According to TestOil Field/Data Analyst Matt McMahon, there are many reasons that new oil doesn’t arrive clean, much of it depends on where the contamination occurred—usually during transportation or while in storage. “There are many sources for contamination ingress,” Matt explained. “It could be anything from corrosion in tanks or drums to a core contamination…
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Aftermarket Additives and Oil Analysis
There is a lot that goes into lubricant formulation. It’s a complex process that requires years of expertise. The base oils and additives that comprise each product are carefully balanced to provide excellent performance in specified applications. TestOil Field/Data Analyst Matt McMahon explains, “People occasionally try to compensate for depleted additives by adding aftermarket products…
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How Base Oil Affects Lubricant Performance
How Base Oil Affects Lubricant Performance TestOil’s oil analysts know that a lubricant’s base stock can have a significant impact on performance. These base stocks range from minimally refined mineral oil to very sophisticated PAOs, some further enhanced with leading-edge catalyst technology. Starting with the fundamentals, there are five basic base stock categories:[1] Group I…
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Best Oil Testing Lab Built On Lean Principles
At TestOil, we are big fans of Six Sigma Lean principles—they affect everything we do, including our lab. Most recently, Lean strategy was a key factor in our successful navigation of the COVID-19 situation. As a designated essential business, we were able to remain fully functional during the critical March-July period. With effective IT…
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Oil Analysis Just After Restarting Equipment
While the oil can be tested prior to start up if there are obvious issues, it’s usually better to pull a sample when the equipment is operating.
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Logistics of Restarting Machinery
Although it’s tempting to just flip the switch, a little due diligence before restarting will go a long way. A good start is a visual inspection to check for rust, leaking gaskets, seals, cracks, proper oil levels and oil color.
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