By Jim Fitch
Practicing Oil Analysis Magazine
The truth is, oil analysis is detective work, plain and simple. Today’s detectives are empowered with a growing bag of tricks but frankly, only a few of these tricks involve traditional “oil analysis.”
Let’s take a closer look at what’s involved in real oil detective work. But before we do, remember that the primary job of the oil analyst is not troubleshooting chronic machine problems but rather the activity of machine health management, that is, maintaining and controlling machine wellness.
I have written extensively on this subject in the past. Proactive maintenance is always where the big payoff is found. Still, even the best proactive maintenance programs can’t completely rid machines of random failures and occasional abnormal wear conditions. It is in these cases when the oil detective earns his keep.