Oil analysis is really two-sided. Some testing will tell you about the health of the system and some testing about the health of the fluid. Identifying contamination levels also helps determine its sources, either external or internal.
Test Descriptions
ISO Particle Counts
- Fluid cleanliness is critical to a lubricating system’s success. When setting goals for keeping your industrial fluids clean, routine particle counting is a crucial step in achieving the cleanest fluid possible. The ISO particle count determines size ranges and concentrations of particulate found in industrial fluids. Fluid Life reports the ISO Code Cleanliness in the latest ISO 4406 Method. For more extensive information on ISO Particle Counts please download ISO Particle Counts.
Water Contamination
- The presence of water in an industrial system oil reservoir is detrimental to its lubricating properties in addition to the chemical corrosion moisture can inflict on metallic parts. Fluid Life’s water screening test, reports water levels as negative, reportable, unacceptable or severe.
Karl Fischer Water Titration
- Often 'triggered’ by the water screening (crackle) test, the Karl Fischer Water Titration method (ASTM D6304) provides a quantitative determination of the actual water content down to <10 ppm. For more extensive information on Karl Fischer Water Titration please download Karl Fischer Water Titration.
Optical Particle Classification (OPC)
- OPC is an effective method for determining the particle count and level of contamination in a lubricating system. A maintenance professional can then ascertain if his equipment is operating properly or if preventive maintenance is required. OPC combines the standard oil analysis technique of particle counting with an advanced shape classification system. For more extensive information on OPC please download .
Sediment
- The sediment test measures suspended particulate contamination in industrial or hydraulic lubricants in order to determine whether contaminants are entering from an outside source or being generated internally. Fluid Life provides a photo of the sediment present on the filter patch and flags the results based on the type and amount of particulates.
Spectrometry
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Detects and measures concentrations of wear metals, additive elements and contaminants. Fluid Life uses the Inductively – Coupled Plasma method (ASTM D5185) which is configured to measure 23 elements in a single burn, each element displayed in ppm on a color coded report.