POLARIS Laboratories, LLC - Frequently Asked Questions

Oil Analysis, Coolant Analysis, Fuel Analysis, Condition Monitoring, Preventative Maintenance, Particle Count, Oil Testing Intervals

General      Oil Analysis      Fuel Analysis      Coolant Analysis

General

WHAT IS ISO 17025:2005?
The ISO 17025:2005 Standard is an evolution of the former ISO Guide 25 and is now the international standard for calibration and testing laboratories. Accredited laboratories must demonstrate that they operate according to a Quality System that covers all processes, documentation and a Quality Management System and that they generate technically valid results taking into account equipment, procedures and personnel.

WHO IS A2LA AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR A LABORATORY TO BE A2LA ACCREDITED?
A2LA's accreditation of a laboratory's compliance with ISO 17025:2005 is the highest level of quality attainable by a testing laboratory. Dedicated to formally recognizing competent testing and calibration laboratories, A2LA is the most stringent accrediting body in the industry.

Oil Analysis

WHAT IS OIL ANALYSIS AND WHY SHOULD I DO IT?
Oil analysis is a diagnostic, preventative maintenance tool for monitoring and evaluating lubricant and equipment conditions. It allows you to maximize asset performance and reliability by identifying minor problems before they become major failures. It can extend oil drain intervals and, ultimately, the life of your equipment — saving you time AND money.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SAMPLE MY EQUIPMENT?
Although the original equipment manufacturer’s recommendations provide a good starting point for developing preventative maintenance practices, sampling intervals can easily vary. How critical a piece of equipment is to production is a major consideration for determining sampling frequency, as are environmental factors such as hot, dirty operating conditions, short trips with heavy loads and excessive idle times. Click here for Sampling Intervals and Locations by Equipment Type.

HOW DO I TAKE A SAMPLE?
Consult our list of sampling equipment and supplies to determine what sampling system and procedure will work best for the type of equipment you want to test. For step-by-step instructions by sampling equipment type, click on How to Take a Sample. Our chart for Sampling Intervals and Locations by Equipment Type outlines by component how often and from what locations samples should be taken.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PROCESS A SAMPLE?
POLARIS Laboratories processes most routine samples within 24-48 hours. Results and recommendations are available via HORIZON, our real-time internet service, within 15 minutes of completion. Reports can also be faxed and/or mailed.

WHAT INFORMATION DOES MY LABORATORY NEED FROM ME?
It is extremely important to provide your laboratory with accurate lubricant AND equipment information. In preparing the sample for shipping to the laboratory, completely fill out the sample bottle label and the enclosed Component Registration Form. The CRF must be completed the first time a component is sampled or if changes need to be made to that component's laboratory file information. Apply the sample bottle label to the sample bottle and place it, along with the CRF, inside the black safety shipping container. Complete the mailer return address label and apply it to the shipping container, affix the appropriate postage and mail. It is highly recommended that a trackable mail service be used for shipping samples to our laboratories. You may also register equipment information with POLARIS by completing an Equipment List before you begin sampling.

HOW DO I KNOW A LABORATORY’S RESULTS ARE ACCURATE IF I GET DIFFERENT RESULTS FROM DIFFERENT LABS ON THE SAME SAMPLE?
Test equipment may not be the same. Even if identical, calibration standards must be maintained and the same test methods used in order to achieve the same or even similar test results. If accurate results are the main concern, send two or three identical samples to the same laboratory to ensure repeatability and degree of uncertainty.

WHAT IS TREND ANALYSIS AND WHY IS TRENDING IMPORTANT?
Trend Analysis is based on a series of sample results where changes in the condition of the fluid and increased wear elements can indicate the development of problems that can affect lube and unit performance. Trend Analysis plays an important role in determining proper drain intervals as well as in predicting equipment failure.

CAN OIL ANALYSIS PREDICT EQUIPMENT FAILURE?
Yes. Oil Analysis provides vital information as to the condition of both the oil and the unit being tested. It can detect wear and contamination problems that, if left unchecked, can severely effect equipment performance or cause failure.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMONLY REQUESTED OIL ANALYSIS TESTS AND WHAT WILL THEY TELL ME?

Sampling Intervals & Locations Chart

Fuel Analysis

WHY IS DIESEL FUEL TESTING NECESSARY?
You may have the most advanced high performance diesel engine ever made, but, if your fuel is of poor quality or contaminated, you have a poorly performing engine.

