Sources of Phosphorus Phosphorus is an additive metal found in all anti-wear (AW) and extreme pressure (EP) additive packages. Only when the phosphorus level deviates more than 25% from the new oil or reference value should a concern be raised, but the likeliest cause is mixing or topping-off with a different product. AW oils can…
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Sources of Magnesium
Sources of Magnesium Magnesium is an additive metal commonly used in detergent additives. Only when the magnesium level deviates more than 25% from the new oil or reference value should a concern be raised, but the likeliest cause if mixing or topping-off with a different product. With normal and expected additive depletion due to usage,…
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Sources of Calcium
Sources of Calcium Calcium is an additive metal commonly used in detergent additives. Only when the calcium level deviates more than 25% from the new oil or reference value should a concern be raised, but the likeliest cause is mixing or topping off with a different product. With normal and expected additive depletion due to…
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Sources of Vanadium
Sources of Vanadium Vanadium is another wear metal commonly found alloyed with other metals. Vanadium may also be found in the coating of parts like valves, rods, rings, and bearings. Typically, increasing levels of vanadium, and possibly chromium, disproportional with iron, indicate coating wear, whereas proportional increases suggest hard steel alloy wear. One form of…
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What is in these oils, and which one is better?
What is in these oils, and which one is better? A relatively common request to an oil analysis lab is to identify the ingredients in samples of new lubricants and/or determine which lubricant will perform better. While this is possible with laboratory testing, it requires vastly different testing than is routinely performed. The predominant analysis…
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Variability in Oil Analysis Results
Variability in Oil Analysis Results Two consecutive samples, at normal sampling intervals from the same machine, are never expected to have exactly the same results, but occasionally the second set of results appears to have either changed by more than a normal amount, or possibly have shifted in a counter-intuitive direction (i.e. gotten better without…
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