Engine Oil Analysis

Oil Analysis can identify the four biggest engine killers before it’s too late! Routine testing can tell you where they come from and what they can do to your equipment.

Fuel Dilution is the amount of raw, unburned fuel that ends up in the crankcase. It lowers viscosity creating friction-related wear almost immediately. Dilution levels exceeding 8% could cause a crankcase explosion.

Soot is a sign of reduced combustion efficiency and is caused by over-fueling, air restrictions, blow-by, excessive engine brake use and/or excessive exhaust back-pressure. Knowing that a particular engine design creates and retains more of it doesn’t make higher levels acceptable. Alarm limits should remain the same — maintenance practices should change

Coolant usually enters an engine through a broken head gasket seal, cracked cylinder head, cracked block, faulty water pump or lube cooler and can cause wear in bearings, bushings, pistons, liners, cams and valves.

Dirt is detected by the presence of silicon and aluminum. It causes wear most rapidly in components made of iron, lead, copper and tin, such as pistons, bearings and liners.

Tests include:
Wear Metals
Viscosity @ 100°
Fuel Dilution %
Soot %
Water by Crackle %
Total Base Number
Oxidation / Nitration