GASKET 2170596 - Caterpillar

Caterpillar has developed a tool for maintenance management that evaluates oil degradation and the tool also detects the early signs of wear on internal components. The Caterpillar tool for oil analysis is called S O S Oil Analysis and the tool is part of the S O S Services program. S O S Oil Analysis divides oil analysis into the following categories:
Wear Analysis
Oil condition
Additional testsThe wear analysis monitors metal particles, some oil additives, and some contaminants.Oil condition uses infrared (IR) analysis to evaluate the chemistry of the oil. Infrared analysis is also used to detect certain types of contamination.Additional tests are used to measure contamination levels from water, fuel, or coolant. Oil viscosity and corrosion protection can be evaluated, as needed.These three types of analysis are used to monitor the condition of your engine and potential problems can be detected. A properly administered S O S Oil Analysis program will reduce repair costs and the program will lessen the impact of downtime.The S O S Oil Analysis program uses a wide range of tests to determine the condition of the oil and the condition of the lubricated compartment.Guidelines that are based on experience and a correlation to failures have been established for these tests. See the following chart for the guidelines. Exceeding one or more of these guidelines could indicate serious fluid degradation or a pending component failure. A trained person at your Caterpillar dealership should make the final analysis.Note: Cooling system problems will also reduce the life of engines. The combination of S O S Coolant Analysis and S O S Oil Analysis provide a complete, accurate method for monitoring the health of all Caterpillar engines. Refer to the S O S Coolant Analysis information in this publication. A properly administered S O S Services program will reduce repair costs. The program will also lessen the impact of downtime.
Table 1
S O S Oil Analysis Guidelines    
Test Parameter     Guideline    
Oxidation     (1)    
Soot     (1)    
Sulfation     (1)    
Wear Metals     Trend Analysis and Cat Wear Table (1) norms    
Water     0.5% maximum    
Glycol     0%    
Fuel Dilution     4% maximum    
Viscosity - engines by "ASTM D445" measured at
100° C (212° F)     +/-3 centistoke (cSt) change from new oil viscosity.    
Total Base Number (TBN) by "ASTM D2896"     50% of new oil TBN    
Total Acid Number (TAN) by "ASTM D664"     2.0 greater than new oil TAN or 3.0 maximum    
( 1 ) Acceptable values for these parameters are proprietary to the S O S Oil Analysis program.Consult your Caterpillar dealer for complete information and assistance about the S O S Oil Analysis program.Obtaining S O S Oil Samples
Before you obtain an S O S oil sample, operate the engine until the oil is warm and the oil is well circulated. Then obtain the S O S oil sample.In order to obtain a good oil sample, do not take the