil filter, dirty fuel, dirty new/ backup oil, wear and corrosion debris PRL abrasive wear causes high oil consumption High oil consumption carrying particles causes excessive PRL abrasive wear and more particles High blow-by gas ingestion brings in induction air dirt and fuel dirt normal and safe range. Therefore, it is logical to track oil levels and makeup oil consumed between scheduled oil changes. The table above not only details how high oil consumption might accompany certain reportable oil analysis conditions but also provides examples of what these conditions may mean. Understanding how engines consume oil is still a work in prog- ress and is the subject of ongoing research by many organizations. It is important to slow down or arrest the problem as much as possible. Undoubtedly, much progress will be made in the years to come. In the meantime, it will be beneficial to use the current knowledge to its fullest extent. The strategies described in this article offer several plausible ways that this can be achieved. About the Author Jim Fitch has a wealth of "in the trenches" experience in lubrication, oil analysis, tribology and machinery failure investigations. Over the past two decades, he has presented hundreds of courses on these subjects. Jim has published more than 200 technical articles, papers and publica - tions. He serves as a U.S. delegate to the ISO tribology and oil analysis working group. Since 2002, he has been director and board member of the International Council for Machinery Lubrication. He is the CEO and a co-founder of Noria Corporation. Contact Jim at jfitch@noria.com. AS I SEE IT