TAKING AN OIL SAMPLE

It is important to take an oil sample that is representative of all the oil in the machine. Always be sure the oil is hot and thoroughly mixed before sampling. Handle hot drained oil with care as it could cause serious burns.

The easiest time to obtain a sample may be when the oil is being drained for an oil change. Sampling at this time usually involves letting some of the oil drain and then catching a sample in an appropriate container.

You also can obtain samples without draining oil by suctioning oil out through plastic tubing routed down into the oil reservoir. In any case, it is important to have an appropriate container and follow sampling directions thoroughly. A lot of testing laboratories will provide you with a kit that includes a sample bottle. Many of the tests are for measuring materials on a parts-per-million basis. So, the container must be sterile or the test may pick up contaminants what was in the container before.