2018 OIL STUDY
OIL ANALYSIS
Oil Analysis Practices
Frequency of engine oil analysis
Oil analysis programs allow fleets to
gauge the health of an engine, optimize
oil drain intervals, increase equipment
reliability and track efficiency in maintenance
programs. Even though a
majority of fleets recognize the benefits
of analysis, it seems most operations,
particularly smaller fleets, lack a standard
analysis procedure and conduct it
rather infrequently.
Remember, oil sampling and analysis
on a regular basis allows a fleet to
establish a baseline of normal wear
which can help indicate when contamination
and abnormal wear is occurring.
These survey results may indicate a
need in the industry for better training,
equipment and oil management programs
to make analysis a priority. For
those fleets conducting oil analysis,
43 percent indicated that customer
4 Fleet Maintenance | May 2018
service was the most important purchase
criterion for oil analysis tools
and equipment. Thirty-one percent of
fleets indicated that the Shell Rotella
brand did the “best job” at helping
them understand the importance of
oil analysis.
While fleets are across the board
when it comes to how often they conduct
oil analysis, from 21 percent conducting
it every oil change, to 20 percent
indicating they never do, there seems
to be a consensus when it comes to the
normal mileage intervals for conducting
the analysis. A majority of fleets conduct
analysis under the manufacturer’s
recommended intervals (33 percent) or
every 12,000 miles (31 percent). In this
section, see a breakdown of when and
how fleets are conducting oil
analysis. -Vesna Brajkovic
What oil company does the best
job helping you understand the
importance of oil analysis?
How often do you normally
conduct oil analysis on
engine lubricants?
Every oil change
Occasionally
When we are extending service intervals
When there is a concern
Never
Other
21%
22%
9%
26%
20%
3%
5% 5%
11%
2%
13%
3%
4%
1% 1%
2% 2%
31%
9%
10%
Amsoil Castrol Chevron
Delo
Citgo
Mystik
Exxon
Mobil
Delvac
Lucas Pennzoil Petro-
Canada
Duron
Quaker
State
Royal
Purple
Schaeffer’s Shell
Rotella
Valvoline Other
36%
of fleets who
conduct an oil
analysis every oil
change have 100
or more vehicles.