Oil Analysis in machinery, like blood test in humans, contains information about the oil health. It may contain many parameters such as:oil analysis

  1. Wear metals content
    • Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Aluminum (Al), Magnesium (Mg), Tin, Chromium, Nikel, Molybdenum, Lead.
  2. Contamination content
    • Silicon, Sodium, Soot Value, Soot %, Oxidation, Sulphate, Nitrates, Water (%), TAN (Total Acid Number for Hydraulic oil)
  3. Additives package
    • Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc, Phosphorous, Boron, TBN (Total Base Number for Engine oil)
  4. Cleanliness rating – ISO and SAE/NAS standards
    • Usually used for new oil and/or clean systems such as Hydraulic systems.
  5. Viscosity
    • Measured in cSt at various temperatures.

Each laboratory has its own compliance statement; hence, the end-user needs to properly understand what standard is being followed, and what method is used for counting.