Our Caterpillar 'Images of Excellence' certified lab will perform oil and coolant analysis and report findings to help you prevent catastrophic failure. What you will discover when we perform oil and coolant analysis:

S·O·S Fluid Analysis Products

Latest generation sampling kits offer key improvements...

Improved Sample Bottle design:

• Clear plastic design permits easier viewing of fluid samples over previous opaque bottles
• Manufactured and packaged using robotics for optimum contamination control
• Fill line molded into side of bottle for easy measuring
• Hot fill rating to 91° C (195° F) makes it the highest performance plastic fluid analysis bottle in the industry Improved Probe and Probe Holder design
• Latest Probe and Probe Holder designs permit 20% faster fill times
• Redesigned Probe offers better flexibility and reach for ease of use
• Higher quality than previous probe design
• Reusable metal Probe Holder guides the probe into the valve when drawing oil samples

How To Take A Good Oil Sample

Developed by Caterpillar, our S·O·S program helps you detect problems before they lead to costly repairs and downtime. We recommend sampling fluid compartments every 250 hours and at each oil change. We recommend sampling on-highway truck engines every 15,000 miles (25,000 km) and at each oil change.

Using oil valve probe

This sampling method requires a Brass Probe (8T9208) and approximately 15 cm (6 in) of tubing. If you are sampling several compartments, begin with the cleaner systems—usually the hydraulic system, then the transmission or steering system, and finally the engine system. Use a new piece of tubing for each machine or engine. It is especially important to discard the tubing after sampling engine oil because soot and oil additives may remain in the tubing and contaminate other samples.

Step A

Set the engine at low idle and remove the dust cap from the valve of the compartment you are sampling.

Step B

Insert the probe into the valve and collect about 100 ml (4 fl oz) of oil into a waste container. If the oil flow is slow at low idle, it may be necessary to have someone accelerate the engine to high idle while extracting the sample. Dispose of the waste oil properly. (This process cleans the valve and helps ensure a representative sample.)

Step C

Insert the probe into the valve again and fill the sample bottle three-quarters full—do not fill to the top. Do not allow any dirt to enter the bottle or bottle cap.

Step D

Withdraw the probe from the valve and secure the bottle cap. Then place the bottle with the completed label into the shipping cylinder.

Using vacuum extraction

This sampling method requires a Vacuum Pump (1U5718 or equivalent). Use this method for pressurized systems not equipped with sampling valves. Again, it is important to use a new piece of tubing after sampling engine oil because soot and oil additives may remain in the tubing and contaminate other samples.

Step A

Turn the engine off. Measure and cut new tubing to the length of the dipstick. If the compartment you are sampling does not have a dipstick, cut the tubing so that it reaches about halfway into the oil depth.

Step B

Insert the tubing through the head of the vacuum pump and tighten the retaining nut. The tubing should extend about 4 cm (1 in) beyond the base of the vacuum pump head.

Step C

Install a new sampling bottle onto the vacuum pump and insert the end of the tubing into the oil—do not allow the tubing to touch the bottom of the compartment.

Step D

Withdraw the tubing from the compartment. Remove the bottle from the vacuum pump and secure the cap on the bottle. Then place the bottle with the completed label into the shipping cylinder.

Step E

Withdraw the probe from the valve and secure the bottle cap. Then place the bottle with the completed label into the shipping cylinder.