Properties of Engine Oil

(i) Viscosity.
Viscosity analysis shows the presence of different type of contamination in
used engine oil. The products of oxidation and polymerization (these products
can be both dissolved and suspended) in the oil cause the increase the
viscosity of used engine oil, in while a decrease in the viscosity of engine oil
shows the fuel contamination.
(ii) Pour Point.
Pour point may be defined as the lowest temperature at which the oil will
stop to flow. Lubricating oil having low pour pint shows its good quality.
(iii) Flash Point.
Flash point is the lowest temperature at which the vapors in air will burn
momentarily if ignited by flame or spark. A decrease in flash point indicates
contamination by dilution of lubricating oils with unburned fuel. Increasing of
flash point indicates evaporation of the light components from the lubricating
oil.
(iv) Acidity or Neutralization Number.
This is also one of the important chemical properties. It shows the amount of
alkali required to neutralize unit mass of the oil. Normally it increases due to
oxidation of lubricating oil.
(v) Ash Content.
When the lubricating oil is completely burned, the remaining solid is called
ash and it shows the oil purity.
(vi) Carbon or Coking Test.
This evaluates the solid residue obtained when the oil is heated to complete
vaporization and it refers to the amount of deposit formed.
(vii) Water Content.
This test is done by distillation and indicates the amount of water emulsified
in the oil.
(viii) Fuel Contaminants.
It is an amount of fuel (diesel, petrol, etc.) diluting in the lubricating oil during
automotive operation.
(ix) Cloud and Pour Points.
Cloud point is the temperature at which paraffinic wax and other oils are
cooled under a given condition. Pour point is not a measure of the
temperature at which the oil ceases to flow under service conditions of a
specific system. It is very important to users of lubricants in low temperature
environment.
Acid Value:
While bleaching, CLASSIC Earth do not increase 'free acid' in the oils. Because of this particular
element of the CLASSIC Earth, the chances of colour reversion in the bleacher or in de-odouriser
are practically nil even at high temperature. Generally, the use of Activated Carbon can be safely
avoided while using CLASSIC Earth e.g. it is better to use1% CLASSIC Earth insted of using. If
actual user wishes to use Activated Carbon, that carbon should not contain " free Acid" this is
important, otherwise, because of free acid in the Activated Carbon, the red reversion may
develop after bleaching. It is recommended to avoide the use of cheap grades of Activated
Carbon with CLASSIC Earth. This will also minimise the retention of oil in the spent, as Activated
Carbon is having more percentage of oil retention than earth.

Total Acid Number (TAN) - As previously discussed, organic acids are produced during
oxidation. These acids are detectable as an increase in the TAN number which
quantifies acid concentration by measuring the volume of an alkaline (potassium
hydroxide) reagent that is required to neutralize the acid in the oil. The TAN test
doesnt discriminate acids generated by oxidation from those that are ingested as
contaminants from the process. Also, some additives like anti-wear, extreme pressure
and some rust inhibitors, are acidic. They produce a high initial TAN that can diminish
as the additive is depleted.

Objectives of Measuring AN
AN is the measure of acid concentration in a nonaqueous solution. It is determined by
the amount of potassium hydroxide (KOH) base required to neutralize the acid in one
gram of an oil sample. The standard unit of measure is mg KOH/g. AN does not
represent the absolute acid concentration of the oil sample. The AN measurement
detects both weak organic acids and strong inorganic acids. A change in the acid
concentration of an oil can originate from multiple sources. Acidic contaminants, wrong
oil, alkaline-reserve depletion and oxidation by-products can cause an increase in acid
concentration. Table 1 lists common acids that can be detected.

Understanding the extent of additive depletion is key in determining the RUL of an oil.
Some additives are weakly acidic and can elevate the oil's initial AN. As the lubricant
ages these additives deplete, thereby reducing the acidity created by the additives. The
common antiwear additive, zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP), produces certain AN
trends during lubricant aging. Concurrently, the oil is possibly being contaminated with
acidic constituents, increasing the acid content in the oil. The combined effects of
additive depletion, acidic contamination and other acidic-affecting events create a
challenge in determining what the AN represents. Figure 1 shows the underlying
components that affect the AN during lubricant aging. It can be seen that during an
induction period the antioxidant additives are depleting; once these additives are
depleted, the base oil begins to oxidize if the stressing conditions are sufficiently high.
By trending the AN, this increase can be detected.
pH vs. AN
The pH and AN test methods measure different aspects of the oil's acidic or alkaline character. The
pH test method measures the apparent pH of the oil. The apparent pH is a representation of how
corrosive the oil may be, but it does not indicate the concentration of acidic or alkaline
constituents. The pH test method is useful in applications where corrosive oil could cause
considerable damage. It is also valuable in lubricant systems with a high potential for the
formation or the contamination of strong acids.

The AN and BN test methods respectively measure the concentration of acidic and alkaline
constituents. Both acidic and alkaline constituents can exist in oil at the same time. In fact, some
additives are amphoteric, meaning they can behave as either a base or an acid. In some oils, it is
important to monitor both the AN and BN to determine the reactions in the oil. AN and BN do not
indicate the strength of the acidic or alkaline constituents in the lubricant, which reduces their
ability to indicate the oil's corrosiveness. AN has a better ability than pH to detect and monitor
weak acids, which do not readily dissociate in water. This prevents the pH test method from
obtaining a good indication of how the weak acid concentration is changing in the lubricant.

Standardized Methods
Table 2 lists the current ASTM standard test methods for determining AN. Each test has been
designed for specific purposes, with ASTM D664 and ASTM D974 being the two most commonly
used tests. ASTM D1534 and ASTM D3339 are similar versions of D974, used for special cases. AN
tests can be broken up into two titration categories: potentiometric or colorimetric. The
potentiometric method uses a potentiometer to detect the acidic constituents and coverts it to an
electronic read out. The output is plotted and analyzed to determine the inflection of the test
method. The colorimetric method uses paranaphthol-benzene, which responds to a change in the
pH indicator that has been added to the solution. Once the acidic constituents have been
neutralized by the KOH, the sample will change from orange to blue-green, indicating the end
point.

Table 2. Common ASTM AN Test Methods