Assuming that no water is emulsified in the system, some reasons for an increase in viscosity of a circulating oil might include: the oil may have oxidized; pressure could have increased; temperature might have decreased; possible contamination with a higher viscosity fluid; evaporative losses of light oil fractions from high temperatures; glycol contamination; and soot contamination.

From "Lubrication and Maintenance of Industrial Machinery"

The term "trace metals" in a lubricant sample not only covers metals generated by wear in the system but also the elements from the additive pack. While the determination of trace metals for a "one-off" sample gives some insight into the condition of a lubricant, the major value of trace metal determination lies with long-term condition monitoring.

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Lubrication mistakes can quickly bring a plant to a grinding halt. In this article, get sound advice for error-proofing against, and minimizing common lubrication mistakes like putting the wrong oil in a machine.
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