Always have a lab verify oil cleanliness levels and fluid quality, we recommend -
Butler Machinery Co. Fluids Analysis Lab (Caterpillar Certified)
3630 Miriam Ave. PO Box 757
Bismarck, ND 58502
Lab Manager - Scot Sorenson
Butler Machinery - Oil Analysis
Here are 56 random test of typical new oil, most of which would not pass
Caterpillars minimum cleanliness levels, even at the used hydraulic levels. The
particular brands of oil are no better or worse than any other brand. Testing
done by Cat lab -"not all new oil is clean". 56 New oil samples
Butler Machinery Co. Fluids Analysis Lab (Caterpillar Certified)
3630 Miriam Ave. PO Box 757
Bismarck, ND 58502
Lab Manager - Scot Sorenson
Butler Machinery - Oil Analysis
Here are 56 random test of typical new oil, most of which would not pass
Caterpillars minimum cleanliness levels, even at the used hydraulic levels. The
particular brands of oil are no better or worse than any other brand. Testing
done by Cat lab -"not all new oil is clean". 56 New oil samples
21/18 is your typical new oil.
This example looks dirty and is dirty.
You do not want this cleanliness level
in your equipment!
ISO Cleanliness Code 21/20/18
Particle Count Summary
————————————————————————
Particle Number Per ml Particle Range
Size Greater than Size Count Range Code
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4µm 18,700 10,000-20,000 21
6µm 9,790 5,000-10,000 20
14µm 1,790 1,300-2,500 18
————————————————————————
Photo Analysis:
Contamination is mostly silica with some metallic
rust particles. Also, a single fiber is visible.
This example looks dirty and is dirty.
You do not want this cleanliness level
in your equipment!
ISO Cleanliness Code 21/20/18
Particle Count Summary
————————————————————————
Particle Number Per ml Particle Range
Size Greater than Size Count Range Code
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4µm 18,700 10,000-20,000 21
6µm 9,790 5,000-10,000 20
14µm 1,790 1,300-2,500 18
————————————————————————
Photo Analysis:
Contamination is mostly silica with some metallic
rust particles. Also, a single fiber is visible.
Recommended cleanliness level
of Caterpillar Inc. to maintain
warranty (16/13).
This patch looks clean and is clean, Oil
Transfer filters to a higher cleanliness
level (approximate 14/13)
ISO Cleanliness Code 17/15/13
Particle Count Summary
————————————————————————
Particle Number Per ml Particle Range
Size Greater than Size Count Range Code
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4µm 806 640-1,300 17
6µm 275 160-320 15
14µm 47 140-80 13
————————————————————————
Photo Analysis:
The visible contamination is mostly metallic with
some silica particles.
of Caterpillar Inc. to maintain
warranty (16/13).
This patch looks clean and is clean, Oil
Transfer filters to a higher cleanliness
level (approximate 14/13)
ISO Cleanliness Code 17/15/13
Particle Count Summary
————————————————————————
Particle Number Per ml Particle Range
Size Greater than Size Count Range Code
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4µm 806 640-1,300 17
6µm 275 160-320 15
14µm 47 140-80 13
————————————————————————
Photo Analysis:
The visible contamination is mostly metallic with
some silica particles.
Blank (Clean)
Particle Count Summary
————————————————————————
Particle Number Per ml Particle Range
Size Greater than Size Count Range Code
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4µm
6µm Not Evaluated
14µm
————————————————————————
Photo Analysis:
Clean membrane. No contamination present.
Particle Count Summary
————————————————————————
Particle Number Per ml Particle Range
Size Greater than Size Count Range Code
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4µm
6µm Not Evaluated
14µm
————————————————————————
Photo Analysis:
Clean membrane. No contamination present.
The ISO cleanliness code references the number of particles in the sample fluid greater than 4, 6,
and 14 microns in one milliliter of fluid The higher the range code, the greater the fluid
contamination.
and 14 microns in one milliliter of fluid The higher the range code, the greater the fluid
contamination.
Patch Tests
Vertical strip in all patch examples.
Magnification: 100x
Fluid volume: 25 ml
Scale: 1 Division = 14 µm
µm = micron
Vertical strip in all patch examples.
Magnification: 100x
Fluid volume: 25 ml
Scale: 1 Division = 14 µm
µm = micron
Cleanliness Levels
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