Drop of knowledge #22

Ecol Laboratory – what happened in October?

1. 1. Look deep into the oil – discover the power of FTIR diagnostics →
2. 2. Monitoring the degree of degradation of used oils →
3. 3. See also →
4. 4. Ecol at the TRAKO 2025 trade fair in Gdańsk →
5. 5. Upcoming conferences we are participating in →
6. 6. Element of the month →

1. Look deep into the oil – discover the power of FTIR diagnostics

Is it possible to ‘see’ what is happening inside the operating oil – before failures and costly downtime occur?

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is one of the key analytical methods in oil diagnostics. Its operating principle is based on measuring the absorption of infrared radiation by molecules present in the oil sample.

Each chemical group absorbs radiation at a characteristic wavelength, allowing for the identification and quantitative determination of many compounds.

FTIR enables, among others, the determination of:

• verification of the information of the oil used,
• oil oxidation – oxidation products,
• antioxidant content,
• presence of water,
• degradation of additive packages,
• presence of soot and glycol,
• fuel contamination (fuel dilution).

 
It is used in the analysis of engine oils, hydraulic oils, turbine oils, gear oils, compressor oils, and greases. Thanks to its fast analysis time and small sample volume, FTIR is ideal for monitoring oil condition as part of predictive maintenance programs.

In FTIR diagnostics, the most commonly used standard is ASTM E2412.

FTIR is a reliable tool in the hands of a diagnostician – it allows one to look “inside” the oil and understand what is happening in the machine. However, proper analysis requires significant experience in laboratory procedures and data interpretation.

• mineral oil
• ester oil
• PAG oil

2. Monitoring the degree of degradation of used oils

Regular monitoring of the degree of degradation of used oils is not only a good idea — it is an investment in safety, reliability and optimisation of operating costs. In our latest article, we explain how to read acid number, base number and i-pH indicators, what changes in these parameters mean, and when oil should be replaced.

👉 Click and discover the real benefits for your machine park:

3. See also:

4. Ecol at the TRAKO 2025 trade fair in Gdańsk

On 23–26 September 2025, we participated in the TRAKO 2025 trade fair, which took place at the AMBEREXPO Exhibition and Congress Centre in Gdańsk. It is the largest and most prestigious event in the railway industry in Central and Eastern Europe, attracting thousands of participants from around the world.

At our stand, the Ecol team presented solutions and services dedicated to the railway industry, and shared their experience in the field of maintenance, lubrication system cleanliness and oil testing.

Thank you for the meetings and discussions, which allowed us to better understand the needs of the industry and talk about further cooperation. See you at the next TRAKO!

5. Upcoming conferences we are participating in:

• ➡️ 04-05.11: Asset Performance Conference, Antwerp, Belgium
• ➡️ 05.11: Axon – Reliability and Maintenance in Production Plants, Wąbrzeźno, Poland
• ➡️ 05-07.11: 22nd Conference on Thermal Waste Treatment. Energy Recovery, Łochów, Poland
• ➡️ 05.11-06.11: EURO EXPO IndustriMässor, Borlange, Sweden
• ➡️ 18-19.11: PSEW Offshore Wind Poland 2025, Warszawa, Poland
• ➡️ 18-20.11: New Energy – 13th Technical Conference on the New Energy Model, Sopot, Poland
• ➡️ 19.11: Axon – Reliability and Maintenance in Manufacturing Plants, Lublin, Poland
• ➡️ 26-27.11: BMP – 18th Conference on Repairs and Maintenance in the Energy Sector, Licheń, Poland

6. Element of the month

Magnesium (Mg, Latin: magnesium) – a chemical element, an alkali metal (second main group of the periodic table). It is one of the most common elements, occurring in the Earth’s crust in an amount of 2.74%.

Main functions of magnesium in lubricating oils:

The role of magnesium in lubricating oils is primarily related to its use as a component of additives that improve the performance properties of lubricants. Below is the most important information on this topic:

👉 Thickener in lithium-magnesium greases:

Magnesium can be used as a component of metallic soaps (e.g., magnesium soaps), which act as thickeners in greases. Such greases exhibit good water and high-temperature resistance, making them suitable for industrial and automotive applications.

👉 Acid neutralization:

Magnesium salts can act as detergents and dispersants, helping to neutralize acidic combustion products and prevent deposit formation in engines.

👉 Improving anti-wear properties:

Magnesium can support the formation of boundary layers on friction surfaces, reducing mechanical wear and improving the durability of machine components.

👉 Impact on Catalytic Converter Compatibility:

Unlike some other elements (e.g., sulfur, phosphorus), magnesium does not negatively affect catalytic converters used in exhaust gas aftertreatment systems, making it a safe additive in modern engine oils.

Application examples:

➡️ Lithium-magnesium greases – used in heavy industry, automotive, and agriculture.

➡️ Engine oils with magnesium additives – improve engine cleanliness and extend oil life.