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Read our primer articles on Oil Analysis and Tribology

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quote:
Originally posted by KRISHNAKUMAR MENON:
Hi Mr.Hughes

Good information !!!What about the KOMATSU engines.Do you have such kind of warning limits for Komatsu engines.


Actually I do. But since we are KOWA lab in our country, I am not at liberty to supply you with that. I can help you if you have a specific question though. -Try contacting your local Komatsu agent.
PC Series (up to 1600 series) has max 50 ppm Na (engines) (critical at 100 ppm) - PC1800 has 75 ppm Na (critical at 150 ppm).
(per normal oil change interval)

WA Series the same up to WA900-1, WA900-3 has 75 ppm (critical at 150 ppm).

My information is from 2003.

No specification for maximum levels of Na in hydraulics or transmissions.
Sodium is actually a contaminant metal.One of the main source is coolant ingress.Apart from this,is there any other source as per your knowledge.Is it a part of the additive chemistry.Is it a part of the engine metalurgy.

One of my test report shows a sodium content of 164 ppm.But the water content is 0 ppm.If it is a part of dust,then Silicon also should increase in the report.The silicon content is only 28 ppm.I don't know whether the sodium is a part of the engine metlaurgy of Komatsu engines or not.

Kindly confirm this also.


Thanks & Regards
Sodium (Na) is not part of metalurgy in commonly used engines for Komatsu machines (according to my information).

Sodium is as you say usually from inhibitors in treated cooling water, or present as other contaminant (like sea water - as part of NaCl).

Water content can not be 0 ppm (not possible), but it is not abnormal with low values (<0,2%) even when coolant leak is present. What happens is that most of the water evaporates during combustion/running.

You need to check lab results for ethylen glycol (pref. by FT-IR).

Also check cooling systems expantion tank for traces of oil foam. This will confirm evt. coolant leak.
Dear Amiri.
Critical values are a depend on the specific component and are change from site to site depend also the operation condition and the condition of the components. The tables of MR. Hughes should be used as a guide line. For example, in some cat engines
15 ppm lead is critical. Some others- no.

The most important parameter is to check if any parameter is "out of the steady state" situation.
Dan
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