News

Even though an engine coolant system is an integral component for engine health, 20 times more engine oil samples are tested than coolant samples. Cooling system problems are related to a significant number of engine health issues. Read More

Hydraulic fluid viscosity is critical to optimizing pump and system efficiency. There is a narrower viscosity range where power losses are minimized and power transfer is maximized. The greater the viscosity of a fluid, the more energy that is required to move the fluid regardless of workload.  Read More

Biobased lubricants are defined as those that are biodegradable and derived from renewable raw materials, generally a plant based source. These oils are frequently made from a variety of vegetable oils, such as rapeseed, canola, sunflower, soybean, palm, and coconut oils.  Read More

Grease compatibility depends mostly on the compatibility of the thickener or soap base used by different products. Base oil compatibility and additives can also be a consideration. Even grease with similar thickener types can sometimes lead to lubrication problem when mixing different products, resulting in damage of the lubricated parts. Read More

On Earth, life finds a way. It truly is amazing the diversity of life on our home world. It is estimated that there are almost 2 million different species on Earth and that number grows daily through new discoveries of existing life forms as well as new life forms developing.  Read More

Timely and optimal sample shipping plays an important role in the effectiveness of monitoring in-service lubricants and coolants in operating equipment. Read More

Lubricant additives were developed to enhance the existing characteristics of the base oil(s) a lubricant is formulated with, to reduce the deficiencies of the base oils(s) or impart new performance characteristics. Engine oils were the first lubricants to be formulated with additives. They have been and still are the largest market segment for lubrication. So, it is no surprise that most of the research and development efforts have been placed on engine oil enhancement.   Read More

Monitoring the silicon level in a lubricating oil is a useful way to track damaging dirt ingression into a lubrication system, because dirt [silica] is mostly made from the element silicon. If an increase in silicon level of an oil sample is noted, it is a positive indicator that dirt is entering the system and turning your oil from a lubricant to grinding paste! Read More

ALS Tribology has designed a Return on Investment Calculator (RoI) that provides meaningful information on the true cost benefits of using in-service fluids testing to optimize asset reliability and mitigate potential failures. Read More

Some industrial applications use oil analysis in conjunction with scheduled Preventative Maintenance (PM). This is primarily done because it works into a convenient sampling routine for the in-service lubricant and complements routine maintenance practices if timed properly. Preventative maintenance normally addresses planned maintenance and OEM recommendations and requirements. This sampling routine may not always provide the most optimal benefits of oil analysis for some applications. Under these circumstances the use of analysis of in-service lubricants as a maintenance tool might only provide rudimentary benefits. Scheduled preventative maintenance alone may result in too much or too little maintenance activity. Read More