Machinery Lubrication May June 2014 May June 2014 | Page 30

MLI

OIL ANALYSIS
BENNETT FITCH | NORIA CORPORATION

ANATOMY of an
Oil Analysis REPORT
This is the fifth part of a series of

Interpreting an oil analysis

“anatomy” lessons within Machinery

report can be overwhelming

Lubrication. In this issue, a specific device

to the untrained eye. Oil

or object will not be dissected but

analysis isn’t cheap, and

rather the content provided in a typical

neither is the equipment

oil analysis report, including how to

on

interpret the data and other findings.

information. Every year, industrial

These interpretations may decide either

plants pay millions of dollars for

the cost or avoidance of machine failure

commercial laboratories to perform

and downtime.

analysis on used and new oil samples.

which

it

Interpreting an oil analysis
report can be overwhelming
to the untrained eye.

reveals

What to Look for When Reviewing an
Oil Analysis Report
1. Read and check the data on the oil type and machine type for accuracy.
2. Verify that reference data is shown for new oil conditions and that trend data is at an
understood frequency (preferably consistent).
3. Check the measured viscosity.

Unfortunately, a majority of the plant
personnel who receive these lab reports
do not understand the basics of how to
interpret them.
Typically, an oil analysis report comes
with a written summary section that
attempts to put the results and
recommendations in layman’s terms.
However, since the laboratory has never
seen the machine or know its full

4. Verify elemental wear data and compare to reference and trended data. Use a wear
debris atlas to match elements to their possible source.

history, these recommended actions

5. Check the elemental additive data and compare to reference and trended data. Use
a wear debris atlas to match elements to their possible source.

tailored

6. Verify elemental contamination data along with particle counts and compare with
reference and trended data. Use a wear debris atlas to match elements to their
possible source.

responsibility of the plant personnel

are mostly generic and not precisely
to

your

individual

circumstances. Therefore, it is the
who receive the lab report to take the

7. Check moisture/water levels and compare to reference and trended data.

proper action based on all known facts

8. Verify the acid number and base number and compare to reference and trended data.

about the machine, the environment

9. Check other analyzed data such as FTIR oxidation levels, flash point, demulsibility,
analytical ferrography, etc.

and recent lubrication tasks performed.

10. Compare any groups of data that are trending toward unaccepta