What is importance of Lubricant oil analysis on regular basis? Which are the parameters need to be analyzed?

Routine Lubricant oil analysis is the key to a successful maintenance program. Oil testing provides essential information to determine the condition of your equipment. Baseline of normal wear can be established during the first few months of a program. As the program matures, only routinely scheduled testing can indicate when abnormal wear or contamination is occurring.

The basic parameters and their significances are:

Kinematic Viscosity-Increase may be due to high soot or insoluble contents, water contaminations, admixture with high viscosity fuel or lubricant Decrease may be due to water contamination, admixture with lower viscosity fuel or lubricant.

Flash Point-Decrease means fuel dilution.

Base Number-Increase points to admixture with highly alkaline oil Decrease may be due to increased acidity from combustion or continuous water ingress or very low SLOC ( specific lube oil consumption ).

Water ( % )-Indicates ingress due to leakage

Acidity ( mg KOH/g )-Increase means higher content of total acids present, largely weak acids.