Lack of Information Affects Flagging Points

Providing equipment, lubricant and filtration information with your used oil samples can help your laboratory set unit-specific flagging points and alarm limits. The example below illustrates how much difference the details can make.

If the only piece of information the laboratory has is that the sample is from a transmission, Iron would have been flagged at 217 ppm because a statistical analysis of ALL transmission types together would result in a typical value of 217 ppm.

The descriptions below explain in detail the importance of including this information with each sample you submit for testing.

But by having additional unit type, manufacturer, model and filter information and by analyzing a database of historical samples meeting the same criteria, the laboratory is able to set more unit-specific flagging points.

• Automatic transmissions are typically flagged at lower Iron values. Under more pressure than manual transmissions, automatic transmissions use hydraulic fluids, as opposed to gear oils, they are filtered and wear patterns are less

• Certain wear patterns can be specific to the manufacturer - each uses different metals - what may be typical for one may not be for another

• Each model has its own design, engineering and application

• Filter type and rating sets a level of acceptable cleanliness and significantly lowers flagging points for metals, especially if the sample has been taken after the filter

Omitting or providing inaccurate unit, lube and filtration information for this particular sample could create a difference of as much as 165 ppm where preventable failure could occur.

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