BARREL 2595502 - Caterpillar

Caterpillar's Scheduled Oil Sampling (S O S) is the best indicator for determining what is happening inside your engine.S O S is a diagnostic tool designed to identify and measure contamination and condition of oil, oil performance and component wear rates. The program identifies and measures contamination such as soot, sulfur, etc., and the presence of fuel, water and antifreeze in a sample of oil. The tests also determine the amount of wear metals present in the oil sample, which is compared to established Caterpillar norms to determine acceptability.Caterpillar recommends using Scheduled Oil Sampling (S O S), at regularly scheduled intervals, to compliment your preventive maintenance program. To be effective as an indicator, S O S MUST be performed on a continuing basis. Intermittent sampling will NOT allow wear rate trend lines to be established. The Caterpillar Scheduled Oil Sampling Program (S O S), was developed to help Caterpillar users realize the highest possible value from their equipment by minimizing repair costs and maximizing availability.Obtain S O S samples at regularly scheduled intervals to monitor the condition and maintenance requirements of your engine. Consult your Caterpillar dealer for complete information and assistance in establishing an S O S program for your engine(s). Infrared analysis should always be accompanied by wear element analysis and chemical and physical tests to assure accurate diagnosis. Infrared analysis must be used to determine oil change intervals. S O S must include Infrared (IR) in the analysis.S O S Analysis
S O S is composed of three basic tests:* Wear Analysis* Chemical and Physical Tests* Oil Condition Analysis Wear Analysis is performed with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer to monitor component wear rates by identifying and measuring concentrations, in parts per million, of wear elements present in the used oil.Based on known normal concentration data, maximum limits of wear elements are established. Impending failures can be identified when test results deviate from concentration levels established as acceptable, based on normal wear. Through monitoring the used oil, normal component wear trends are determined. Many failures can be identified when wear trends and/or contaminants significantly exceed past trends.Detectable failures are those caused by component wear and gradual contamination from dirt, fuel, water or antifreeze. Wear analysis is not able to predict failures due to component fatigue, sudden loss of lubrication, or sudden ingestion of a large amount of dirt or contaminants since failures of this nature occur too rapidly. Chemical and Physical Tests detect the presence of water, fuel and/or glycol (antifreeze) in the oil and determine whether or not their concentrations exceed established maximum limits. Oil Condition Analysis is evaluated with Infrared Analysis and determines the degree of deterioration of the used oil by measuring the amount of contaminants such as sulfur products, oxidation, nitration products and soot present in the used oil.It also monitors additive depletion and detects ethylene glycol and butyl cellosolve contamination and can assist in customizing (reducing, maintaining or extending) oil change intervals for particular conditions and applications.Oil Condition Analysis can help