"Is there a way that I can test oils/fluids on construction equipment, most likely diesel? I am considering buying a backhoe/loader at an auction and would like an edge on purchasing one."
Yes, the various (engine, hydraulic, transmission) oils and glycol coolant and fuel can be sampled and tested at a commercial oil analysis laboratory for their current condition. The lab should provide information on the condition of the fluids and the equipment.
But you have some obstacles to over come. You need to get a representative sample from the equipment when it is running (or hot), into a proper oil analysis bottle. Taking a sample from the drain plug is a poor method of obtaining a sample. Taking a single sample may provide some information, but generally oil analysis is performed by taking regular samples over a period of time and then trending the results (look for a pattern).
The hours that the oil has been in service in the equipment can be critical. If the oil was just changed, your sample will be of essentially new oil and everything will appear to be in beautiful condition, which may not indicate the real condition of the equipment. The laboratory that analyzes the samples will provide some basic interpretation of the test results to help you. Typical charges are about $25 per oil sample.
Bob Scott, Noria Corporation
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