IN-HOUSE & INVALUABLE
One of the finest and most advanced lubricant testing facilities available!
At Engineered Lubricants, we have developed one of the finest and most advanced lubricant testing facilities available. The capabilities of our laboratory are instrumental in lubricant design, quality control, and investigative analyses for our customers’ support.
Our Used Oil and Used Fluid Testing Programs (UOTP and UFTP) have been designed to not only maintain our fluid lubricants, but also support preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, leakage control, and effluent reduction. Our laboratory services are performed in-house and have proven invaluable to our customers in cost reduction and cost prevention.
For more information about our laboratory services, please contact 800/876-0008, ext. 3025 or tweaks@englube.com.
Engineered Lubricants uses a thermal analysis procedure to determine Volatile Organic Content (VOC) percentage of any given sample.
Engineered Lubricants employes the following testing methods to identify properties of the sample. Learn more about how these elements may be present in oil.
| X-Ray Fluorescence (ASTM D4294) |
||||||
| Aluminum (Al)* | Copper (Cu) | Potassium (K) | ||||
| Antimony (Sb) | Iron (Fe) | Silicon (Si) | ||||
| Barium (Ba) | Lead (Pb) | Sulfur (S) | ||||
| Cadmium (Cd) | Magnesium (Mg)* | Tin (Sn) | ||||
| Calcium (Ca) | Manganese (Mn) | Titanium (Ti) | ||||
| Chlorine (Cl) | Molybdenum (Mo) | Vanadium (V) | ||||
| Chromium (Cr) | Nickel (Ni) | Zinc (Zn) | ||||
| Cobalt (Co) | Phosphorus (P) | |||||
| *Results semi-quantitative | ||||||
| Note: Minimum Detection Limits (MDLs) are based on oil standards. Samples that have high levels of one or more elements may affect the MDL of other elements. X-Ray Fluorescence is matrix sensitive; results may only be relative. | ||||||
| ICP (ASTM D5185) | ||||||
| Aluminum (Al) | Copper (Cu) | Silicon (Si) | ||||
| Antimony (Sb) | Iron (Fe) | Silver (Ag)* | ||||
| Barium (Ba) | Lead (Pb) | Sodium (Na)** | ||||
| Boron (B) | Magnesium (Mg) | Tin (Sn)* | ||||
| Cadmium (Cd) | Manganese (Mn) | Titanium (Ti) | ||||
| Calcium (Ca) | Molybdenum (Mo) | Vanadium (V) | ||||
| Chromium (Cr) | Nickel (Ni) | Zinc (Zn) | ||||
| Cobalt (Co) | Phosphorus (P) | |||||
| * Oils and Greases Only
** Aqueous Only |
||||||
| Infrared Analysis (FT-IR Fingerprint) |
| Gas Chromatograph Qualitative Analysis |
| Gas Chromatograph Qualitative Head Space Analysis |
Multi-Four Ball Test Machine
En
gineered Lubricants was the first company in the country to employ the Multi-Four Ball Test Machine. The machine combines both the Four-Ball EP and the Four-Ball Wear testers into one computer-operated machine. Increasing demands in tribology testing have required the need for higher accuracy of controlled variables, increased reproducibility and repeatability, more dynamic ways to uncover data, and more control capacity. This new machine is based on a revolutionary new concept, which linearizes the specimen-applied load in both wear and extreme pressure thresholds. This linear loading concept broadens the machine’s capabilities and accuracies as well as the spectrum of test evaluation. Test variables include load, RPM, time and temperature.
Engineered Lubricants uses the Olympus MX 61 Particle Inspector System for the accurate detection, counting, classification and measurement of reside/particulates according to ISO and USP standards.
We use the following operations to perform particle analyses on samples:
- Hiac Automatic Particle Count (CM, SAE, NAS, & ISO Codes) uses different formats to report oil cleanliness readings.
