What tests can OAL do? Oil Analysis Lab UK

We perform thousands of test methods on Oil, Fuel, insulating fluid, Grease, Coolant and deposits and filters every day. Most of our analysis capabilities have come from customers just like you asking “can you do…”. We don’t like saying no, so we even if we don’t offer now we will always investigate setting up our laboratory to add any new methods to our existing capabilities. We are also the inventor of many proprietary methods meaning in some cases we are the only lab to be able to do such testing and for many others one of only a few in the world to do such testing. So even if you do not see the exact test name you are looking for please use the blue contact us button to get in touch and find out can we offer the testing.

Do you test in house or send the work to other labs?

We do all our testing in house and rarely if ever subcontract work to other laboratories (less than a couple times a year). In fact most the Google search page results you do on oil analysis in the UK either send their non routine tests to us to perform or even if they do it within the same company they have to ship it to one of their other labs perhaps in another country to perform. All our analysis is done in one of our Trade park of lab units in Colwyn Bay.

What methods do you use?

There are several different method systems you can use. These include:

BSI and IP which is the British system
EN and ISO which is the French (European) system
DIN the German system
ASTM which is the American system

These systems are just the different method committees that maintain and update internationally recognised standards to allow labs to work to. There are many other standard systems you may see such as:

JOAP which is the American military system
NAS which is an aircraft standard
MIL and Def stan military standards
SAE and ACEA American and European engine manufacturers
JIS – Japanese standards
GB – surprisingly not British, but is the Chinese system often with /T for recommended and /Z for guidance.
IEC – the electrical and transformers insulating fluids standards committee.

On our report we will typically report the ASTM methods as these are the most globally recognised and all our proficiency testing is with ASTM to check our lab data against hundreds of labs all across the world. However, many of the methods are the exact same duplicates between committees or tiny modifications between methods. But if in doubt you are welcome to check with us if two methods are the same or not or if they give equivalent answers. The below list of test names is not EVERY test we can do, but just to give you a flavour of the types of testing we do. Because we have so many different test instruments adding additional capability is often minor additions, such as buying in some additional reference materials, columns, glassware or electrodes. However in the rare instance it requires an entire new set of instrumentation we will investigate for you if we can setup to offer this and in the rare instance it’s not something we can do then we will even help you find a lab that can do that specific test if there is one. So it is always worth enquiring if we can do a test. Below is the list of previously performed tests in our lab.

A

Absolute viscosity
ACEA engine oil specification testing
Acetylene (C2H2)
Acid digestion (LubeWear)
Acid Number
Acid split of oils
Acid value
Actinium (Ac)
Adblue in coolant
Adblue in fuel
Adblue in oil
Adblue in screenwash, coolants, fuels.
Adblue/Urea percent
Additive elements
Air release
Aldehyde (CH2O) content of materials including ureas, Adblue, waters, oils and solids.
Alkalinity as NH3
Aluminium (Al)
Amine Antioxidant
Amines
Amine LSV RULER
Ammonia content
Anion measurement
Antimony (Sb)
Antioxidant testing
Antiwear content
API gravity
Appearance Fluid
Appearance Solids
Aromatic content of oils and fuels
Arsenic (As)
Asphaltenes
Astatine (At)
Auto ignition temperature

B

Bacteria dip slide and full culture options
Bacteria/Yeast combination dipslide
Barium (Ba)
Base Number
Base oil viscosity.
Benzene content of petrol.
Biofuel (FAME)
Bismuth (Bi)
Biuret
Boiling Point
Boiling Point Initial, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 Mid, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 100 Final of diesel and petrol.
Boiling point of liquids
Borderline viscosity (temperature measurement from -40 to +100 Celsius to establish point minimum and maximum required viscosities for an application are reached.
Boron (B)
Breakdown voltage
Brix readings of liquids
Bromine (Br)
BS2869 specification testing of diesel, kerosene and heating fuels
Butane content

