Services
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www.castrol.com/GPS
July 2017
Core Tests
Along with identifying fluid properties and detecting contaminants, our core tests provide an
overall picture of the health of your equipment. The seven core tests include:
1. Wear Metals
Wear metals are tested to help locate premature wear and component risk. Labcheck Next Generation wear metal tests look
for an abnormally high presence of:
• Silver (Ag)
• Aluminum (Al)
• Chromium (Cr)
• Copper (Cu)
• Iron (Fe)
• Molybdenum (Mo)
• Nickel (Ni)
• Lead (Pb)
• Tin (Sn)
• Other metallic elements,
monitoring a total of
21 distinct metals
2. Contaminant Metals
Contaminant metals are monitored in each sample to detect contamination of the fluid in specific compartments. Fluid
contamination can cause components to lose efficiency.
3. Viscosity
Viscosity is tested to detect a change in the oil's fluid properties. High viscosity promotes overheating in equipment, restricted
oil flow, accelerated wear, impeded low temperature operation and increased friction. Low viscosity promotes overheating,
metal-to-metal contact, accelerated wear and increased lubricant leakage. Changes in viscosity can be the result of other
problems in the sampled compartment.
4. Fuel Dilution
Used oil is tested for the presence of unburned fuel. Using oil diluted by fuel can lead to rapid and catastrophic component failure
due to reduced viscosity and film strength, as well as increased wear/ and the possibility of a fire hazard.
5. Soot
Soot can cause a host of problems, including:
• poor engine performance
• decreased fuel economy
• increased wear
• shortened fluid life
• deposit and sludge
formation
• clogged filters
• increased operating costs
This test measures the soot content of used engine oils and flags every sample containing 5% soot or higher.
6. Glycol (Antifreeze)
Antifreeze in any compartment other than the cooling system is a critical problem and can lead to rapid and catastrophic
component failure. This test looks for and reports the presence of glycol in components.
7. Water
This test looks for the presence of water, performing moisture checks for coolant leaks or condensation formation. Water
contamination can promote acid formation, which can cause components to lose efficiency.
A Closer Look at Tests
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