SWITCH AS-ROCKER 3501225 - Caterpillar

These recommendations are subject to change without notice. Consult your local Cat dealer for the most up to date recommendations.
Caterpillar has developed a maintenance management tool that evaluates oil degradation and detects the early signs of wear on internal components. The Cat 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 four categories:
Component wear rate
Oil condition
Oil contamination
Oil identificationComponent wear rate analysis evaluates the wear that is taking place inside the lubricated compartment. The S O S analyst uses the results of elemental analysis and particle count tests to evaluate the wear. Trend analysis and proprietary wear tables are then used to determine if wear rates are normal or abnormal.Oil Condition analysis is used to determine if the oil has degraded. Tests are done to look at the oxidation, sulfation, and viscosity of the oil. The S O S analyst uses established guidelines or trend analysis to determine if the oil is no longer useable.Oil Contamination tests are performed to determine if anything harmful has entered the oil. This analysis relies on the results from the following tests: elemental analysis, soot, particle count, fuel dilution, water, and glycol. The S O S Services program has guidelines for the level of contamination that is allowed in the various compartments of a Cat machine.Oil Identification is another important part of the S O S Oil Analysis program. The wrong oil in a compartment can severely damage major components. The S O S analyst uses elemental analysis and viscosity results to identify key characteristics of the oils.These four types of analysis are used to monitor the condition of your equipment, and to help you identify potential problems. A properly administered S O S Services 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 Cat dealership should make the final analysis.Oil analysis is one of the diagnostic tools to determine engine health. Oils that are within the limits given by the guidelines may not indicate all engine health issues. Under certain conditions, including, but not limited to severe operating conditions, oils that are within the limits given by the guidelines may require changing early.Note: Cooling system problems will also reduce the life of engines, transmissions, and hydraulic systems. S O S Coolant Analysis together with S O S Oil Analysis provide a complete and accurate method for monitoring the health of all machine systems. Refer to the S O S Coolant Analysis