Oil & Gas

Metals Analysis in Used Oil

Dec. 6 2019

Table 1: Metals and Contaminants

Table 1: Metals, engines, transmissions, gear systems

Table 1: Metal, Hydraulic, Compressors

Metal	Engines, Transmissions, Gear Systems, Hydraulic, Compressor
Antimony alloying element	Certain types of journal-bearing overlays.
Beryllium	Thrust washers of aircraft engines. Component of ceramic material.
Lithium	The sign of grease contamination.
Magnesium alloying element	Cases and housings.
Molybdenum alloy or flashing	Typically found only in certain aerospace and heavy-duty commercial or industrial steels. May also be present in fuels as heavy crude residual material.
Silicon	Silicon is typically associated with dirt contamination. This contamination can result from any condition that allows dirt to enter a component oil system. Other sources of silicon include seals, oil and coolant additives and greases.
Silver plating; tracer	Some bearings and bushings; oil cooler solder; seals. Silver is also occasionally used as a physical “tracer” to indicate wear has progressed to a certain point. In this application, silver is either plated directly onto a part surface or incorporated into a layer under the surface. The wear condition of the part can then be related to the amount of the tracer deposited in the oil. This usage is most often found in aerospace applications.
Titanium alloying element	Some shafts, bearings, and gears. Typically found only in certain aerospace and heavy-duty commercial or industrial steels.
Vanadium alloying element	Typically found only in certain aerospace and heavy-duty commercial or industrial steels. May also be present in fuels as heavy crude residual material.
Zinc alloying element	Brass fittings (with copper); galvanized surfaces.

Table 2: Additive Metals

Metal	Use
Barium	Corrosion and rust inhibitors; detergent; anti-smoke additive in fuels.
Boron	Detergent, dispersant; anti-oxidant in oils and coolants.
Calcium	Detergent, dispersant, alkalinity increaser.
Magnesium	Detergent, dispersant, alkalinity increaser.
Molybdenum	Extreme pressure additive or solid lubricant in specialty oils and greases; corrosion inhibitor in some conventional coolants or supplemental additives.
Phosphorus	Anti-wear; combustion chamber deposit reducer; corrosion inhibitor in coolants.
Potassium	Corrosion inhibitor; trace element in fuels; also found as a mineral salt in sea water (marine cooling systems).
Sodium	Corrosion inhibitor in oils and coolants.
Zinc	Anti-wear, anti-oxidant, corrosion inhibitor.

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