The document details a lubricant analysis report focusing on viscosity, wear metals, contaminants, and additives, highlighting how different factors affect the performance and longevity of lubricants. It specifies testing procedures and the importance of maintaining viscosity within prescribed limits, along with the analysis of wear particles and their sources. Additionally, it emphasizes the relevance of water content, oxidation, and acidic constituents as indicators of lubricant serviceability.

1. Report Interpretation
By Dwon Ruffin

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

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

4. Viscosity Limits
Report with Viscosity Issue
• 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

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. Report with Additive Issues
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

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

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
Measures the
chemical
composition of a
lubricant
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer

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

16. FT-IR Spectroscopy
• 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

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. Report with AN issues
Acid Number
New Oil Example
• 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

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
Filter
– Particle counts are extrapolated
– No interference from water or entrained air

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

22. ISO 4406 Cleanliness Code
Report with High PC - AF
>4
1945
>6
826
>14 88
>25 21
>50 2
>100 0
ISO 18/17/14

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

26. Dwon Ruffin MLA 1
Data Analyst
druffin@testoil.com
&
Questions
Answers