AiVibeQuality, Reliability & Maintenance
Oil Analysis
Oil analysis is a condition monitoring technique that tests samples of lubricating or hydraulic oil to assess the condition of the oil, detect contamination and identify wear in the machine from the particles the oil carries.
Oil analysis typically covers three areas. Fluid condition tests, such as viscosity, acid number, base number for engine oils, oxidation and additive levels, show whether the lubricant is still fit for use. Contamination tests, such as water content, particle counts and elemental analysis for silicon from dirt or for coolant elements, show what has entered the system. Wear debris analysis, using elemental spectroscopy, ferrous density measurement and analytical ferrography, shows which components are wearing and how severely.
Oil analysis is used for gearboxes, hydraulic systems, compressors, turbines, engines, transformers and large bearings in manufacturing, power generation, mining, marine and transport. It can detect problems such as wrong or degraded lubricant, water ingress, failing seals and filters, and abnormal wear, and it supports condition-based oil changes instead of fixed intervals. It complements vibration analysis by revealing lubrication and contamination problems that often precede mechanical damage.
Results are only as good as the sample: samples should be taken from a consistent, representative point, with the machine running or shortly after, using clean equipment. Trends against baselines and limits for the specific machine and oil are more meaningful than single values. ISO 4406 defines the code commonly used to report solid particle contamination in hydraulic fluids, and laboratories follow ASTM or ISO methods for individual tests.
Key points
- Assesses lubricant condition, contamination and machine wear.
- Tests include viscosity, acid number, water, particle counts and spectroscopy.
- Supports condition-based oil changes and early wear detection.
- ISO 4406 codes solid particle contamination in hydraulic fluids.
Where AiVibe comes in
AiAmbA AI Factory use cases include predictive maintenance and visual inspection on textile, automotive and electronics lines. AiAmbA IoT normalises industrial signals from protocols such as OPC UA and MQTT, with driver availability confirmed per installation.
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