BASE 5S9580 - Caterpillar

Chemical And Physical Tests
Chemical and physical tests are used to determine whether the used oil has been contaminated with water, fuel, or antifreeze and whether these contaminants exceed maximum limits. These tests are recommended for any oil-washed compartment where water, fuel or antifreeze contamination is possible.
The presence and approximate amount of water in oil can be detected by placing a drop of the oil sample on a hot plate. If bubbles appear, water is present in the oil (i.e., 0.1% or more; maximum allowable is 0.5%). The presence of fuel in the oil is determined by the Setaflash Tester. This tester is calibrated to identify oil with 4% (maximum allowable) or more fuel dilution. Oil contamination with antifreeze (i.e., ethylene glycol) can be qualitatively identified through a chemical test (any amount of antifreeze is unacceptable).
These tests cannot determine the exact percentage of the contaminant, but they can identify whether the contaminants exceed maximum limits.
Oil Condition Analysis
Oil condition analysis, performed through infrared analysis, is a diagnostic test that is a recent addition (1979) to the S.O.S program; it is a Caterpillar application for Caterpillar product only. Infrared analysis determines the degree of deterioration in used oil by measuring the amount of sulfur products, oxidation, nitration, and soot present and the extent of the antiwear (zinc dithiophosphate) additive depletion. Also, it detects the presence of oil contamination from water, antifreeze (i.e., ethylene glycol and Dowtherm) and butyl cellosolve (i.e., cleaning solution). Infrared analysis should never be used alone. It should be used in conjunction with wear analysis and the