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January - February 2014
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cleanliness levels. Fluids with greater cleanli-
ness requirements, such as hydraulic fluid,
demand cleaner sample bottles to help achieve
an SNR value above 5.
Sample Collection
When a sample is taken, it is critical to
know how much fluid should be drawn into the
bottle. However, it may be more important to
understand how much headspace or ullage is
remaining in the bottle. This will help the labo-
ratory perform proper agitation before testing.
The amount of ullage required will depend on
the fluid's viscosity, as more viscous fluids need
more room to agitate sufficiently.
Other factors in obtaining a representative
oil sample will be discussed in upcoming
issues of Machinery Lubrication, including
optimum sample extraction tools, sample
location and sampling intervals, as well as
best practices for taking a sample based on
the machine type. Remember, if one aspect of
the sampling process is neglected, the oil
analysis results are at risk of becoming mean-
ingless. Therefore, it is essential to maximize
the data's value. This follows the three
common objectives of oil sampling, which are
to maximize data density, minimize data
disturbance and establish a proper frequency.
Appropriate sample bottles are just one
element that can help you achieve these
objectives and enable you to obtain a highly
representative oil sample. In return, not only
will you be more confident in the oil analysis results, but the
sampling procedure will be easier than ever before.
About the Author
Bennett Fitch is a technical consultant with Noria Corporation. He
is a mechanical engineer who holds a Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA)
Level III certification and a Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) Level II
certification through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication
(ICML). Contact Bennett at bfitch@noria.com.
These improper oil sample bottles are real-life examples of
what a laboratory may receive.
