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A HEALTHY MACHINE IS A PRODUCTIVE MACHINE

By: Kaming
February 27, 2017

A Healthy Machine is a Productive Machine

OIL ANALYSIS MAXIMIZES MACHINE LIFE

Managing the health of your equipment is much like managing the health of your own body. You visit your primary care doctor for regular check-ups and evaluate your body’s health with various tests. Offered through Cleveland Brothers, the Cat® S•O•SSM Services program is similar. It helps equipment owners improve the health of their machines by providing valuable information to assist them in making important maintenance decisions to reduce owning and operating costs and maximize component life, which ultimately protects the value of the equipment.

Why is Oil Sampling & Testing Important?

Analyzing a machine’s oil will give you visibility to what is happening inside the equipment. Just like having blood drawn and tested, various lab tests from one small sample of oil will help identify problem areas a machine may have before they become bigger issues. Early detection of contaminants and component wearing (or not wearing) can help equipment owners avoid expensive repairs and unscheduled downtime.

What is Tested During an Oil Analysis?

Oil sampling is performed on engine, hydraulic, and drive train oils. Samples are tested for component wearing, contaminants, and oil condition.

Traditional elemental analysis provides a trends report of small particles to identify which components might be wearing. Combined with analyzing particle counts, we can quantify the buildup of the particles to determine the severity of the wear.

Based on the oil testing results, we can discover various contaminants such as dirt, soot, water, fuel dilution, and coolant which can present mechanical problems. Excessive amounts of contaminants could be the results of leaks, failing parts, buildup of unburned fuel, or poor machine maintenance.

Lastly, the condition of the oil is tested for degradation. Expert oil lab technicians at Cleveland Brothers
analyze the oil for viscosity, oxidation, sulfation, and nitration.

Viscosity

At high operating temperatures, a lubricant must be able to maintain appropriate film thickness. If viscosity becomes too low, wear will occur within the department. If too high, the oil will not flow to areas needing lubrication.

Oxidation

This occurs when oxygen molecules chemically join with oil molecules; typically found in transmission, hydraulic, final drive and engine oils. Oxidized lubricants will lose the ability to protect components.

Sulfation

Typically found in diesel fuel, water and fuel sulfur combine during the combustion process to form sulfuric acid. Although modern diesel fuel lubricants are designed to neutralize this acid, if it reaches unacceptable levels, the oil will degrade and cause corrosion.

Nitration

Generally a problem only in natural gas, nitrogen compounds from the combustion process increase viscosity and reduce lubricating ability.

How Often Should Oil Sampling Occur?

A Cleveland Brothers Oil Analyst can work with you to determine the appropriate sampling intervals depending on machine age, type, and usage. It is important to collected oil samples on a regular basis; however, consistency is key. It is important to make sure specimens are collect at the same hourly intervals. Doing so helps develop a trend over time and paints a clearer picture of your machine’s overall health.

Where Can I Get an Oil Sampling Kit?

Cleveland Brothers offers oil sample kits at any parts counter or you can purchase the kits conveniently online through Cat PartStore™. After obtaining an oil sample, simply mail the sample to our state-of-the-art oil lab located at our Harrisburg, Pa., branch or drop it off at any parts counter.

Our expert lab technicians will process the sample within 24 hours and provide an overall evaluation of the specimen, the individual results of each test, a trend analysis, and recommendations. Results are accessible online via Cat S•O•S Service Web and are shown in concise and easy-to-understand reports.

Oil sampling is just one element of condition monitoring that can keep your machine healthy while controlling costs, improving machine performance and protecting the overall value of your equipment.

To learn more about oil sampling and fluid analysis, speak to a local parts and service representative or call (866) 551-4602.


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