C

Cadmium (Cd)
Calcium (Ca)
Calorific value testing of liquid and solid fuels.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Carbon Residue
Carbon residue testing
Centrifugation of products and ultracentrifugation sediment and varnish testing.
Cerium (Ce)
Cesium (Cs)
Cetane index (road and marine fuel methods)
Chloride
Chloride (Cl-)
Chlorine (Cl)
Chromium (Cr)
Clarity of fluids
Clarity of fuels (ASTM number)
Cleveland open cup flash point
Cloud point
Cobalt (Co)
Cold filter plug-in point
Colour (ASTM scale 1 to 8)
Colourmetric Acid number
Combustibles
Compound identification and analysis.
Conductivity (Aqueous, Oils and Fuels)
Cone penetration testing of greases (full, half, quarter and micro cone)
Conical sieve test of greases
Continuously closed cup flash point.
Coolant in oil
Copper (Cu)
Copper corrosion testing
Corr. Inhibition
Corrosion testing (deionised, tap, simulated sea water) of iron based metals with coolant or lube oil.
Corrosion testing of copper with sulphur containing oils and fuels
Crackle test
Crystalline Particles
Custom blends - make a blend of Adblue, oil etc with the ingredients you provide
Cutting Wear

D

Dielectric Dissipation Factor (DDF) aka TAN Delta
Debris Type Classification
Degree of polymerisation of paper in insulating oils
Demulsibility (water shedding) IP19 and D1401 and DIN equivalents.
Density @ 15C, 20'C and any other temperature between -60 and + 120
Dielectric Constant/Permittivity
Dielectric breakdown.
Diesel in Kerosene
Diesel in oil
Diesel in petrol
Diesel injector nozzle analysis.
Dispersancy testing
Dissolved gas analysis of insulating oils - Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon molecules from C1 to c4 chain length.
DMA / DFA, DMB / DFB and DMX specification to ISO8217 marine diesel fuel testing.
Drop point of greases.
Duval Triange
Duval Pentagon
Dynamic viscosity
Dysprosium (Dy)

E

Elemental analysis from as light as Lithium to as heavy as uranium on the periodic table we can analyse. Not necessarily all on the same instrument but using a combination of instrument types we can cover your specific elemental analysis needs.
Emulsibility (water shedding) IP19 and D1401 and DIN equivalents.
EN14214 biofuel FAME testing
EN15940 testing of fuels (HVO / GTL)
EN228 petrol specification testing
EN590 Diesel specification testing
Engine component analysis e.g. bearings, pistons etc.
Erbium (Er)
Est. Deg. Poly
Ester in oils
Ester FAME content of diesels
Ethane (C2H6)
Ethanol
Ethanol content of petrol
Ethanol content Petrol
Ethylene (C2H4)
Europium (Eu)

F

FAME biofuel testing (ISO14214)
FAME content of diesel
Fatigue Wear
Ferrography
Ferrous debris
Filt Block Tend
Filter blocking studies
Filter blocking tendency
Filter micro patch.
Final boiling point
Fire point
Flash point (open and closed)
Foam (Stable)
Foam (Tendency)
Foam characteristics of oils sequence 1 to 4.
Formate in coolants
Four-ball testing of oils and greases.
Francium (Fr)
Free fatty acids (as oleic acid by default but can be presented as another specific fatty acid on request)
Freeze Point
Freeze point of engine coolants
Freeze point of jet fuels
Freeze Protect.
FTIR trace and compound identification.
Fuel Dilution
Fuel in oil
Fungi / Mould
Fungi dipslide, full cuture and microscopy options
Furan (2AF)
Furan (2FAL)
Furan (2FOL)
Furan (3FAL)
Furan (5HM2FA)
Furan (5M2FAL)
Furans (total)

