Page Title

More than	Less than	ISO Code
80,000	160,000	24<= o:p>
40,000	80,000	23<= o:p>
20,000	40,000	22<= o:p>
10,000	20,000	21<= o:p>
5,000	10,000	20<= o:p>
2,500	5,000	19<= o:p>
1,300	2,500	18<= o:p>
640=	1,300	17<= o:p>
320=	640=	16<= o:p>
160=	320=	15<= o:p>
80<= o:p>	160=	14<= o:p>
40<= o:p>	80<= o:p>	13<= o:p>
20<= o:p>	40<= o:p>	12<= o:p>
10<= o:p>	20<= o:p>	11<= o:p>
5	10<= o:p>	10<= o:p>
2.5=	5	9
1.25	2.5=	8

ISO Standard for Particle Countin= g in Oil

(Used by all oil anal= ysis labs)

Number of Particles per ml=

With today’s high particle counts= (mostly silica sand) in new and used oils, and with servo valves and equip= ments super tight tolerances, lab testing and oil scrubbing is a must. Lab testing is done with a one mi= lliliter sample of oil (two tenths of a teaspoon), one of the results of th= e lab testing is known as an ISO code.&nbs= p; The ISO code is the overall cleanliness of the oil.

Caterpillar’s oil analysis labs u= se a two number method to report the ISO, ex. - ISO 21/18. The first number refers to the number of part= icles 5 micron and larger in the sample of oil, while the second number ref= ers to the number of particles 15 micron and larger. (See ISO Standard for = Particle Counting Chart). Bec= ause it is necessary, Caterpillar cleans all new crankcase and hydraulic oi= l

before in-house use at the factory and = dealer level. Cat has a goal = of 16/13 for new oils and 18/15 or cleaner for used hydraulic oil.

Each time the ISO code number improves = by one number, the oil is twice as clean.&= nbsp; So, for an

example if the oil starts with an ISO 2= 1/18 and is scrubbed to a ISO 18/15, the first number dropped three numbers= and the oil is now six times cleaner.&nbs= p; According to the support letter we received from the Caterpillar = lab, you could improve engine and hydraulic life a minimum of 2 times and a= maximum of 7 times for each drop in the ISO c= ode number. This unbelievable= equipment life increase is also stated by the SKF Bearing manufacturer ser= vice bulletin stating that if you keep your dirt particle size smaller than= the oil film the bearing rides on, you can “achieve infinite life= 221; on a bearing. Super clea= n all new oils and nearly stop wear on your engines. Super clean used hydra= ulic fluid (recycle) and continue to use 10,000+ hours wit= h no ill effects (test to verify the quality), nearly stop wear on the hydr= aulic system and save thousands on the cost of the hydraulic fluid.

Another necessary point to know about t= he oil analysis test is the 5 micron box, this is the exact number of parti= cles 5 micron and larger in a particular sample.

In the first sample the 5 micron (µ) count was 14,369 particles and in the = second sample the 5 micron count was 2,495. By scrubbing the used hydraulic oil, 11,874 particles (5 mic= ron and larger) were removed from 1 milliliter of oil (two tenths of a teas= poon). Or another way to look= at this result, there is 3,785 milliliters in a gallon, so for each gallon= of oil you have removed 44,943,090 particles or 2,471,869,950 per 55 gallo= n drum!

Oil Transfer Systems<= /p>

11,874 reduction in particles per 1 milliliter by scr= ubbing the oil.

<= /o:p>

Particle

Count

(per 1ml)