5 Reasons for Changing Diesel Fuel Distillation

POLARIS Laboratories® is changing the way we test the distillation of diesel fuels to provide quicker, more reliable results. The switch from ASTM D86 to ASTM D7345 will go into effect Autumn 2017.

Our laboratories have utilized ASTM D86 since we first started offering diesel fuel analysis. This method was established in 1921 and has been widely employed in the petrochemical industry. As with all tests, it has certain limitations in regards to the amount of sample required and the time it takes to perform. Automation has certainly helped over the years, but now more accurate, reliable and timely options exist.

ASTM D7345 Standard Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels at Atmospheric Pressure (Micro Distillation Method) was recently approved for use in ASTM D975 Standard Specification of Diesel Fuel Oils. POLARIS Laboratories® has chosen to switch to this new method to better serve our customers.

1.    Accurate Results

ASTM D7345 shows certain advantages over ASTM D86, notably in the reproducibility of results. While some bias does exist between the two methods, this has been measured by ASTM and formulas are given to remove any of this bias. This means our customers should not see any significant difference in results.

2.    Reliable Data

By investing in new technology, POLARIS Laboratories® continues to ensure our service provides quality of results, and the reproducibility of ASTM D7345 is better than that of ASTM D86.

3.    Timely Analysis

POLARIS Laboratories® recognizes that time constraints are even more critical in today’s business practices. Even better, the analysis can be completed in a fraction of the time of the conventional ASTM D86 analysis.

4.    Efficient Sampling

ASTM D7345 requires only a tenth of the sample requirement of ASTM D86, which leaves more fuel available for follow-up testing.

5.    Improved Capabilities

ASTM D7345 allows for the analysis of B100 Biodiesel blends, something simply not possible under ASTM D86. As more of our customers adopt Biodiesel blends, POLARIS Laboratories® will be able to meet their testing needs.

 

 

With so many advantages to our customers, it was a simple choice to adopt the new distillation method over a method close to a century old. We will strive to continue to offer improvements so we can provide the most accurate, reliable and timely test methods possible.

Is Your Diesel Fuel Clean?

Using clean diesel fuel is more important today than ever. Governmental regulations have pushed equipment manufacturers to design engines that are more clean and efficient but have less tolerance for fuel contamination. Running dirty, wet fuel through your engines will lead to clogged fuel filters and equipment downtime.

Download the Diesel Fuel Cleanliness solution sheet to learn how you can take preventive action.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published September 13, 2017

The Underwater Test: Why You Should Test Your Equipment After a Flood

Sometimes it’s hard to plan for destructive natural disasters – such as Hurricane Harvey along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast and the subsequent flooding. So, what do you do if your equipment is exposed to the disaster’s effects and flooding?

Based on years of experience in helping companies save their equipment and extend the equipment’s lifecycle, quite simply we recommend taking action.

Flooding can result in water contamination and can cause corrosion and oxidation which can be extremely harmful for your equipment and, in turn, can cause holds in production and loss of business. How will you know if you need to test your equipment’s fluids to see if any damage was caused and determine if potential maintenance is needed?

First, check for signs of water ingression or leaking. Search for answers to key common challenges, such as:

  • Is the high-water mark above the containers?
  • Is dried mud crusted on the container?
  • Are caps, lids and vents still in place?
  • Are desiccant filters saturated?

After you check for signs of water ingression, the next steps for testing depend on the type of fluid:

Oils and Lubricants

Check the fluid itself for signs of water contamination. A milky appearance indicates the oil additives have emulsified as much water as they could, and there is likely more dissolved in the fluid. An oil analysis test from POLARIS Laboratories® includes a water test, and elemental analysis can identify dirt contamination from mud or salt from sea water.

Coolants

Pressure caps on coolant containers typically prevent floodwaters from entering cooling systems. However, it is still worth the time to perform a field test using a refractometer or paper test strip to determine if the glycol/water ratio is still in balance. If you suspect contamination, a coolant analysis test from POLARIS Laboratories® will determine if the external water and dirt requires the cooling system to be drained and/or flushed.

Bulk Tanks

Bulk tanks typically have water drain-off ports to remove free water that settles to the bottom of the tank, but the fluids should be checked for water as well as using the techniques above. A “thief bomb” or “bacon bomb” may be needed to collect the sample. Diesel fuel and new lubricant testing from POLARIS Laboratories® will determine if the fluid quality is adequate for future use.

