Home What we do Our team Products Correspondents Claims & Loss Prevention Yachts News & Events Charity Contact us News Back to news Share on LinkedIn Click here to share this page on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Click here to share this page on Twitter Share on Facebook Click here to share this page on Facebook 25th June 2014 Circular - The importance of lube-oil analysis Although not always instantly accepted or recognised by some as a P&I issue, main engine breakdowns can, for example, lead to groundings, collisions, and dock damages, which in turn can result in General Average or third party claims, and in extreme cases may result in costly wreck removal claims. Lube-oil analysis and monitoring is an effective tool in averting breakdowns by flagging up potential problems before an actual breakdown occurs: The latest analytical techniques in lubricant analysis can provide an invaluable tool for Owners in monitoring the health of a ship’s engine. The following aspects of a lube oil sample may be analysed: Viscosity - A measure of the resistance of a liquid to flow. Commonly referred to as the 'thickness of an oil'. Closed Flash Point - Primarily a test for fuel dilution in engine oils. A decrease in flash point is generally an indication of fuel ingress which has contaminated the lubricant. Insolubles - A test for the total solids contamination in a lubricant such as combustion soot, dirt, oxidation products and metal wear debris. Base Number - 'Previously known as Total Base Number (TBN) is a measure of the reserve alkalinity of an engine oil and its ability to neutralise harmful acids. Acid Number - Tests the acidity of the oil. Certain oils have an inherent acidity level related to their additive chemistry. Increasing acidity may be indicative of the presence of organic acids derived from oil oxidation. Water - The percentage (by volume) of the total amount of water contamination. PQ Index - Not an oil property but an indices that provides a quantitative assessment, for trending purposes, of the amount of ferrous wear debris in the sample. Asphaltenes - Give an indication of heavy fuel derived components from raw fuel ingress and/or products of combustion from blow-by. IR Oxidation - An Infrared method to assess the oxidation by the change in molecular structure that occurs during the oils ageing process. Elemental analysis can identify high levels of metals in the oil sample, which can point to accelerated wear & tear in certain engine parts. Some typical sources of various metals are listed below. The elements reported depend on the machinery type and oil grade (and are reported in PPM - Parts Per Million). Element Typical source Aluminium Pistons, bearings, housings, fuel derivative Antimony Bearings Calcium Lubricant derivative Chloride Salt level of the water phase from sea water contamination Chromium Piston rings Copper Bearings, gears, oil coolers, pipe-work, piston-rod glands Iron Cylinder liners, crankshafts, piston rings, gears Lead Bearings Magnesium Casings, housings, lubricant derivative Manganese Cylinder liners Molybdenum Piston rings Nickel Bearings, valves, gears, fuel derivative Potassium Salt Water Phosphorus Lubricant derivative Silicon Dust, dirt, fuel derivative, lubricant derivative Silver Bearings Sodium Salt water, coolant derivative, fuel derivative Tin Bearings Vanadium Fuel derivative Zinc Lubricant derivative In conclusion, we recommend that all Owners implement a regular system for analysing lube oil, reviewing and monitoring the results, and promptly acting on the findings. Download Circular_-_The_Importance_of_Lube_Oil_Analysis.pdf (PDF) Contact us Latest Tweet 04:34 PM - 20 February Cheers to a great 20th Feb. Hope you are all celebrating sensibly!😉 Lodestar Marine Limited is an appointed representative of Pro Insurance Solutions Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The registered office of Lodestar Marine Limited is - Walsingham House, 35 Seething Lane, London, EC3N 4AH, Registered in England No. 07681817. Privacy Policy Site map Twitter Facebook LinkedIn