You are not limited to these standard packages. Please contact us for discount volume pricing for contracts or custom tailored programs to meet your special needs.

For more information contact Customer Service

Potential for Varnish
What’s Going On?
Industrial lubricating oils are generally categorized at Turbine Oil (Rust & Oxidation inhibited, R&O) or Antiwear (AW) lubricants. These oils contain antioxidants that protect the base oil from oxidizing. The antioxidant levels are normally measured using American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) methods for onset of oxidation or the presence of the additive.

Over the last few years there have been growing indications that the antioxidant levels may be high enough to be considered acceptable but varnish like materials have been separating from the base oil and causing a build up of deposits. The precise mechanism is not yet understood but it is clear sludge (varnish) problems exist.

In many cases, we see deposits are formed from cross-contamination of R&O oil with AW oil. In other cases, we see deposits forming when there is no apparent contamination.

There are four likely reasons for the later.
1. The type of base oil, Group II, currently used does not hold varnish precursors in suspension as old generation base oils, Group I, does. These insolubles may form deposits.
2. The antioxidant precipitates as they are preferentially oxides causing the varnish.
3. The new generation antifoam additives have less effective short time domain air release characteristics and these small air bubbles are adiabatically compressed causing the varnish.

4. The oil is contaminated with an incompatible lubricant.

Varnish Potential Testing
Herguth Laboratories, Inc has developed a series of tests to evaluate the potential of your oil to form deposits.

The Analyses:
Herguth uses state-of-the-art methods to determine the potential of your oil causing varnish in the system. We perform a series of tests to measure antioxidant levels. These include Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis and Remaining Useful Life Evaluation Routine (RULER).

These standard analysis packages will provide you with the comprehensive testing most often used when trending equipment and oil condition. Purchase sample kits by contacting us. Sample results are typically completed within 48 hours of our receipt of your samples.

In the FTIR Analysis above note the high level of antioxidant in the new oil vs. the used. If varnish has not begun to form it soon will form since the oil is not protected from oxidation.

The RULER results above also show that the levels of antioxidants both phenolic and amine are extremely low.

Varnish Potential Rating