What does an oil analysis tell you?

The analysis will tell whether the oil has experienced excessive water contamination. The lab may also look at the acid and base numbers. If the acid number is too high or the base is too low, the oil needs to be changed. An oil analysis can also detect a coolant leak within the engine.

What should I look for in an oil sample?

When first reviewing a used oil analysis report it is important to look at many of the key indicators, like base number (BN), acid number (AN), viscosity, oxidation, fuel soot per cent and fuel dilution per cent as well as wear metals.

What does high iron in oil mean?

Engine oil which are highly oxidized can attack the bearing material, leads to increased lead readings. Iron – Mostly comes from Cylinder liners, Rings, Crankshaft, Camshaft, Rods, Valve Train, Oil pump gear, Wrist pins, cast iron components and Gears. Usually found as fine particles due to abrasion or wear.

What are the three categories of oil analysis?

There are three main categories of oil analysis: fluid properties, contamination and wear debris.

Which oil is better 5w30 or 10w30?

Lubrication. 5w30 provides better lubrication compared to 10w30. It is best suited for private vehicles and light-duty diesel and petrol engines, while 10w30 is more suitable for commercial vehicles and other cars with heavy load engines.

What does the ISO code do?

The ISO country codes are internationally recognized codes that designate every country and most of the dependent areas a two-letter combination or a three-letter combination; it is like an acronym, that stands for a country or a state.

What is ISO of oil?

ISO VG stands for “International Standards Organization Viscosity Grade” and is reported in numbers ranging from 2 all the way up to 1500. This number is critical because a lubricant’s viscosity is the single most important factor when selecting the right oil for your machinery.

What is ISO cleanliness code?

ISO Cleanliness Code is a three digit value used to communicate particulate contamination in oil. The international standard for reporting contamination is ISO 4406:99. A laser is used to count particles of various sizes, within a 1 ml sample, and reported in three channels.

What does code mean in an oil analysis?

The severity/condition status statement or code is the lab’s capsule summary that characterizes the overall seriousness of the conditions revealed by the analysis. It provides the report reader with a rapid way to tell if the latest sample from a given sampling point requires immediate review or action.

How to interpret oil analysis reports-Machinery Lubrication?

When looking at your reports, the first thing you should do is to ensure that they are indeed your reports. Be certain the report includes your name, lube type, machine manufacturer and machine type. The report should also clearly state your machine and lubricant condition.

Is it possible to read an oil analysis report?

Without a solid grasp of the underlying principles of reading and understanding the analysis report, the inexperienced reader is likely to quickly grow frustrated with trying to make sense of the seemingly unintelligible test data.

Which is precondition of an engine oil analysis?

Precondition of a valuable oil analysis and its interpretation is a sample being taken according to a reliable procedure. Besides routine methods used in all engine oil analyses, there are several advanced methods that provide additional information.