quicker full separation. This
result shows that the original 40
milliliters (ml) of oil fully sepa-
rated from the 40 ml of water.
As fluid ages, there tends to be a
difference in these values, partic-
ularly in oils that have been
contaminated with water.
Conversely, 0/0/80 would be
the worst possible result. In this
case, the oil and water never
separate, and what is left is
known as a stable emulsion. Of
all states of water in oil, emulsi-
fied water is considered the most
destructive. As oil flows through
a system, the emulsified water
flows with it and can cause
increased machine damage
through corrosion, impaired
load-carrying capability and a
long list of other issues.
A value of less than 30 means
that the measured separation
occurred in less than 30 minutes.
Provided the oil and water sepa-
rated completely, the oil's
demulsibility properties are
likely still intact. The best way to
know whether the results for
used oil are satisfactory is to
start with a good baseline. As
new oils are delivered, they
should be subjected to these
types of tests to establish a
baseline for comparison.
If you have a question for one of
Noria's experts, email it to editor@
noria.com.
