Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will clearly specify oil drain intervals to ensure equipment is provided with maximum levels of protection and operates as efficiently as possible. But if you continue to use equipment beyond the drain interval, how do you ensure the lubricant hasn’t deteriorated and the system isn’t on its way to failing. This is where Oil Condition Monitoring (OCM) or used oil analysis comes in.
Oil Condition Monitoring has been around for many years; its traditional role being reactive maintenance. In other words, analysing samples after a catastrophic event to determine its cause. However, more and more operators are now adopting it as a preventative maintenance method to help reduce expensive repairs and down time.
What is Oil Condition Monitoring?
Oil Condition Monitoring is a continuous assessment of a lubricant’s condition in order to extend the lubricants life, avoid untimely equipment failure and downtime, and prolong the working life of machinery.
How can OCM help?
OCM is used to detect the point when the lubricant passes its peak performance level, allowing for a strategic lubricant change, avoiding the need for lengthy and costly down time and repairs. Also, OCM will indicate if there are any issues with components used in the vehicle or machinery.
How does OCM work?
A sample is taken at a pre-specified point in the drain interval. For example, if the manufacturer recommends a drain interval of 20,000 miles a sample can be taken at 10,000 miles to begin building a profile. The sample is then tested and compared to an unused reference sample of the lubricant under investigation. If the results are within expected tolerances, the process continues with samples being taken at intervals pre-discussed with the technical department. This sampling regime will continue until a potential issue is flagged.
How are Potential Issues Detected?
To ensure the lubricant still has performance reserve or to detect any potential mechanical issues, seven main tests are performed. These are:
- Viscosity,
- Soot content,
- Water Content,
- TBN (Total Base Number, also known as alkaline reserve),
- Sulphation level,
- Oxidation level,
- Nitration level,
- Elemental Spectroscopy.
By performing these specific tests, we can build an accurate picture of the condition of both the lubricant and components, allowing us to advise the appropriate next steps.
Summary
In summary, Oil Condition Monitoring provides peace of mind when oil drain intervals are being extended, by not only providing evidence that the lubricant is still performing but ensuring that equipment operation and component integrity are not being compromised.
Blog by Ryan Woolley, Technical Advisor at Morris Lubricants.