Contamination Effects - SKF TMEH 1 Mode D'emploi

4.

CONTAMINATION EFFECTS

The usual contamination found in oils is caused by oxidation and acid
build up, these occur during the normal running of an engine and
should show up as a gradual increase in readings over a period of
time or distance. Other contaminants occur because of excessive
wear or mechanical failure, the main elements of which are dirt, soot,
fuel, water, anti-freeze and metal particles. These elements give a
marked increase in the OilCheck's reading and will give immediate
warning of possible resulting failure.
1. Water and anti-freeze contamination will cause a dramatic
change in the reading which will move the segments well into the
red.
2. Metal particles will also cause an extreme reading though the
display should move up in small jumps as the particles settle on
the sensor surface.
3. Fuel is harder to detect as its presence will sometimes mask the
presence of other contaminants. If the oil is only contaminated by
fuel the display will show it as a stronger reading well into the red
but the presence of water or metal will sometimes counteract the
fuel giving a reading in the green. Should an engine oil continue
to show no increase in its reading over a period of time the
possibility of fuel contamination should be investigated.
4. Changes in the viscosity of the oil will cause a slow reduction of
the dielectric constant which will be difficult to detect.
5. Changes of the acidity will typically reduce the dielectric strength
in a detectable manner.
10 OilCheck SKF TMEH 1