Method description:
Under strictly standardised conditions, steam is applied to 20 ml of oil; under turbulent conditions, 40 ml of emulsion is produced. The test result is the separation time of 20 ml of oil calculated in seconds.
Interpretation of results:
The test simulates real contact conditions between vapour and lubricating oil. It is a sensitive parameter, and deteriorates easily as a result of mixing with another type of oil, contamination or the presence of polar products in the oil caused by ageing. Deterioration of the parameter indicates that, depending on the method used, separation of water from the oil may be difficult or, if critical values are reached, impossible.
