Monitoring Insolubles & Soot in Engine Oil | Maintain Equipment & Reduce Downtime

Insolubles and soot are a build up of combustion related debris and oxidation products. Contamination comes mainly from combustion products; fuel ash, carbon and partially oxidised fuel, plus a small contribution of oil oxidation products and spent lubricant additive.

Insolubles and soot in engine oil consist of:

• Carbon from incomplete combustion of fuel and, to a lesser extent, lubricants.
• Organic polymers from oxidation of lube or fuel oils
• Sulphates from combustion of fuel oil sulphur and reaction with TBN additives
• Asphaltenes (mainly from engines using residual fuel oil) - a very dirty crank case is known as ‘Black Paint’ and associated with asphaltenes in the oil

High insoluble and soot levels will cause:

• Increased oil viscosity
• Wear of bearings and running surfaces
• Blockage of oil ways and filters
• Fouling around the piston ring pack and piston top land

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Kittiwake Insolubles and Soot Testing Products

• Insolubles Electronic Test - available as a stand-alone kit or as part of a comprehensive suite of electronic equipment, the Insolubles & Soot Cell works in conjunction with a highly accurate electronic console and optional software allowing the data to be downloaded from the console to a PC.

• Insolubles Test Meter - a self-contained Isolubles & Soot test kit containing the latest test-meter technology to provide excellent repeatability and rapid results in the field.

• Insolubles Test Papers - providing a qualitative result when compared to a chart.