G

Gadolinium (Gd)
Gallium (Ga)
Gas chromatography
Gearbox component analysis.
Gelling
Germanium (Ge)
Glycerin content of fuels
Glycol Conc
Glycol in oil
Glycol Type (propylene, ethylene etc)
Glycol/AntiFreeze
Glycolate in coolants
Gold (Au)
Gravimetric insolubles
Grease consistency testing
GTL fuel testing (EN15940)

H

H2O Hardness
H2O Water moisture in insulating oils (temperature adjusted)
H2S in gas engine oils
Hafnium (Hf)
High frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR) lubricity of lubes and fuels
High temperature liquid foam test (sequence 4. We also do sequences 1 to 3 too).
High viscosity measurement from 0.2 to 20,000 cst our laboratory can measure across different viscometer types with temperature ranges from -40 to + 100c measured. These are not calculated extrapolations from viscosity index but actual measurements at the temperature range of your choosing.
Holmium (Ho)
Hot Surface Flash Point
HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography
HVO fuel testing (EN15940)
Hydraulic component analysis e.g. blocked servo valves
Hydrocarbons in water / coolant / adblue
Hydrogen (H2)
Hydroxyl value

I

IC - Ion chromatography
ICP Inductively coupled plasma
Indium (In)
Initial boiling point
Initial pH
Insolubles of oils, fuels, coolants or Adblues (also includes Pentane insoluble on request)
Interfacial tension
Iodide
Iodine value
Ion Chromatography
Infrared compound identification
Iridium (Ir)
Iron (Fe)
Iron Corrosive Wear
ISO 4406 laser particle count
ISO 4407 microscopic particle count
ISO Code
ISO14214 biofuel FAME testing
ISO15940 testing of fuels (HVO / GTL)
ISO22241-2 Adblue specification testing
ISO8217 marine diesel specification testing

J

Jet fuel freeze point

K

Karl Fischer (Coulometric and volumetric)
Kerosene in diesel or petrol
Kerosene/Paraffin
Kinematic viscosity
Krypton (Kr)

L

Lanthanum (La)
Lead (Pb)
Light End measurement of insulating, heat transfer, thermal and other thermally cracked products
Linear Sweep voltammetry (LSV) - aka RULER - requires reference of new oil.
Lithium (Li)
Live Microbes (i.e. viable counts)
Long term storage testing of greases conical sieve method.
Low viscosity measurement from 0.2 to 20,000 cst our laboratory can measure across different viscometer types with temperature ranges from -40 to + 100c measured. These are not calculated extrapolations from viscosity index but actual measurements at the temperature range of your choosing.
LubeWear
Lubricity properties of fuels and oils (HFRR)
Lutetium (Lu)

M

Magnesium (Mg)
Manganese (Mn)
Melting point
Membrane patch colourimetry (MPC)
Mercury (Hg)
Metallurgy testing of substances, components and materials
Methane (CH4)
Methanol content of fuels
Microbiology of machinery fluids (dip slides, cATP, full culture, immunoassay, microscopy methods available)
Microcarbon residue (neat)
Microcarbon residue of fuels (10% bottom)
Microscopy - 2 micron up to macro sizes. 3D image analysis (LubeWear 3D)
Mid boiling point
Mineral oil in PAGs and FRF fluids. (Reference oils required for FRF fluids)
Moisture content of petroleum products
Molybdate
Molybdenum (Mo)
Mould dipslide and full culture options
MPC Patch Weight (Varnish)
Myers's index

N

NAS 1638 aviation particle counting.
Neodymium (Nd)
Neut number
Neutralisation Number
Nickel (Ni)
Niobium (Nb)
Nitrate
Nitration
Nitrite (NO2)
Nitrogen (N2)
NLGI grade used greases
NLGI grease consistency testing (worked and unworked) - cone penetration (full, ½, ¼ and micro 1g). Working only available on ¼ cone or above as not sufficient grease to work on the micro method.
NOACK volatility testing
Normal Wear classification of wear debris

