Machine Fluid Analysis

Fluid Analysis

Fluid analysis is a big part of equipment maintenance, but one that is overlooked too often. By analyzing your machine’s fluid, you can easily predict component failures before they happen. If you catch these problems while they are still small, you can save yourself a lot of time and money in the long run. What is fluid analysis and how can it help you run your small or large business?

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

How Are Fluids Analyzed?

There are four steps in a standard fuel analysis.

Step one involves drawing a fluid sample from your equipment’s SOS sampling port. This can be done by you or by a technician. You’ll want to take two samples. First, take a cleanout sample to remove any dirt and contamination from the sample site. The second sample will be the one you will send to the lab.

In the lab, the fluid samples — fuel, oil, or coolant — will be analyzed to determine fluid condition. If the fluid is degraded or contaminated, this could indicate a problem inside your equipment’s engine.

The third step is to have the comprehensive fluid analysis report analyzed by a lab technician. This will also generate actionable recommendations to help you determine the best way to repair your equipment.

The final step is to receive your report and to take steps to improve or repair your equipment.

Types of Fluid Analyzed

What kinds of fluid can be analyzed by this type of fluid analysis?

Oil can be sampled, but that isn’t limited to engine oil. Any lubricant material, such as transmission, hydraulic fluid, differential fluid and compressor fluid can all be tested. The goal of these tests is to spot early signs of damage or metal wear. It can also detect any contamination from dirt, water, fuel or coolant that could cause damage or indicate leaks or blown gaskets.

Coolant can also be sampled to check if the fluid has the right chemical balance to cool and protect your engine. This testing assesses correct usage — whether you’re using the right coolant for your engine — as well as the condition of the coolant, whether it has enough freeze or boil protection, and whether there is any contamination in the coolant. There are two levels of coolant testing: the first is a routine check, and the second is an in-depth analysis.

Diesel fuel can also be sampled and tested. Low-quality fuel can negatively affect your equipment’s performance, as well as damage internal engine components like valves, valve guides, piston rings and more. Poor fuel can also make it more expensive to run and maintain your equipment. A diesel fuel test makes sure the fuel is of acceptable quality and has low levels of microbial growth and contamination that could indicate other problems.

Benefits of Fluid Analysis

What are some of the benefits of fluid analysis?

First, it helps you to detect problems earlier, which allows you to avoid breakdowns and downtime that can cost you both time and money. Detecting these problems early allows you to pull the equipment off the rotation before the problems become bigger.

It also allows you to better manage your equipment and maintenance budgets. The money you spend on fluid analysis will be a fraction of what you might pay if one of your big pieces of equipment breaks down and has to be repaired or replaced.

Finally, it helps you to develop a complete service history for each piece of equipment in your fleet. This can be an invaluable tool if you’re planning to sell your equipment in the future to upgrade to newer models.

Fluid analysis can save you a lot of money and time loss in the long run. If you don’t have a regular testing schedule set up, now is the time to start. You might be surprised at the kind of problems you can prevent simply by testing the oil, fuel or coolant in your equipment.

Schedule A Fluid Analysis