Method description:
A test oil sample in the presence of ageing catalysts (water, copper, oxygen) enclosed in a steel container is thermostated at 150 °C. The test result is the time counted in minutes from the moment the sample is placed in the apparatus until the pressure drops by 1.75 bar from the maximum pressure recorded in the test.
Interpretation of results:
The RPVOT test is a complement to the methods used to test the oil’s resistivity to ageing, and is often the test that determines whether the oil can continue to be used. The result of the in-service oil test is compared with the result of a reference (fresh) oil test. A value of less than 25% or less than 100 min is often defined as limiting.