O

Oil condition index
Oil Conductance Index
Oil in Adblue
Oil in coolant
Oil in fuel
Oil Separation
Osmium (Os)
Other Lab Data
Overall NAS
Oxalate in coolants
Oxidation
Oxidation stability
Oxygen (O2)

P

PAG
Palladium (Pd)
PAO
Particle count (laser dilution)
Particle count (laser neat)
Particle count (microscopy)
Particle count (visual patch)
Particle sizing (2 micron to 42mm sizing and counting)
Patch testing
PCB in waste oil testing. (Values <50ppm reported as <50ppm). If require a lower threshold than the UK legal limit then these would be subcontracted. Pensky Martin closed cup (PMCC) Pentane insolubles Petrol in diesel Petrol in oil Petrol/Solvent pH Phenol Antioxidant Phenol by LSV Phosphate Phosphorus (P) Platinium (Pt) Platinum (Pt) Polonium (Po) Potassium (K) Potentiometric Acid Number Pour point Pour Point PQ index Praseodymium (Pr) Promethium (Pm) Propane (C3H8) Propene (C3H6) Protactinium (Pa) Pump component analysis

Q

QQIN/Myers
Quench curve (subcontract) - this is the only test we subcontract in our lab.

R

Recovery distillation at 350'C and 250'C
Recover at 95% of diesel
Red Diesel in white diesel
Refractive index
Remain. Antiwear addititive. Various methods including LSV
Remaining Life of Engine Oil
Reserve alkalinity
Residual fuel oil testing
Resistivity testing of insulating, fire resistant and electric vehicle fluids - Any temperature from 15 to 100
Rhenium (Re)
Rhodium (Rh)
Rogers Ratios
RPVOT (RBOT) Rotating pressure vessel oxidation stability testing.
RULER linear sweep voltammetry testing (requires reference of exact same new oil)
Rust characteristics of oils
Rust resistance testing

S

SAE4059 laser particle count and Microscope count (NAS 1638)
Saponification number
Scandium (Sc)
Screenwash in coolants or Adblue
Seal swell testing
Selenium (Se)
Silicon (Si)
Silver (Ag)
Sliding Wear
Sodium (Na)
Soot
Specific gravity
Stabinger viscosity
Strong Acid Number
Strontium (Sr)
Substance identification and analysis.
Sugar in fuels
Sulfur content of oils
Sulphate (SO4 2-)
Sulphated ash
Sulphation
Sulphur in diesel

T

Tan delta / Power factor
TAN/TBN Ratio
Tantalum (Ta)
Technetium (Tc)
Tellurium (Te)
Terbium (Tb)
Thallium (Tl)
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
Thorium (Th)
Thulium (Tm)
Tin (Sn)
Titanium (Ti)
Titration methods (various options)
Total Acid Number
Total Base Number
Total Contam.
Total contamination
Total Dissolved
Total dissolved solids
Total sediment
Tramp oil
Trial blend - make a trial blend of Adblue, oil etc with the ingredients you provide
Tungsten (W)

U

Unsaponifiables
Urea Content

V

Vanadium (V)
Varnish potential (MPC, UC and SAIL)
Visual Patch and microscopic patch
Viscosity (dynamic)
Viscosity (Houillion)
Viscosity (kinematic)
Viscosity (Stabinger)
Viscosity (Saybolt Universal Seconds)
Viscosity @ 40'C, 100'C and any temperature (measured not calculated from the VI) between -40 and + 120'C
Viscosity index

W

Water (dissolved)
Water (free)
Water by Dean and Stark.
Water by Infrared.
Water by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
Water by Hydride
Water Karl Fisher (coulometric)
Water Karl Fisher (volumetric)
Water separability of oils - (demuls / emuls) IP19 and D1401 and DIN equivalents.
Wear classification (cutting, fatigue, abrasive) ferrography and LubeWear vision.
Wear metals analysis including LubeWear
Worked grease consistency testing (NLGI) grade. 100 to 10,000 automatic grease strokes are available depending on requirements prior to doing grease consistency testing by cone penetration.