This information is to be used as a guide. This information is to assist the user in troubleshooting and interpreting their oil analysis reports. Please use this guide with other reference material when trying to implement an appropriate corrective action.

Wear Metals and Additive Elements

An increase or decrease of elemental concentration may be an indication of wear debris, contamination, and the addition or depletion of additives.

Iron (Fe): Cylinders gears, rings, crankshafts, liners, bearings, housing, rust.

Lead (Pb): Bearing corrosion, gasoline contamination or oil additives in gear lubes.

Aluminum (Al): Piston, piston thrust bearing wear, bushings, turbo charger, compressor wheels, rotors.

Copper (Cu): Bearing & bushing wear, oil coolers, friction plates, radiators, thrust washers, oil additive for anti-wear/anti-oxidant.

Chromium (Cr): Piston ring wear, shafts, roller/taper bearings, rods, plating, chromate from cooling system.

Nickel (Ni): Valve stems & guides, ring inserts on pistons.

Tin (Sn): Bearing, bushings, piston plating

Zinc (Zn): Anti-wear, anti-oxidant, anti-corrosive additive.

Phosphorous (P): Associated with Zincdithiophosphate, anti-wear, extreme pressure additive.

Barium (Ba): Detergents & Dispersants additives

Boron (B): Present in some antifreeze systems and cooling inhibitors.

Sodium (Na): Comes from coolants or additive.

Magnesium (Mg): Detergents & Dispersants additives. Alkaline-based additive use to neutralize acids

Calcium (Ca): Detergents & Dispersants additives. Alkaline-based additive used to neutralize acids.

Molybdenum (Mo): Anti-friction, anti-oxidant additives

Silicon (Si): Dirt, additive, Sealants. Some anti-foaming additives contain silicone.

Viscosity

The definition of viscosity is a measurement of resistance to flow under gravitational forces at a specific temperature in relation to time. Viscosity is an important property of lubricating oils. A change in a lubricant’s viscosity could be an indication of other problems within a system. Listed below are some reasons for viscosity change.

• Additive shear
•  Improper oil grade
• Contamination such as excessive amounts of water, fuel, glycol, solvents, and or small particles.
• Oxidation degradation

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