Oil Testing for Compressors Explained by Eurofins TestOil

The oil in compressors needs to be tested regularly to ensure the system operates efficiently and reliably. This analysis is crucial in order to monitor the oil’s condition, detect contamination, prevent damage and optimize the frequency of oil changes. Benefits include:

• Early Detection of Problems: Oil sampling can help detect potential problems before they cause a failure, allowing for preventive maintenance and repairs. This can save significant time and money.
• Extending Equipment Lifespan: Regular oil sampling and subsequent maintenance actions can help extend the lifespan of the compressor.
• Reducing Unexpected Downtime: By detecting potential issues early, oil sampling can help minimize unexpected downtime and maintain production efficiency.
• Improving Efficiency: Oil sampling can ensure the compressor is running efficiently. For example, if the oil is contaminated, the compressor may need to work harder and consume more energy.
• Monitoring Oil Performance: Oil sampling provides valuable information about the performance of the oil and indicates if it needs to be changed. 
• Establishing Maintenance Trends: Regular oil sampling can help establish trends in wear and contamination over time, providing valuable data for improving maintenance practices and schedules.
• Enhancing Safety: By helping to prevent equipment failure, oil sampling can also contribute to a safer working environment.

Recommended Compressor Oil Tests

• Viscosity: measures the oil's thickness. If viscosity is too low it indicates poor lubrication; if it’s too high it may indicate flow issues that lead to excessive power consumption and overheating.
• Acid Number (AN): detects oil oxidation and acid formation. Rising AN indicates degradation and possible lubricant related failure.
• Water Content (Karl Fischer Titration): indicates the presence of and percentage of water. Water can cause corrosion, acid formation, and poor lubrication.
• Spectrometric Analysis (Wear Metals): detects metal particles such as iron, copper, and aluminum. It may indicate internal wear or component failure.
• Particle Count: quantifies solid contaminants. High levels of particulates can lead to operational failures.
• Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR): identifies oxidation products, additives, and contaminants.

Optional Tests

• Foaming Characteristics: tests the oil’s tendency to foam, which can reduce lubrication efficiency.
• Flash Point: indicates potential safety issues from degraded or contaminated oil.
• Dielectric Strength (for electric motor compressors): tests the insulating properties of the oil. It is especially important for hermetic and semi-hermetic compressors where oil acts as an insulator.

For compressors, the frequency of oil sampling can depend on a variety of factors, including the type and age of the compressor, its operational conditions, and the criticality of the compressor to operations. However, a common recommendation is to perform oil sampling at least every 6 months or at 2,000 operating hour intervals for preventative maintenance purposes. 

Ultimately, oil analysis helps prevent equipment failure, extend the compressor's lifespan, and maintain optimal performance by allowing timely maintenance or corrective action.

For more information on working with Eurofins TestOil for oil analysis and/or training opportunities, fill out the form below; visit https://testoil.com/company/contact-us/; call 216-251-2510; or email sales@testoil.com.

About Eurofins TestOil

With more than 30 years of experience in the oil analysis industry, Eurofins TestOil focuses exclusively on assisting industrial facilities with reducing maintenance costs and avoiding unexpected downtime through oil and fuel analysis program implementation. As industry experts in diagnosing oil-related issues in equipment such as turbines, hydraulics, gearboxes, pumps, compressors and diesel generators, Eurofins TestOil provides customers with same-day turnaround on routine oil analysis testing.  For more information on partnering with Eurofins TestOil on oil analysis programs or training opportunities visit https://testoil.com. Contact: Al Yates 216-251-2510; sales@testoil.com. 

 About Eurofins – the global leader in bio-analysis

Eurofins is Testing for Life. Eurofins is the global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing, and in discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and agroscience Contract Research services. Eurofins is also a market leader in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, and in the support of clinical studies, as well as in BioPharma Contract Development and Manufacturing. The Group also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products.

With over 61,000 staff across a network of 940 laboratories in 59 countries, Eurofins’ companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods. Eurofins Shares are listed on Euronext Paris Stock Exchange.