Taking a sample

For a successful analysis, it is vital to understand the significance of taking the sample. It is a waste of time analyzing a sample that has been taken using inappropriate methods as the pending results will only cause confusion and unnecessary work. A sample taken with the correct methods, however, gives us an indication of condition of the system, the oil, the general level of cleanliness and wear.

Sampling instructions

Prerequisites for successful sampling are:

• If possible, the system should be running with the lubricant at its normal temperature. If the sample can only be taken with the system switched off, it must be taken within 20 minutes. In this manner, we will be able to get an accurate picture of the condition of the oil in the system.
• The warm oil sample is transferred with clean tools into a particle free sampling bottle. For a typical (extensive analysis kit) analysis a 150-250ml sample is needed. For more thorough analyses, such as oil performance analysis, the required amount might be more, so be sure to check with the laboratory in advance.
• The sample can be obtained from pressure lines with a minimess tube, from a tank with a vacuum pump, directly from a return line or return line valve straight into a bottle. The sample should never be taken from the bottom valve, as the lubricant is impurest there, and neither by dipping directly from the tank, because there is the possibility that the bottle might fall in. In order to monitor a trend, the sample must be taken from the same place and in the same way so that the samples are comparable and conclusions accurate.

DOWNLOAD SAMPLING INSTRUCTIONS

Method 1
(for systems which have a sampling valve)

Method 2
(sampling from a tank)