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Quality Engineering Test Establishment Ottawa ON K1A 0K2
19100-A024003 (QETE 3-4-2) August 2006
Capt D.G. Goddard
DLBM/TM5-4
National Defence Headquarters
Major General George R Pearkes Building 101 Colonel by Drive
Ottawa ON K1A 0K2
DND COMMERCIAL FLEET OIL LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM – OLOF PHASE I Reference: Tasking request from Capt D.G. Goddard, DLBM/TM5-4, dated 24 Feb 04
1. QETE 3-4, Integrated Health Monitoring was tasked as per reference to develop an automotive engine oil-monitoring program with the intention to demonstrate that doubling the usage life of the engine oil of DND’s commercial pattern vehicles could be safely accomplished without causing engine-health problems.
2. A total of twenty (20) vehicles from CFB Greenwood, CFB Uplands and CFB Borden were selected to take part in this program. The vehicle selection was left to the discretion of the local dispatcher, based on usage, make and model. All program vehicles (listed in appendix A) were included in the engine oil sampling program to monitor fluid degradation and health of oil- wetted components. During the program, each engine was sampled three times between the oil changes at intervals of approximately 8000 km, 12000 km and 16000 KM. Certain test methods approaching the oil viscosity (at 100°C) and oil acidity (TAN) together with the commercial “One-drop Instant Lubricant Test” were used to detect lubricant degradation, whilst others, such as spectrometric oil analysis and analytical ferrography provided valuable information about the health of oil-wetted components.
3. Five motor oil grades were analysed during the study (SAE 0W20, SAE 5W20, SAE 5W30, SAE 10W30 and SAE 15W40). The contaminant warning levels applied in this trial were extracted from the 2004 Petro-Canada Lubricants Handbook and documented in Appendix B. A baselining of brand new oil was required due to a slight variability of the original formulation within the same grade (specification) found among the CF bases being monitored. Therefore, each oil specification was baselined to determine its typical physical and chemical characteristics. The baselining was done by averaging the tests results obtained from new oil samples of each specification that were sent during the initial sampling cycle. The typical oil specification physical and chemical properties along with their respective calculated degradation limits are shown in appendix C.
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