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Sampling
Taking a Representative Sample
Use only clean laboratory sample bottles. Do not use a non-laboratory sample bottle (e.g. soda bottle/water bottle). Take samples while the system is operating under normal conditions or immediately after shutdown while it is still at operating temperature. Make sure the sample point is cleaned and flushed prior to filling a sample bottle. If multiple sample points are available, make sure all samples are taken from the same point.
Reporting Equipment Information
It is imperative that details are recorded accurately on provided paperwork. This simple exercise provides quick turnaround and accurate reporting of machinery and equipment. At times, a sample may require a fresh sample to update our database of oils as oil suppliers can change additive chemistry.
Condemning Limits
Every oil is different, and each oil manufacturer uses different additive chemistry. This means various oils have a unique set of condemning limits and a variety of oil ‘fingerprints’. For a meaningful and accurate analysis evaluation, the correct condemning limits are applied to each oil type. It is important to establish the appropriate condemning limits with LubeAlloy Industrial Lubricant Analysis and thus provide accurate forecasting and recommendations.
Suggested Sampling Methods
Equipment manufacturers recommend preventative maintenance practices and this is determinant upon the oil type and its application. The hours-of-use can be affected by the base oil type which is often related to the price of that oil. The equipment's importance to production is a major consideration for determining sampling frequency. So, too, are environmental factors such as hot, dirty operating conditions, load and time lapse, short trips with heavy loads and excessive idle times. All these factors effect oil life expectancy, oil testing provides informed decisions to maintain productivity and avoid costly downtime.
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