Visual Appearance

Description

A basic yet critically important method of instant diagnostics that detects the presence of free water, mechanical impurities, and critical fluid degradation.

The first line of defense for your equipment begins with human senses, backed by a strict laboratory protocol. Analyzing the visual appearance of a petroleum product is the fastest and often cheapest way to identify catastrophic problems in a lubrication system even before conducting expensive instrumental tests. The RENA laboratory performs a standardized visual assessment (for clarity, color, and cleanliness) that immediately answers the questions: has water entered the oil, is there sand and soot, or have you accidentally mixed two incompatible fluids? This test saves hydraulic systems and bearings from instant destruction by abrasives or emulsions. The test is conducted according to the international ASTM D4176 standard (the "Clear and Bright" procedure). The test sample (fresh or in-service fluid) is poured into a special clean 100 ml glass cylinder or glass jar. The fluid is thoroughly shaken to raise any potential sediment from the bottom. After this, the operator examines the sample by transmitted light at room temperature, using a standardized white light source. If necessary, to better detect microscopic particles, the sample is examined against a black and white background, and an attempt is made to read standard printed text through the fluid. The laboratory technician records the presence of haziness (which most often indicates the presence of dissolved or emulsified moisture), flakes, sediment, phase separation, as well as an atypical odor, which may indicate thermal decomposition or bacterial contamination.