Five advantages of regular engine oil analysis

Understanding how to interpret engine oil analysis results is an invaluable lesson. It highlights key areas to look for and helps one understand their implications for engine performance and longevity.

Accurate oil analysis is indispensable for maintaining the reliability, efficiency, and longevity of heavy-duty diesel engines.

And it’s a great tool to use if you’re looking to buy a seco0nd-hand truck.

Technicians adhere to regimented sampling techniques and prioritise contamination prevention. Yet, DIY sampling can obtain representative oil samples that provide actionable insights into engine health and facilitate informed maintenance decisions. However, diligence at every stage of the sampling process is paramount to ensuring the reliability and integrity of oil analysis results.

To ensure the integrity of the oil sample and the accuracy of subsequent analysis, technicians adhere to stringent measures to prevent contamination.

Use dedicated sampling equipment that is clean, dry, and free from residues of previous samples or foreign substances. Take care to minimise exposure of the sampling equipment to ambient air and environmental contaminants by working swiftly and sealing sample containers promptly.

Use separate equipment for different fluids and adhere to strict cleanliness protocols during sampling to avoid cross-contamination. Implement regular maintenance and inspection of sampling equipment to detect and focus on any signs of wear, damage, or contamination.

Preparation:
• Gather necessary sampling tools: Clean sampling equipment, including a vacuum pump, tubing, sample bottles, and labels.
• Ensure the engine is at operating temperature to suspend contaminants uniformly in the oil.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to maintain cleanliness and personal safety.

Selection of sampling point:
• Identify a sampling point, typically the oil pan or a designated sampling port.
• Avoid sampling from areas prone to sediment accumulation or where contaminants may settle, such as dead spots or low points in the oil system.

Flushing and cleaning:
• Flush the sampling port or oil drain plug with a recommended or suitable solvent to remove any residual oil and debris.
• Wipe the area around the sampling point thoroughly with clean, lint-free cloths to prevent external contaminants from entering the sampling stream.

Extracting the sample:
• Attach the tubing to the vacuum pump and carefully insert it into the sampling port or oil drain plug, ensuring a secure connection to prevent leaks.
• Apply gentle suction to draw an oil sample into the sample bottle, taking care not to introduce air bubbles or allow the tubing to contact any surfaces that could contaminate the sample.

Handling and Labelling:
• Cap the sample bottle immediately after filling to minimise exposure to air and prevent contamination.
• Label the sample bottle clearly and accurately, including essential information such as the sampling location, date, equipment hours, and any relevant notes or observations.

The information gathered from engine oil analysis provides a foundation for data-driven preventative maintenance strategies. By leveraging the insights trusted laboratories provide, vehicle owners can implement targeted maintenance interventions to optimise engine performance and longevity.

Regular engine oil analysis serves as a pre-emptive diagnostic tool, enabling the early detection of potential issues within the engine. By scrutinising the composition of the oil, including its viscosity, contaminants, and metal traces, the laboratory analyst uses the results of elemental analysis and particle count tests to evaluate the wear.

Trend oil analysis and proprietary wear tables are then used to determine if engine wear rates are normal or abnormal. Identifying issues at their nascent stages empowers vehicle owners to take corrective actions promptly, thereby mitigating the risk of catastrophic engine failures.

Elemental Analysis detects wear elements, oil additive package elements, and the elemental constituents of some contaminants. It can detect particles up to about 10 microns in size. These results are reported in parts per million, ppm.

Engine oil analysis provides invaluable insights into the lubrication efficiency within the engine. By assessing the oil's viscosity, acidity, additive levels, oxidation, sulfation, and nitration levels in the oil, laboratory analysts can ascertain whether the lubricant is effectively safeguarding the engine components against friction and heat.

Oil condition analysis testing is used to determine if the oil has degraded. All lubricated systems run the risk oxidation damage of the oil. Therefore, many laboratories recommend analysing oil samples from all compartments for oil conditions. Your laboratory analyst uses established guidelines or trend analysis to determine if the engine oil has reached the end of its useful life.

Any deviations from the optimal lubrication parameters can be addressed proactively, ensuring smooth engine operation and minimising the risk of premature component degradation.

Viscosity is a temperature-dependent characteristic of lubricants that describes how the oil will flow. Viscosity is usually measured at 100 degrees Celsius. At high operating temperatures, a lubricant must maintain appropriate film thickness. If the viscosity becomes too low, wear will occur within the engine compartment. If viscosity is too high, the oil will not flow to areas needing lubrication.

Many diesel engine oils are designed with multi-grade viscosity characteristics. Multi-grade engine oils have a lower viscosity at low ambient temperatures to provide start-up protection. Appropriate oil viscosity is needed at low temperatures, or the oil will not flow quickly enough to parts requiring lubrication. Multi-grade oils have a higher viscosity at normal operating temperatures to protect moving parts.

Contaminants such as dirt, metal particles, and fuel dilution can compromise the integrity of engine oil, leading to accelerated wear and diminished performance. Through analysis, laboratories can identify the presence and concentration of these contaminants, shedding light on potential sources of contamination within the engine system.

Armed with this knowledge, vehicle owners can implement corrective measures such as improving air filtration, addressing fuel injection issues, or replacing worn-out components to safeguard the engine's health.

Sulphur is present in diesel fuel. During combustion, fuel sulphur combines with water to form sulfuric acid. Modern diesel engine lubricants are designed to neutralise this acid. However, if these acids reach unacceptable levels, the lubricant will be degraded, and corrosion will occur. This corrosion can attack valves, valve guides, piston rings and cylinder liners.

Oxidation occurs in engine oils when oxygen molecules chemically join with the oil molecules. Oxidation causes increased viscosity, acid formation and deposit formation. In diesel engines, an oxidised lubricant will lose the ability to protect components; as a result, piston rings may stick, cylinder bore polishing may occur, and valves may scuff or stick.

Soot is the insoluble unwanted residue of partially burned fuel. It is held in suspension by oil additives and causes engine oil to turn black. The soot particles are abrasive and cause engine wear.

Excessive soot levels will eventually overpower the engine oil additives. When this occurs, the soot particles will drop out of suspension and form larger particles. These larger soot particles will plug oil filters, form deposits, and increase oil viscosity. Eventually, engine wear will become abnormally high.

Over time, engine oil undergoes degradation due to thermal breakdown, oxidation, and chemical reactions. Regular analysis enables monitoring critical indicators of oil degradation, such as Total Base Number (TBN) and Total Acid Number (TAN). By tracking these parameters, professionals can assess the oil's remaining useful life and recommend timely oil changes to prevent the accumulation of harmful by-products that can compromise engine performance.

One of the most significant advantages of regular engine oil analysis is its ability to facilitate cost-effective maintenance planning.

By proactively identifying issues and monitoring the condition of engine components, vehicle owners can prioritise maintenance tasks based on criticality and budget constraints. Moreover, pre-emptive maintenance measures, guided by oil analysis insights, can help avert costly repairs and downtime associated with unexpected engine failures.

Regular engine oil analysis represents a proactive approach to vehicle maintenance that offers multifaceted benefits. By carefully interpreting analysis results and understanding key indicators such as viscosity, contaminants, wear metals, and additive levels, technicians can proactively maintain engines, minimise downtime, and optimise performance for extended service life.

Embracing a proactive approach to lubrication management through routine oil analysis empowers operators to maximise their equipment's reliability, efficiency, and longevity.