An easy on-site test for quickly identifying water contamination in lubricants and hydraulic fluids is the crackle test. Here is a procedure for conducting the crackle test at your facility.

Join us for Oil Analysis Level I training in Houston, Texas on October 25-27.

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Reliability World Call for Papers

Abstracts are being accepted for Noria’s 2006 Reliability World Conference, May 16-18 in Columbus, Ohio. Individuals who wish to present a paper or papers should submit abstracts of 300 words or less by e-mail to awegener@noria.com by October 31, 2005. Papers proposed will be evaluated solely on the basis of their value and relevance to the program. Case studies are preferred. There will be three days of presentations with approximately 45 papers selected. See Program Topics.

Book Bits: Wear Debris Indicates System Condition

From the book "Wear Debris Analysis"

The whole concept of Wear Debris Analysis (WDA) is based on the idea that debris released from a system conveys the condition of that system. Take a simple example: if a hose is being flexed and no debris is being generated from it, then the hose is probably in excellent condition and likely to last a long time; however, if bits of hose are coming off the surface (either within the hose or on the outside), then the likelihood is that fracture will occur soon.

More information about the book "Wear Debris Analysis"

Test your knowledge and prepare for ICML lubrication and oil analysis certification.

QUESTION: Name common ways an engine oil degrades. What is a general indicator to change the oil?

Get the answer.

"How should I calculate the oil consumption ratio for our plant equipment and what target should I aim to achieve?"

The consumption ratio is the ratio of how much oil is added to the system in a period (normally a year) to the actual volume of fluid the system holds.

Consumption ratio = Total Oil Added/Total System Volume.

Aim to achieve a target reduction program of 50 percent per year and seek a goal of less than 0.1.

Consider also the disposal ratio which is the ratio of the volume of oil drained from the system in a period to the actual volume of the system. The difference between the two ratios will indicate the leakage ratio (or in the case of crankcase engines, the burn ratio) which should be minimized as much as possible for both environmental and financial reasons.

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