Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/388231
54 | September - October 2014 | www.machinerylubrication.com " o i l A n a l y s i s il analysis is an excellent tool that can be used to direct maintenance deci- sions. However, if you have not chosen the proper test slate, it is wasted time and money. Therefore, one of the first steps toward a successful oil anal- ysis program is determining the right tests to perform. Test slate selection can be a bit daunting. Some mistakenly believe that it is too tech- nical or too involved for an untrained individual. It may help to break the selec- tion into smaller segments. For example, first decide whether you want to examine the fluid properties, the contamination or the wear debris. As shown in the chart on page 56, particle counting can be a great indicator of the effectiveness of your contamination control program, but if you are looking for a test to tell you about the health of your lubricant, the acid/base number and viscosity tests would be much better. You can narrow your focus even further by considering tests based on equipment type. Qualification testing, quality assurance testing, user acceptance testing and moni- toring of new oils in storage are some of the other important categories of oil analysis. Typically, lubricant manufacturers or blenders will use qualification testing to make sure the lubricant blend meets the stated minimum criteria. Among the tests usually conducted include: • Oil viscosity and lubricity • Oxidation stability • Acidity and/or alkalinity • Pour, flash and fire point • Soluble and insoluble contaminants • Air release and foaming characteristics • Anti-corrosion and anti-rust characteristics • Anti-wear and extreme-pressure characteristics • Water separability and emulsibility characteristics • Relative cold-weather operating characteristics A number of other organizations may conduct additional testing to verify performance for specific machine classes. For example, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the American Petro- leum Institute (API) perform tests for gasoline and diesel engine oils, while the International Organization for Standard- ization (ISO) and the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) run tests on gear oils and for viscosity, anti- wear, extreme-pressure and other performance specifications. Quality assurance testing is conducted by lubricant manufacturers during refining and blending to confirm product quality and consistency. These tests are generally limited to oil viscosity and/or viscosity index, sulfated ash, acidity and/or alka- linity, and additive concentration. Acceptance testing is often some of the L oren green | Nori a Corpor at ioN Back Page Basics how to seleCt the rIGht oil ANAlysIs tests o " Having the ability to conduct onsite particle counts can save you money by providing quick information on the effectiveness of your contamination control program. 46% of lubrication professionals use onsite oil analysis testing at their plant, based on a recent poll at machinerylubrication.com