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 Other Testing Performed

Infrared Spectrophotometry
• % Fuel Dilution - Percent fuel contained in oil sample - Excessive fuel generally enters the oil system through leaking injectors, seals, fuel fittings, pumps or incorrect choke adjustments. Fuel dilution can also increase due to poor combustion characteristics.
• Soot - The Soot value is the amount of infrared light that is absorbed by lubricant solids and semi-solids. Soot is particularly useful to determine blowby.
• Oxidation (OXID) - Oxidation is the amount of infrared light absorbed by lubricant oxidation. It is the amount of oxidation has occurred in the lubricant.
• Sulfination (SULF) - Sulfination is the amount of infrared light absorbed by harmful sulfur compounds.
• Nitration (NITR) - Nitration is the amount of infrared light absorbed by harmful nitrogen compounds.
• Glycol (GLY) - The % glycol found in the oil is evidence that there is an internal coolant leak.

Total Solids
Total solids are solids and semi-solid particulates contained in the oil sample. They are generally excessive oxidation resins, and/or combustion by-products (carbon). Typical sources of oxidation resins are high operating temperatures and/or extended oil drain intervals. Blow-by products can be caused by poor mechanical efficiency. Items such as incorrect injector and ignition valve timing, air to fuel ration, or abnormal wear in piston ring and cylinder regions cause excessive blow-by.

Water
This is % water found in the oil sample. Typical sources are condensation and internal cooling system leaks. In very moisture critical systems Water by Karl Fischer is performed which reports water down to the 10 ppm range.

Viscosity (Vis)
Viscosity is reported in centistokes at 40C or 100C. Viscosity measures the oils resistance to flow. Thinning may come from excessive fuel dilution or the addition of lighter (less viscous) oils. Thickening generally represents higher total solids or addition of heavier (more viscous) oils.

Acid Number (AN)
AN is the measurement of the weak acid formation in the oil. The higher the AN the more acidic constituents are present in the oil. They can be formed by lower or high operation temperatures, extended oil drain intervals and poor time combustion.

Total Base Number (TBN)
TBN is the measurement of the reserve alkalinity of the oil's additive package. The lower the TBN in relationship to the new oil, the less its ability to clean the system and suspend contaminants.

Particle Count

Cleanliness is one of the most important characteristics in proper lubrication.  The importance of clean lubricating oil cannot be over emphasized.

 

The most common unit of reporting fluid cleanliness is the ISO Code System 4406:99. However, there are other methods used in classifying the number and size of particle such as NAS-1638 and SAE–AS4059.  However, these two methods are generally used by specific clients that have years of data.  If you require NAS or SAE classifications for your particle counts contact the laboratory.

 

ISO – (International Organization for Standardization) Code 4406:99 designates a system for reporting the number of particles greater than 4um, 6um and greater than 14um per milliliter of sample.

ISO 4406 Code numbers for reporting are separated by a slash

Example: 21/ 20/16

 

In this example the particles counted in the specified fluid are highlighted in the table below. 

 

Note:

 

  • The number of particles counted for code 21 can be 10,001 to 20,000
  • The number of particles counted for code 20 can be 5,001 to 10,000
  • The number of particles counted for code 16 can be 321 to 640

 

ISO Code 4406

Number of particles per milliliter

Code

Number

More Than

Up to and Including

80,000

160,000

24

40,000

80,000

23

20,000

40,000

22

10,000

20,000

21

5,000

10,000

20

2,500

5,000

19

1,300

2,500

18

640

1,300

17

320

640

16

160

320

15

80

160

14

40

80

13

20

40

12

10

20

11

5

10

10

2.5

5

9

1.3

2.5

8

0.64

1.3

7

0.32

0.64

6

0.16

0.32

5

0.08

0.16

4

0.04

0.08

3

0.02

0.04

2

0.01

0.02

1

0.005

0.01

0

0.0025

0.005

00

 

  Addtional Testing Commonly Used

• FS Metals - Filtration Spectroscopy is the analysis of metals in the sample by atomic emission spectroscopy after filtering the oil through the fine filter and acid digesting the large wear debris partilces. This allows characterization of large wear particle and contaminants.
• DR Ferro DL (Density Large Particles) - The DL reading is the concentration of ferrous particles above 5 microns in size.
• DR Ferro DS (Density Small Particles) - The DS reading is the concentration of ferrous particles below 5 microns in size.
• DR Ferro WPC (Wear Particles Concentration) - The WPC reading is the total of ferrous wear particles found in the sample.
• Analytical Ferrography - The microscopic analysis of wear particles to determine the mechanisms of wear taking place. This report is on a separate second page and includes micro photographs.

For more information contact Herguth or call 1-888-HERGUTH (437-4884)
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