The economic state of oil analysis - While the costs may be rather inexpensive, the importance in utilizing this valuable tool still remains the same

摘要

In March we discussed the notion that oil analysis was more cost-effective than ever. This month please indulge my shameless bias as I prove this point from personal history. In 1960 the first commercial oil analysis featured wear metals detection for the purpose of machine condition monitoring. Previously, I've discussed this history, but this time let's look at it from an economic as opposed to technical perspective. The fundamental oil analysis tests in the 21st Century are: 1) Metals (usually over 20): wear, contaminant, additive. 2) Infrared analysis: oxidation, nitration, glycol, lube mixing, water contamination, etc. 3) Particle analysis: size distribution, morphology, composition. 4) Viscosity: not usually the most important datum for a used lubricant, but still essential in the overall evaluation scheme. 5) There are other tests that could be considered routine, but they are employed with certain kinds of lubricants or certain specific applications. Then, too, as with infrared analysis, additional data can be gleaned from the same instrument.