In many applications, yes. Oil is often replaced simply because it has become contaminated, even though the oil itself may still be serviceable. Clean Oil Services uses oil analysis and contamination control to determine whether the lubricant can remain in service.

Lubemaster systems can remove particle contamination, water and gases while the machinery remains operational. By maintaining the oil’s cleanliness and monitoring its condition, oil drain intervals can often be extended significantly — reducing oil consumption, disposal costs and equipment downtime.

The key is to test the oil first. Oil analysis determines whether the problem is contamination that can be removed, or whether the lubricant itself has deteriorated to the point where replacement is necessary.

Where oil has become heavily degraded, specialised oil restoration can also be used. For example, the Fullers Earth attachment.

Oil contamination comes from both outside and inside the machine. Dirt and dust, water, wear metals, fuel, gases and other contaminants can enter through poor storage, handling and dispensing practices, environmental ingress or contamination already present in new oil. Contamination can also be generated within the machine through wear and lubricant degradation.

Identifying the source of contamination is just as important as removing it. Clean Oil Services uses oil analysis and contamination-control practices to identify where contamination is coming from and how it can be prevented.

Water is one of the most destructive contaminants found in lubrication systems. It often enters machinery through condensation, leaking coolers, wash-downs or environmental exposure.
Even small amounts of water contamination can: degrade lubricant performance; Promote acid formation; Cause corrosion and surface damage.

It is one of the most common causes of failure. Under heavy load conditions, water can rapidly vaporise with an expansion factor of up to 2,000 times, damaging metal surfaces, eventually leading to costly component failure.

In engine oils, water contamination is especially dangerous because sulphur compounds combine with water and oxygen to form corrosive acids that attack bearings and internal components.

Pay attention to your final oil analysis, and if it tests positive for water, there will be recommendations.

A. Make sure the correct oil is being used for the correct application
B. Implement an accurate, reliable oil analysis program
C. Identify the type and source of contamination affecting your machine condition
D. Eliminate contamination by fitting proper breathers to prevent particle and moisture contamination
E. Eliminate contamination caused through housekeeping functions
F. Clean your oil as required to remove all types of contamination

Taking an indicative sample can only be achieved by fitting proper dedicated sample points and very careful sample collection, which requires some specialised equipment so as not to contaminate the sample and to make sure it tells us exactly what is happening within your oil.

Our staff at Clean Oil Services will advise you on how to take a sample for accurate results. Remember, the test results we return to you are only as accurate as the sample you send us.

We aim to email results within 48 hours of arrival of the sample at our lab, weekdays.

For speed of reporting and quality of reading, results are emailed as soon as they are finished.

If an exception is noted at the lab, you will be phoned to discuss the possibilities.

Yes it can, however it is not our main focus. Our main interest is in condition improvement by controlling contamination, extending oil life and reducing wear. Oil analysis provides accurate information as to the condition and the unit being tested. It can detect wear and contamination problems that, if left unchecked, can be the cause of failure.

Microscopic analysis is one of the most effective methods of contamination identification wear debris analysis as it allows us to look at the condition of the oil, see what type of particles are being generated in the oil, accurately count the particle numbers, size group them and examine their morphology from which we can relate to the wear, assess the oil’s performance and identify the contamination, enabling corrective actions to be put in place.

A spectrographic analysis allows elemental identification of wear metals, contaminants and additive packages.

Yes, we can supply you with sample kits to cover a range of tests on varying equipment. See the Products drop-down menu.