This Fluid Life design and patented dual temperature viscometer has been marketed and sold worldwide.
Testing an oil's condition means understanding the state of that oil's lubricating properties. Whether you are looking to extend your oil drain intervals, or determine causes of engine wear, understanding your oil's condition is critical.
Test Descriptions
Acid Number
- Acid in a lubrication context provides a measurement of degradation. This degradation is expressed by the change in acidity of a used sample as compared to its new, original state. Needless to say, it is absolutely critical for the lab to have an up to date reference sample from which to compare the used sample to when determining an acid number. Typically, an acid number is a good barometer of when industrial oils (hydraulics, compressors, gear oils, etc.) need to be changed or may have reached the end of their useful life. Fluid Life performs both ASTM methods (ASTM D974, ASTM D664) for determining acid numbers. For more extensive information on Acid Numbers please download Acid Number.
Base Number
- The base number describes the reserve alkalinity remaining in lubricant by measuring the "buffer" additive(s).The level of this buffer present is indicative of the oil’s ability to counteract acid formation. This test is well suited for monitoring diesel engine oils. (ASTM D2896)
Rotating Pressure Vessel Oxidation Test (RPVOT)
- The RPVOT measures a fluid’s long term oxidation stability. This test is appropriate for evaluating the useful life of a lubricant in large reservoir applications such as turbines, press lube systems, paper machine oils among others. As RPVOT requires a larger than normal sample volume, Fluid Life provides special test kits for sample preparation. It is absolutely critical for the lab to have accurate ‘new oil’ reference data to get complete value for this test. (ASTM D2272-85)
Varnish Potential
- This test looks at particles in an oil sample larger than 0.45 microns. The quantity and pigmentation (ie,how dark it is) of these fine particles identifies "potential" of the oil to form varnish. Compressors, turbines and hydraulic systems are common unit types that may experience the detrimental effects of varnish. Varnish potential is reported on a scale from 0 to 100 where 100 indicates that severe varnishing will occur. For a Varnish Potential MPC a 8.5 fl. oz. sample is required. For more extensive information on Varnish Potential please download Varnish Potential MPC.
Viscosity
- Viscosity is defined as a measurement of a fluid's resistance to flow. Arguably it is the most important lubricant property. Fluid Life reports viscosity based on (ASTM D445) at both 104°F (40°C) and 212°F (100°C) for all samples using our own multiple pass patented technology. This state of the art Fluid Life designed and built viscometer has been marketed and sold worldwide.
Manual Bath Viscosity
- The manual bath viscosity test method (ASTM D445) determines the viscosity of liquid by measuring the time for a volume of liquid to flow under gravity through a calibrated glass capillary viscometer. In the process of running, the sample is degassed which is ideal for a sample with high entrained air content. A 1.7 fl. oz. sample is required for this method.
RULER® Test (ASTM D6810)
- The Remaining Useful Life Evaluation Routine (RULER®) instrument measures the oxidative resistance levels of mineral and synthetic hydrocarbon oils, ester-based and biodegradable oils. This patented electrochemistry technique can evaluate a wide range of antioxidants without any interference from water, fuel, soot, dirt, metal, silt, or other contaminants. For more extensive information on the RULER® test please download RULER®.