AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE-OIL CONDITION MONITORING

This article describes some of the technical literature regarding engi ne oil condition monitoring, including oil analysis techniques and the significance of various analytical results. Limiting criteria for oil analysis results (that is, values above which there is risk of engine problems) are tabulated. Several approaches for monitoring oil condit ion are described: oil sampling followed by oil analysis, creation of models to predict various aspects of oil degradation, and direct on-bo ard sensing of oil condition. This article is a shortened version of t he chapter on ''Automotive Engine-Oil Condition Monitoring'' from the 1994 Handbook of Lubrication and Tribology, Volume III, available from the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers.