The piston rings in a typical engine will travel between 250,000 and 350,000 km over the course of a year with a clearance of some 5 - 10 micrometers from the cylinder liner wall, mostly without incident. It pays to look after the oil!
Below: Oil analysis software, showing a trend in viscosity.
Above: The Kittiwake Power Plant Laboratory contains all tests needed for lubricating oils used in power plants.
Info Centre >> Fuel and Lube Oil Technical Manual >> 7. Lube Oil - Test Results
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Lube Oil Test Results: Kittiwake Power Plant Laboratory
The results obtained from the power plant laboratory will provide accurate information on the condition of the oil. In some cases, it will also give an indication of the condition of the machinery.
For example, a rapid viscosity decrease in an engine crankcase lubricant is an indicator of problems associated with the fuel injection equipment. The key quality parameters therefore provide an assurance that the correct oil is being used, it is fit for further use and also valuable information about the machinery itself. Specifically, these parameters cover:
Machinery manufacturers will often also give guidance on limit values applicable to specific items of machinery. Where this guidance is available, the limits so stated should be used in preference to the more general limits stated below.
An important factor in any monitoring programme is the ability to obtain reliable trend information or details of gradual changes with time or running hours. A careful observation of these trends, can be very revealing. Any significant variation from the trends such as rapid increase or decrease in a measured value, gives early warning of an impending problem, well before the limit value is reached.
A final consideration is that the worth of any test results is entirely dependent upon the sample being representative of the fluid in circulation. Care here will pay dividends later. See section 6 for further guidance on sampling lube oils.