It’s crucial for any contaminated oils, coolants or diesel fuel to go through analysis testing when flooding occurs. Testing can prevent future issues from arising and can help determine what equipment maintenance is needed to resume work.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published September 6, 2017

Join POLARIS Laboratories® for an Interactive Training Event

Preparations for the 2017 Customer Summit are in full swing! We are confident it will be an exciting and instructive event! We have a speaker line-up complete with engaging and experienced maintenance professionals who will provide you with new knowledge to further build a successful fluid analysis program.

Attendees of the event will join us for a welcome reception on the evening of November 1. There you will have the exclusive opportunity to play our newly released card game “PROVE IT!”, which was specifically designed with maintenance professionals in mind. Competing with and against fellow attendees, you’ll play and learn how to create a functional fluid analysis program while navigating the highs and lows of an ever-changing market. This evening event will set the stage for the next day and a half of training.

We will kick-off Thursday with a keynote by Cummins Customer Support Manager Brian Liimatta. A general session focusing on starting with clean fluids succeeds our fist keynote. Following that is your choice of breakout sessions covering topics like oil analysis best practices, exceeding management expectations and data integration. In the afternoon you’ll enjoy a dynamic tour of the POLARIS Laboratories® facility which includes sessions on improving ROI and filtration.

The education continues into Friday morning with Terrence O’Hanlon presenting our second keynote where he will discuss the role of connectivity in your maintenance practices. Enjoy three more breakouts, choosing from six relevant topics to find the educational path that best fits your maintenance needs. The event closes out with a luncheon where finalists for our Fluid Analysis Excellence Award will share their stories and we will crown our 2017 3P Award winner!

This year’s Customer Summit has been developed with even more value and content. With the opportunity to interact with attendees, speakers and your POLARIS Laboratories® partners, you won’t leave without enhanced knowledge and insight to take back to your every day practices. On top of that, our unique list of vendors will give you an inside look at the latest technological advances in the field.

Following the conclusion of the 2017 Customer Summit will be an opportunity to complete the OMA I or CLS Certifications through STLE. Join us for the summit proceedings and stay Friday afternoon for the STLE proctored exams.

It is our hope that you join us for a few short days and leave with a new outlook on your current program. Each presentation and event you attend will be brimming of insightful information aimed at helping you increase the return on investment of your fluid analysis program. For every dollar you spend on attending the summit, your maintenance team will see a real return. By improving your own training, you can create a more functional fluid analysis program that is capable of real growth.

I truly hope to see you at this year’s exciting event! You can register here. Don’t worry! If your boss needs a little convincing, make the case with this letter.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published August 22, 2017

Technical Business Consultant Services

With the right people, processes and technology, your company can take its fluid analysis program to the next level. Our certified Technical Business Consultants provide training, analysis and hands-on consulting experience designed to help you save more of your equipment and improve your uptime.

Pairing your knowledge with our industry experience, our consultants listen to and communicate with your program champions and their teams. Together they work to maximize compliance and achieve greater success.

POLARIS Laboratories® offers several consulting services to help ensure your program sees a significant return on investment. Download the TBC list of services for an in-depth look at all of our offerings.

To learn more about what the TBC team offers, please feel free to contact us directly at rclark@polarislabs.com or hneicamp@polarislabs.com.

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Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published August 22, 2017

Protect Your Gear Systems

There’s no avoiding dirt and water contamination in your gear systems. If you’re not careful, wear will occur and damage the overall health of your equipment. Partnering with a strong fluid analysis program, you can prevent undesired downtime and cut your costs.

To learn more about how routine fluid analysis can help protect your gear systems, check out this technical document or contact us directly at custserv@eoilreports.com.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published August 8, 2017

Program Reviews

Moving beyond the individual fluid analysis report is an essential step to maximize the value of your fluid analysis program and reduce reactive/unscheduled maintenance events within your organization.

While many customers understand the value of identifying and addressing the root cause of high severity reports or frequent component failures, finding the time and resources can be a real challenge. By enlisting the help of POLARIS Laboratories® Technical Business Consultants, reaching or exceeding your maintenance goals is easier than you might think. With an in depth look at your program, we identify the common causes of your high severity reports and provide solutions to your maintenance challenges.

