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 control issue at the manufacturing facility. Also, water ingression can bring in other contaminants.”
While most oil manufacturers take great pains to ensure that their oil is clean; some are more diligent than others. Some customers choose to specify that new oil deliveries must meet a specified cleanliness level before it is accepted for use. A lubrication best practice is to filter the oil before placing it into service.
“We were analyzing a sample from a turbine and it was failing demulsibility, when previously it had passed.” Matt said. “After further investigation, it was discovered that a recent oil delivery was made to the location. The new oil delivered was contaminated by a cleaner that was present in the tanker truck and not thoroughly rinsed out before the new oil was put into the tanker.”
Another customer had brand new oil with a very high particle count. “It looked like there were little glass beads in the oil,” Matt said. “With further analysis, it was discovered that an additive was never correctly blended into the oil.”
An additional reason to test new oil is to ensure that the product was not mislabeled—a scenario that can have disastrous results.
After testing the new oil you’ll want to ensure you’re understanding how to read the results. Download Get the Picture here to get started.
TestOil recommends testing one drum of oil in each lot before first use with a routine test slate, including a particle count and acid number testing. In the end, it’s always better to find any anomalies before they enter the machinery. For more information on working with TestOil for oil analysis and training visit www.testoil.com. Contact: 216-251-2510; sales@testoil.com.
About TestOil
With more than 30 years of experience in the oil analysis industry, TestOil focuses exclusively on assisting industrial facilities with reducing maintenance costs and avoiding unexpected downtime through oil analysis program implementation. As industry experts in diagnosing oil-related issues in equipment such as turbines, hydraulics, gearboxes, pumps, compressors and diesel generators, TestOil provides customers with a guarantee of same-day turnaround on all routine testing. With in-house, certified training professionals, TestOil offers lubrication and oil analysis training, private onsite training, certification training and exams, and educational webinars. For more information on partnering with TestOil on oil analysis programs or training opportunities visit www.testoil.com.