WHEN SHOULD I HAVE MY FUEL TESTED?

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH TESTS TO ASK FOR?
Discuss your goals with your laboratory. They can then offer the appropriate test package.

Coolant Analysis

WHY SHOULD I TEST MY COOLANT?
It is a fact that 40% of all engine failures can be attributed to cooling system problems. If inhibitors, pH, Nitrites, SCA (Supplemental Coolant Additive), % Antifreeze, Freeze Point and Acid Content are not maintained at the proper levels, coolants can reek havoc on an engine.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I TEST MY COOLANT?
Engine coolants should be tested at least twice a year, once before winter sets in and again right before summer.

POLARIS recommends every 500 hours or 3 months for Level I or Level II analysis and every 1000 hours or 6 months for Level III analysis. Education and training are key to understanding cooling system preventive maintenance and coolant analysis. Click on Training and Consultation on the Products menu to view the POLARIS training schedule.

SHOULD I TEST THE SOURCE WATER THAT I USE TO MIX WITH MY ANTIFREEZE?
Yes, water in all parts of the country is different. The reaction of water to heat in an engine will be determined by the contaminants that the Antifreeze and Supplemental Coolant Additives can correct in the source water.

WHY SPEND THE MONEY ON COOLANT ANALYSIS IF I CHANGE MY COOLANT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS ANYWAY?
Simply changing your coolant may not solve and rarely identifies the cause of a cooling system problem. If not properly identified and corrected, many cooling system problems can escalate, causing even more damage to other components. A quality coolant analysis program can identify electrical ground problems, combustion gas leaks, air leaks, localized overheating, etc. which could cost the owner thousands of dollars in repairs, equipment downtime, and/or replacement. Coolant analysis is more than just testing the coolant. It monitors the system’s overall health and allows users to take action before further damage or engine failure occurs.

CAN COOLANT ANALYSIS DETERMINE IF COOLANT FORMULATIONS HAVE BEEN MIXED?
Yes, if we know what the original product is supposed to be. Organic acid coolants don't have the typical inhibitors found in conventional products, such as silicates, phosphates and borates. However, hybrids - or conversion coolants - do. This makes it difficult to determine when mixing has occurred unless the original product is known.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF THE LAB DETERMINES THAT I'VE MIXED COOLANTS?
Level III testing will determine the coolant's corrosiveness and potential to form scale as well as identify SCA (supplemental coolant additives) and inhibitor levels outside of OEM and ASTM specifications, the potential for damage and corrective actions.

HOW MUCH WOULD A GALLON OF FULLY FORMULATED CONVENTIONAL ANTIFREEZE COST? HOW MUCH FOR A GALLON OF EXTENDED LIFE COOLANT?
Price depends on formulation, brand and quantity. Differences in cost are usually due to the amount of copper inhibitor and the number of antifoaming agents used. Always consider the value of the equipment you're trying to protect - not the price of the antifreeze - when deciding what antifreeze to use.

HOW DOES ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS BY ICP WORK?
We perform ASTM D6130 - Elemental Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma. As the sample is vaporized by argon plasma, an optic reads the spectrum of light each metal emits. Results are reported in ppm.

IS "GLYCOL %" MEASURED BY VOLUME?
Yes. Freeze Point and Boil Point are then calculated from this percentage. Boil Point is reported at sea level with no pressure.

WHAT DOES "PH WATERS" MEAN?
POLARIS also tests oil for pH. To differentiate between the two, we refer to coolant pH as PW or "pH waters."

HOW IS "HARDNESS %" MEASURED?
It is a calculation of calcium and magnesium ppm reported by ICP

IF A CARBOYLATE-BASED ORGANIC-ACID ANTIFREEZE ALSO CONTAINS NITRITE, IS IT A BIG CONCERN IF THE NUMBER FOR NITRITE IS LOW?
In this type of formulation the nitrite level is typically low, around 400 - 600 ppm because they also include molybdates and tolytriazole

WHAT ARE CONVERSION COOLANTS?
Testing the coolant before conversion is recommended so that the condition of both the coolant and the cooling system is known. pH alone is not going to identify all problems. If analysis does not identify any problems, conversion can be done safely. The new formulation becomes a hybrid.