- Direct Read (DR) Ferrography
- Ferrographic Analysis
- Gravimetric (ASTM D4898) is a filtration procedure to separate and measure particulate in a fluid sample.
- Particle Counting/Analysis by Optical Microscope (ISO 16232/ 4406/ 4407, more options available)
Engineered Lubricants believes that ongoing research and development is crucial to providing customers with the best products available. Not only does the laboratory do extensive internal research and development daily, but the same services are available to our customers.
EL has the ability to do cutting-edge testing on almost any type of fluid. The custom testing options are practically limitless, from the test materials to test methods. Our laboratory includes a one-of-a-kind Epsilon Linear Precision Test Machine for performance testing of products ranging from water-based coolants to way oils.
Whether you need a new product to use in your equipment or additional testing on a fluid or raw material you manufacture, our research and development team can help.
A recognized industry leader in the science of ferrography, a technique used to analyze fluid particles that indicate mechanical wear, Engineered Lubricants has the ability to minimize waste and optimize cost savings for customers.
The types of wear and the influence of lubricant additives are analyzed by examination of oil samples taken from operating machinery. Individual particles may be observed on a ferrogram. A ferrogram can determine the nature and severity of an abnormal wear condition and distinguish compounds from free metals, providing significant data to indicate whether to overhaul machinery or continue operation.
EL employs the use of two types of ferrographic analysis:
- Direct Read Ferrography: Wear particle analysis by magnetically separating wear particles from the sample and quantitatively measuring their concentration.
- Analytical Ferrography: A separation of metallic and non-metallic wear particles on a glass slide for photographic documentation and microscopic analysis to determine the size, shape and color of the particles. This information is used to rate the wear situation as normal or abnormal.
It is possible to differentiate cutting wear, rubbing wear, erosion and scuffing by particle size and configuration. The ratio of large particles to small, and changes in this ratio in subsequent samples, can reveal how quickly a system is deteriorating. Although ferrography is expensive compared to other analyses, the data it provides is invaluable in determining whether a situation is critical in costly hydraulic systems.
Learn more about how ferrorgraphy is used to determine wear particle equilibrium.
Engineered Lubricants provides a group of no-charge tests on our full-service lubricants that are generally far more inclusive than other suppliers.
These tests include HIAC particle counting, ferrography, alkaline reserve, in addition to many other analytical tests. Depending on the system and past experience, used oil samples are taken every two to three months, and more frequently if deemed necessary. Regular testing can uncover problem areas and optimize the life of the lubricant in the reservoir. Our recommendations will address problem areas before severe damage occurs. Additionally, we provide “trended” previous test results for comparison to current results, and we make these available in various reporting formats. (Trend Report Sample.)
Used Oil Testing Programs
| X-Ray Fluorescence (ASTM D4294) | ||||||||
| Aluminum (Al)* | Copper (Cu) | Potassium (K) | ||||||
| Antimony (Sb) | Iron (Fe) | Potassium (K) | ||||||
| Barium (Ba) | Lead (Pb) | Sulfur (S) | ||||||
| Cadmium (Cd) | Magnesium (Mg)* | Tin (Sn) | ||||||
| Calcium (Ca) | Manganese (Mn) | Titanium (Ti) | ||||||
| Chlorine (Cl) | Molybdenum (Mo) | Vanadium (V) | ||||||
| Chromium (Cr) | Nickel (Ni) | Zinc (Zn) | ||||||
| Cobalt (Co) | Phosphorus (P) | |||||||
| *Results semi-quantitative
Note: Minimum Detection Limits (MDLs) are based on oil standards. Samples that have high levels of one or more elements may affect the MDL of other elements. X-Ray Fluorescence is matrix sensitive; results may be relative. |