Instead of examining individual sample reports to discover what maintenance activity needs to happen, program enrichment reviews look at all of the test results over a month, a year or several years. We identify the top 3 or 4 issues that that should be prioritized in your maintenance activities to reduce the number of high severity reports. The reviews also highlight what current maintenance practices are working best for your organization by examining the low severity reports.

Maintenance managers commonly find value in program enrichment reviews by:

  1. Reviewing component sample submission and frequency to ensure you’re testing everything you intended to test
  2. Identifying maintenance issues
  3. Identifying possible trends in mechanical failures
  4. Identifying possible fluid issues and optimizing drain intervals
  5. Identifying and sharing maintenance best practices
  6. Quantifying their fluid analysis program’s impact on equipment uptime and lowering maintenance costs

How often a program enrichment review is performed will depend on your equipment, industry and maintenance goals. Typically, company-wide reviews occur once per quarter.

If this type of program evaluation sounds right for you, please contact me so we can discuss the review frequency and goals of your program enrichment review. There is no “one size fits all” program enrichment review, each is customized specifically for the individual customer. POLARIS Laboratories® can help you set a review schedule and help create the goals that are right for you.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published July 25, 2017

What is particle count?

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Finding Diesel Fuel Contamination Early

Poor fuel quality and contamination can stop engines from running, which can strand shipments on the road, halt work on production lines or stop electricity from being generated during outages. Fuel can become contaminated or lose quality in many ways:

  • Exposure to water
  • Extreme heat or cold
  • Biological contamination (bacterial, fungi and mold)
  • Mixing low quality and contaminated fuel with clean fuel

Testing diesel fuel will detect if there is a problem, diagnose the cause of the problem and suggest a treatment to restore the fuel to a usable condition.

To learn more, download this solution sheet.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published June 13, 2017

Testing Your Oil Conditions

Contamination, component wear and fluid degradation make oil changes necessary. However, we have a choice when to change it.

Maintenance managers can set oil drains based on the equipment manufacturer’s recommendations, but that doesn’t necessarily account for unique environmental conditions. A heavy duty diesel engine on a piece of mobile equipment at a surface mine has different operational conditions than the same engine model in a standby power generation application. Oil analysis from POLARIS Laboratories® provides the scientific data to determine if a drain is necessary or if the drain interval can be extended.

But oil analysis by POLARIS Laboratories® covers more than just extending drains. Tests can determine abnormal component wear and fluid degradation. Here are a few of the oil conditions that are measured through our oil testing:

  1. Wear Metals: Components wear as they operate. This wear debris is abrasive and will beget additional component wear as the abrasive particles are circulated via the lubricant. The quantity and type of metal in the lubricant can identify how much wear is occurring and which part is wearing.
  2. Viscosity:  A measure of the lubricant’s resistance to flow at temperature. It is considered the most important property of a lubricant because it indicates film strength. Lubricants need to be within a certain viscosity range to provide adequate lubrication and prevent wear.
  3. Water Content: The amount of water contamination present. Water causes component corrosion and is a catalyst for oxidation.
  4. Soot: Particulate created as a by-product of incomplete combustion. Excessive soot levels will cause abrasive component wear.
  5. Fuel Dilution: Amount of unburned fuel in the lubricant. Excessive fuel dilution lowers the flash point and the viscosity, which results in friction-related wear.
  6. Acid Number: Used to measure the relative amount of acids in the lubricant, which can lead to lubricant degradation, and the potential for increased component wear.
  7. Base Number: A measure of a lubricant’s alkaline reserve, which can indicate the ability to neutralize acids.
  8. Oxidation: A way to measure the breakdown of the lubricant due to age and operating conditions. Oxidation promotes the formation of acids, which leads to lubricant degradation, and the potential for increased component wear.
  9. Nitration: Degradation that occurs when nitrogen oxides react with the lubricant primarily from ventilation (blow-by). Nitration leads to formation of sludge and varnish.

Of course, these are basic tests. Many different types of tests are available for special lubricant types or to gather more information on contamination found by another test.

Oil testing is even more helpful when the lubrication is used with other in-line fluids, such as coolant and diesel fuel. Engines use all three fluids, and a problem with one can affect another. Adding coolant analysis and diesel fuel analysis will uncover problems that would normally go undetected with oil analysis alone.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published May 2, 2017