The oil analysis report is a vital tool for a smooth running operation. Going deeper than the report summaries and knowing how to analyze the oil analysis report can help prevent equipment breakdown and unnecessary equipment teardowns. During this educational webinar you will learn from industry expert, Dwon Ruffin, his process for reviewing and analyzing oil analysis reports. Dwon will review some of the most common tests run on industrial equipment and teach you how to read test reports. He will also walk you through marginal and critical reports and teach you how to decipher various alarms. You will walk away with an improved knowledge of oil analysis report interpretation.

1. Report Interpretation
By Matt McMahon

2. Oil Analysis
Lubricant
Condition
Contaminants
Machine
Wear
Normal with PC
Normal with WP

3. Viscosity
• Measured by Viscometer
– ASTM D-445
– Reported as Kinematic Viscosity in
Centistokes (cSt)
• Industrial oils measured at 40ºC
• Engine oils measured at 100ºC
Measure of a lubricants resistance to flow at a
specific temperature.

4. Viscosity Limits
• Marginal Limits
– Viscosity should be within 10% (+ or -) of specified
grade to be in spec
– Example:
• ISO VG 100 oil should be between 90 and 110 cSt @ 40º
• Critical Limits
– When the viscosity falls greater than 20% (+ or -) of the
specified grade, action should be taken.
– Example:
• ISO VG 100 <80 or >120 cSt @ 40º
Report with Viscosity Issue

5. Elemental Spectroscopy
Measures the
concentration of wear
metals, contaminants,
and additives in a
lubricant.

6. Spectroscopy
• 20 elements measured
– Wear metals
– Contaminants
– Additives
• Reported in parts per million (ppm)
• Measures metals in solution
• Solid debris below 7 microns in size
• Blind to larger particles

7. Wear Metal Sources
• Iron (Fe)
– Shafts, Gears, Housings, Piston Rings, Cylinder Walls
• Copper (Cu)
– Brass/Bronze alloys, Bearings, Bushings, Thrust Washers
• Lead (Pb)
– Bearings, Anti-Wear Gear Additive (Rare)
– Tin (Sn)
– Bearing Alloys, Bearing Cages, Solder

8. Wear Metal Sources
• Aluminum (Al)
– Pumps, Trust Washers, Pistons
• Chromium (Cr)
– Roller Bearings, Piston Rings, Cylinder Walls
• Nickel (Ni)
– Pumps, Gear Platings, Valves
• Silver (Ag)
– Some Bearings

9. Wear Metal Limits
• Limits should be based on trends
– Sudden increases indicate problems
• Operational conditions can effect
wear metal levels
– Oil changes, break-in periods, loading
• OEM Recommendations
Report with Wear

10. Contaminants
• Silicon (Si)
– Airborne Dust & Dirt, Defoamant Additive
• Boron (B)
– Anti Corrosion in Coolants
• Potassium
– Coolant Additive
• Sodium
– Detergent Additive, Coolant Additive
Report with Contaminants

11. Additives
• Magnesium (Mg)
– Detergent Additive
• Barium (Ba)
– Rust & Corrosion Inhibitor
• Calcium (Ca)
– Detergent/Dispersant
Additive
• Zinc (Zn)
– Anti-wear Additive
• Phosphorus (P)
– Anti-Wear Additive, EP Gear
Additive
• Molybdenum (Mo)
– Extreme Pressure Additive
Report with Additive Issues

12. Karl Fischer Water
• Karl Fischer Titrator
• ASTM D-6304
• Reported in % or ppm
• Dissolved, emulsified
or free water
Quantifies the amount of
water in the lubricant.

13. Sources of Water
• Condensation
• External contamination
– Breathers
– Seals
– Reservoir covers
• Internal leaks
– Heat exchangers
– Water jackets
Report with Water
Report with Water – V40

14. FT-IR Spectroscopy
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer
Measures the
chemical
composition of a
lubricant

15. FT-IR Spectroscopy
• Oil Degradation by chemical change
– Oxidation
– Nitration
• Contamination
– Soot
– Glycol
Report with Oxidation

16. • Additive Depletion
– When additives deplete, they are typically still present
– Atomic Spectroscopy will indicate their presence, yet
they can be chemically inert
– Decreased signal strength in the IR Spectrum will
reveal excess additive depletion
FT-IR Spectroscopy

17. Acid Number
• Measurement of acidic
constituents in the oil
• Reported as AN
• ASTM D-974
• Indicator of oil serviceability
– Oil oxidation & degradation
produces acidic by-products

18. • AN is lowest when an oil is new*, and
increases with use
• AN of a used oil is typically compared to the
original AN
• Oils with higher levels of additives will
generally have a higher AN
• Typical AN Values on new oils:
o R&O Oil - 0.03
o AW Oil - 0.4
o EP Oil - 0.6
o Engine Oil - 1.6
Acid Number
Report with AN issues
New Oil Example

19. Particle Count
Measures the size
and quantity of
particles in a
lubricant
Light
Blockage
Flow Decay

20. Flow Decay Method
• Also called pore blockage
• Passed through 5, 10 or 15
micron screen filter
• Flow decay is recorded
– Particle counts are extrapolated
– No interference from water or entrained air
Filter

21. Particle Count
• Particle Counts are broken down into
6 size ranges
> 4 microns > 25 microns
> 6 microns > 50 microns
> 14 microns >100 microns
• Reported as particles per milliliter

22. ISO 4406 Cleanliness Code
>4>4 19451945
>6>6 826826
>14>14 8888
>25 21
>50 2
>100 0
ISO 18/17/14
Report with High PC - AF

23. Wear Particle Concentration
• 10ml of sample is placed in a syringe
• Syringe is placed in the analyzer
• Analyzer measures changes in magnetic
flux to measure ferrous content
• No particle size limit

24. Wear Particle Concentration

25. Wear Particle Concentration
• Results are reported in parts per million of
ferrous content
Report high WPC
Report high Iron
Report Final

26. Questions
Answers
&
Matt McMahon CLS
Senior Data Analyst
matt@testoil.com