Lubricant condition
Physical and chemical properties help describe whether the oil has changed during storage or service.
Technical blog
Oil Analysis Basics: Condition, Contamination & Wear
Understand the three core questions in used-oil analysis—lubricant condition, contamination and machine wear—and why trends need representative samples.
What oil analysis can show
Oil Analysis Assists Maintenance Personnel in Three Primary Ways
Three evidence streams, interpreted together: routine analysis can help maintenance teams understand whether a lubricant remains in suitable condition, whether external material has entered the system, and whether wear-related evidence has changed. The value comes from representative sampling, relevant tests and interpretation in the context of the asset.
Contamination
Water, dirt, process material, fuel or another lubricant may alter performance and accelerate degradation.
Wear-related evidence
Elemental and debris information may support assessment of the equipment when materials and history are known.
Trend and action
A consistent sampling point and test scope allow changes to be compared and maintenance actions to be documented.
Build a repeatable evidence cycle
Steps for a successful Oil Analysis Program
A successful programme is a maintained process, not a single sample.
Choose critical equipment
Prioritise assets where an unexpected shutdown, quality loss or safety concern would materially affect the operation.
Define tests and intervals
Select parameters and sampling frequency around the equipment, lubricant, duty and operating environment.
Collect a representative sample
Use a clean bottle, a repeatable sampling point and complete equipment and lubricant identification.
Analyse and compare
Review current results against appropriate references and, where available, the asset’s own previous data.
Interpret the pattern
Consider lubricant condition, contamination and wear-related evidence together rather than relying on one isolated number.
Act and document
Record maintenance action and continue the history so later results can be interpreted in context.
Understanding common parameters
What does the oil analysis tests tell you?
Viscosity
Describes resistance to flow and supports comparison with the specified grade or a suitable reference.
Acid and base number
Support review of chemical change and, for relevant oils, reserve alkalinity.
FTIR condition indicators
Support trending of oil-condition changes relevant to the lubricant and application.
Elemental analysis
Reports selected wear-related, contaminant and additive elements present in the sample.
Water and moisture
Support investigation of ingress, handling, storage or process contamination.
Particle count and debris
Describe particle population or wear-debris evidence for applicable clean-fluid systems.
Flash point
Provides a measured property that may support quality or contamination review for the applicable material.
Foaming and water separation
Evaluate selected air-release and water-handling characteristics where relevant to the oil type.
The applicable tests, methods, sample quantity and interpretation depend on the oil type, equipment and objective. Chem-Tech confirms the scope before testing.
Continue the programme