Background

Lubricating oils are used in on-road and off-road engines, as well as in the lubrication of mechanical machinery. The lube oils are formulated specifically for each type of use. Various additives are formulated in base lube oil to enhance lube oil performance and create the optimum lubricity properties desired for each situation. Proper and safe operation of engines and machinery depends to a large degree on the quality and formulation of the lube oil. Therefore, quality control and quality assurance during the lube oil manufacturing process is essential. A fast, simple method of analyzing lube oils is important throughout the QC/QA process. The analytical technique must be simple enough for use by non-technical operators, yet powerful enough for expert use in the research & development of new lube oil formulations.