Proper Paperwork For Oil Analysis

We would like to say thanks to all our subscribers and customers that use the LubeTrak Oil Analysis program. We try to do the very best job possible and hope to see your continued support.

When sending samples to LubeTrak.com or any other outside lab, it is necessary that the equipment registration form and paper work is completed and filled out in full. The registration form should include equipment description, lubricant description and specs, application information, history of the equipment and environmental application.

We will list below some ideas to help the lab and your company, obtain the most information from your oil analysis report.

1. Equipment Identification: Name and number of each piece of equipment is very important for tracking reasons. A serial number, a VIN number and/or a name are a great start. If the unit being sampled has more than one sample port, make sure to identify each sample port.
2. Manufacture and model of the equipment: If the unit being sampled is a hydraulic pump, the make and model of the pump is needed. This will help identify the metallurgy of the component and the ranges of wear metals that can be expected under normal operating conditions.
3. Unit type: This identifies the piece of equipment being sampled. We feel that this is one of the most important pieces of information that can be written down. For example, ‘compressor’ is not a valid unit type, but ‘outboard compressor bearing’ is an ok unit type. Most labs have tables of standards based on detailed unit types.
4. Fluid type and manufacture: A complete identification of the fluid is a very important part of an oil analysis report. The fluid type, grade, ISO, and or SAE are also very important. If the oil is not identified correctly, the lab may use another physical property to compare the used oil to. This could cause the lab to give a wrong conclusion of what might be happening to your equipment.
5. Environmental: Information about the application and the environment in which the equipment must operate is very beneficial to the lab analyst during the testing of the oil. This will help your company determine if the proper oil is being used for the application being tested.

Labeling of the sample bottles is also a very important part of the paper work needing to be done to get the lab the most information needed to perform the analysis test. Listed below is some common information that needs to be supplied to the lab with each oil sample:

1. Machine ID
2. Date Sampled
3. Hour or Mileage meter reading
4. Last oil change
5. Last Filter Change (Important but optional)
6. Oil make up/ Top off
7. If the equipment has been overhaul in the last month
8. Type of filtration system used. (Full flow, By-pass, Both)

We look forward into helping you and your company, succeed with the LubeTrak.com oil analysis program.

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