Overview
Oil Sample Analysis is the cornerstone of condition-based maintenance in MicroCBM. By monitoring lubricant condition, you can detect early warning signs of equipment wear, contamination, and impending failures before they cause costly downtime.Oil samples are collected at designated sampling points on assets and analyzed by labs to track trends over time.
What is Monitored
Each oil sample includes four key measurement categories:Wear Metals
Trace elements indicating internal component wear:- Iron (Fe): Gears, shafts, bearings, cylinders
- Copper (Cu): Bearings, bushings, thrust washers
- Aluminum (Al): Pistons, bearings
- Chromium (Cr): Piston rings, shafts
- Lead (Pb): Bearings, solder
- Tin (Sn): Bearings, bushings
Contaminants
External substances that degrade oil quality:- Silicon (Si): Dirt, dust, airborne contamination
- Sodium (Na): Coolant leaks
- Water (H₂O): Condensation, seal leaks
- Fuel Dilution: Incomplete combustion
Particle Counts
ISO cleanliness codes measuring particle sizes:- 4μm: Fine particles
- 6μm: Medium particles
- 14μm: Large particles
Viscosity Levels
Oil thickness at different temperatures:- Measured in centistokes (cSt) or centipoise (cP)
- Indicates oil degradation and additive depletion
- Deviations suggest oxidation, fuel dilution, or wrong oil grade
Sample History & Trend Analysis
The Sample History page provides powerful trend visualization to identify developing issues.Select Filters
Choose the parameters to analyze:
- Organization: (SuperAdmin only) Select which organization
- Site: Filter by site location
- Asset: Select the equipment
- Sampling Point: Choose the specific sample location (required)
- Date Range: Optionally limit the time period
Analyze Trends
Review the line chart showing:
- X-axis: Sample dates (chronological)
- Y-axis: Concentration values in ppm (parts per million)
- Series: Each wear metal and contaminant plotted as a separate line with distinct colors
- Steady increases: Gradual wear
- Sudden spikes: Catastrophic events
- Declining trends: Effective corrective actions
Investigate Anomalies
Hover over data points to see exact values. If you notice concerning trends:
- Create a Recommendation for corrective action
- Link to any related Alarms
- Initiate a Root Cause Analysis if failure occurs
The chart displays up to 50 samples per query. Use date range filtering to focus on specific periods.
Sampling Points
Sampling points define where oil samples are collected on an asset. Each asset can have multiple sampling points:- Engine Oil: Main crankcase
- Hydraulic System: Reservoir, return line
- Gearbox: Input, output, or intermediate stages
- Turbine: Bearing oil, control oil
Creating Sampling Points
- Navigate to Sampling Points
- Click Add New Sampling Point
- Enter:
- Name and Tag: Descriptive identifier
- Parent Asset: Link to the equipment
- Location Details: Where on the asset to sample
- Click Create
Sampling Routes
Sampling routes organize multiple sampling points into a scheduled collection sequence for field technicians.Benefits of Sampling Routes
- Efficiency: Group nearby sampling points for systematic collection
- Consistency: Ensure all critical points are sampled on schedule
- Tracking: Monitor route completion and missed samples
- Planning: Assign routes to specific technicians or shifts
Creating a Sampling Route
- Go to Sampling Routes
- Click Add New Sampling Route
- Define route details:
- Route Name: Descriptive identifier
- Site: Location where samples are collected
- Frequency: Daily, weekly, monthly, etc.
- Add sampling points to the route
- Assign technician or team
- Save the route
Recording Sample Results
When lab results are received:Enter Sample Metadata
- Serial Number: Lab-assigned sample ID
- Date Sampled: When the sample was collected
- Lab Name: Testing laboratory
- Service Meter Reading: Equipment runtime hours
- Oil in Service: Hours since last oil change
- Filter Changed: Whether filter was replaced
- Oil Drained: Amount of oil removed
Input Wear Metals
For each element, enter:
- Element: Fe, Cu, Al, Cr, Pb, Sn, etc.
- Value: Concentration
- Unit: ppm (parts per million)
Enter Contaminants
Record contamination levels:
- Type: Si, Na, Water, Fuel
- Value: Concentration or percentage
- Unit: ppm or %
Add Particle Counts
Input ISO code or individual counts:
- Size Range: 4μm, 6μm, 14μm
- Count: Particles per milliliter
Interpreting Results
Normal vs. Abnormal Trends
| Indicator | Normal | Warning | Critical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wear Metals | Stable, low levels | Gradual increase | Sudden spike or sustained high levels |
| Silicon | Less than 10 ppm | 10-30 ppm | Greater than 30 ppm |
| Water | Less than 500 ppm | 500-1000 ppm | Greater than 1000 ppm |
| Viscosity | Within grade spec | ±10% deviation | Greater than 20% deviation |
| ISO Code | 18/16/13 or better | 19/17/14 to 20/18/15 | Greater than 21/19/16 |
Best Practices
- Sample Consistently: Take samples at regular intervals and similar operating conditions
- Use Clean Bottles: Prevent external contamination during collection
- Label Clearly: Include asset tag, sampling point, date, and sampler name
- Warm Oil: Sample when oil is at operating temperature for accurate viscosity
- Avoid Settling: Don’t sample immediately after shutdown when particles settle
- Trend Analysis: Compare results to baseline and previous samples, not just limits
- Act on Results: Create recommendations or alarms when trends indicate action needed
Related Features
- Asset Management: Link samples to specific equipment
- Alarms: Automated alerts when parameters exceed thresholds
- Recommendations: Track corrective actions based on sample results
- Organizations & Sites: Organize sampling by location