||||||||
| ICP (ASTM D5185) | ||||||||
| Aluminum (Al) | Copper (Cu) | Silver (Ag)* | ||||||
| Antimony (Sb) | Iron (Fe) | Sodium (Na)** | ||||||
| Barium (Ba) | Lead (Pb) | Tin (Sn)* | ||||||
| Boron (B) | Manganese (Mn) | Titanium (Ti) | ||||||
| Cadmium (Cd) | Molybdenum (Mo) | Vanadium (V) | ||||||
| Calcium (Ca) | Nickel (Ni) | Zinc (Zn) | ||||||
| Chromium (Cr) | Phosphorus (P) | |||||||
| Cobalt (Co) | Silicon (Si) | |||||||
| * Oils and Greases Only
** Aqueous Only |
||||||||
| Viscosity | (ASTM D445/ASTM D2270) | ||
| HIAC Automatic Particle Count | (CM, SAE, NAS, & ISO Codes) | ||
| Direct Read Ferrography (DR) | |||
| Water Content | Water by Karl Fischer (ASTM D4377) Water by Karl Fischer (ASTM D6304) Water by Distillation (ASTM D95) Water and Sediment, Centrifuge Method (ASTM D4007) Water by Refractometer |
||
| Infrared Analysis | (FT-IR Fingerprint) | ||
| Color | (ASTM D1500) | ||
| Total Acid Number | (TAN) / Neutralization Number (ASTM D974) | ||
| Gravimetric | (ASTM D4898) | ||
| Alkaline Reserve | |||
| Rotating Pressure Vessel Oxidation Test | RPVOT (ASTM D2272) |
Used Fluid Testing Programs
| Hardness | (ICP as CaCO2) | ||
| pH | (ASTM E70) | ||
| Bacteria and Fungus Counts | |||
| Refractometer Reading and Ratio Determination | |||
| Acid Split Emulsion Ratio | |||
| Centrifuge for Tramp Oil, Cuff and Sediment Percentages | |||
| Cast Iron Chip Corrosion | (ASTM D4627) | ||
| Gravimetric | (ASTM D4898) | ||
| Elemental by ICP or XRF |
Significant Cost Savings…
“Before EL’s programs we changed hydraulic oil annually. Now it is changed only when testing data indicates it is necessary and in most cases the oil can remain in service for many years. This has generated a significant cost savings by reducing our annual consumption by 40-60%, the associated labor costs and significant waste disposal expenses. Thank you for the service you and your company have provided. We consider these services essential to keeping our maintenance costs under control and equipment performance and uptime as high as possible.”
Improved Production, Reduced Down Time…
“We were having many machine lubrication problems such as bearing failures due to incorrect type of lubricant being used; not enough lubricant; too much lubricant or improper frequency of lubrication. Since we are motor manufacturers and not lubrication engineers, we decided to select an outside firm that could set up a lubrication program and provide the proper lubricants for us. I am pleased that we selected Engineered Lubricants. Your lubrication program and products has contributed much to our improved production and greatly reduced our machine bearing failures and down time.”
Excellent Service…
“I want to thank you for the excellent service that your company has provided to the GE Motors Plant in Springfield, Missouri. We made an emergency request to Engineered Lubricants’ testing facilities by asking for a comparative analysis of oils used to lubricate our sleeve bearings. The prompt analytic service you performed for us helped to identify and eliminate a potential problem to our lubrication systems performance. We want to thank you for the outstanding service that you have provided us on a regular basis and this circumstance only proved once again the value of your company’s service.”
Great Service…
“We ran into a need for some way oil for a new machine we purchased. Buying the new machine, we overlooked getting extra of this vital component and production shut down when we didn’t have it. I called your office with a part number and within a few minutes received a call back that EL could provide this as needed. I was only 4 minutes away and when I walked in the door the label was being applied to our container. Wow, now that is great service. I have always found the staff at EL to be most knowledgeable and supportive and that is why I recommend to anyone who is interested to contact and use Engineered Lubricants.”
INDUSTRY LEADER SINCE 1967
Trust
MOST ADVANCED TESTING LABS
Quality
BUILT ON COST & SAVINGS