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Info Centre >> Fuel and Lube Oil Technical Manual >> 6. Lube Oil - Sampling >> 6.1 The Sampling Point and Method


6.1 The Sampling Point and Method


Sampling points diagram

























Lubricating Oil Sampling Method

Areas where lubricant flow is restricted or where contaminants and wear products tend to settle or collect should be avoided as sampling points. Lubricating oil should be sampled while the machinery is running, if it is safe to do so, or within 30 minutes after shutdown. This ensures that wear products and lubricaing oil contaminants are thoroughly mixed with the lubricant and that the heavier wear particles have not settled out.

Once a proper sampling point and method is chosen for a particular component, oil samples from that component should always be taken from the same point with the same method. The following sampling points are recommended:

A petcock or other sampling valve installed PRIOR to the oil filter.

An oil dipstick tube or other service opening using a vacuum pump.

The sump or reservoir drain.



> Oil Analysis: the Sampling Interval