PRELIMINARY TESTS AND SALIENTS POINTS TO NOTE ON USED ENGINE OIL

Field tests are some of the most overlooked, yet valuable tools that lubrication professionals
can have in their arsenal. Most field tests are quick, inexpensive, and simple to conduct and
yield great information. The following parameters will be considered in field test.

i. Specific Gravity
ii. Viscosity
iii. Colour
iv. Smell
v. Homogeneity
vi. Finger feel

1. Specific Gravity: The ratio of the mass of volume of substance to the mass of the same
volume of water. To determine the specific gravity of a used engine sample, the following
should be done.

Materials Required:
i. Hydrometer (range of hydrometer reading: 0.700-1.00)
ii. A minimum of 250ML Cylinder

Procedure:
i. Fill the 250ml cylinder with used engine oil to the 250ml mark or slightly higher than the
250ml mark. This is to ensure clear visibility when taking readings.
ii. Place the filled cylinder on a flat surface
iii. Carefully dip the hydrometer into the filled cylinder and release it.
iv. Allow the hydrometer to stabilize in the filled cylinder.
v. Take your reading.

Note:
For Bunorr Integrated Energy Limited, acceptable range of specific gravity should be
0.88 – 0.90. If specific gravity is greater than 0.90, further confirmatory test should be carried
out to confirm it is used engine oil.
2. Viscosity: This is a measure of an oil resistance to flow.

Materials Required:
i. Marsh funnel
ii. Measuring jug
iii. Stop watch

Procedure:
i. Cover the outlet of the marsh funnel
ii. Fill the marsh funnel with used engine oil using the measuring jug to the fill line.
iii. Uncover the outlet and begin timing with the stop watch
iv. Stop timing when the steady stream stops
v. Take your readings.
vi. Calculate the viscosity using µ = ρ (t – 28)
where µ = viscosity; ρ = density or S.G ; t = time in seconds 28 = constant
Alternatively, a zahn viscosity cup can also be used.
Materials Required:
i. Zahn viscosity cup
ii. Stop watch

Procedure:
i. Submerge the cup into the material (alternately you may cover the drain hole with your
finger and fill the cup with the used engine oil).
ii. Quickly raise the cup (or remove your finger) and begin timing.
iii. Stop timing when the steady stream first breaks below the drain hole.
iv. Take your readings and calculate the viscosity using conversion equations for efflux time
to kinematic viscosity.
Note that the conversion equation to be used depends on the size of cup that is been
used. For our field test, #4 zahn viscosity cup is used with the conversion formula of
14.8 (t – 5)
Where t = efflux time
14.8 & 5 are constant

For used engine oil, acceptable viscosity range is (15 – 177 Cst which is equivalent to 6
seconds – 18 seconds) at an ambient temperature of 270 C. However, a deviation of 0.5%
from the maximum and minimum tolerable limit can be considered for known sources,
and to compensate for any error due to the ambient temperature determination.

3. Colour: It is required that all used engine oil to be collected should have the following
colours.
i. black
ii. dark brown
It is worthy to note that these colour variation is dependent on the source of the feedstock.

4. Smell: Standard or normal smell for used engine oil should be burnt smell or odourless. Any
deviation from the normal smell should be subject to further confirmatory test. The sample
is suspicious if it has petrol, kerosene or diesel smell.

5. Homogeneity: Any oil sample that gives a bottom residue on standing for Twenty (20)
minutes should be suspected and subjected to detailed confirmatory test. Sampling can be
done in a 4 liter jerry can.

6. Finger feel: For finger feel, three types of checks should be carried out.
i. Rub on fingers and check for smoothness. Every used engine oil should be very smooth
when rub between the fingers and should be free of any friction.
ii. Rub between fingers and observe for evaporation. Used engine oil does not evaporate
immediately. So, if the sample evaporates immediately it means it has contaminated.
iii. Rub between fingers and wipe with rag. Used engine oil clean off easily but adulterated
ones does not when wipe with rag.
7. Flame or Fire Test: Deep a piece of paper into a used engine oil and introduce a flame.
Observe the burning rate or characteristics. If it burns easily, it is suspected to be adulterated
and it should be discarded.

Safety considerations
Safety is of the utmost concern when performing these tests. Be sure to follow the following
safety precautions:
1. Wear protective eyewear at all times when performing oil sampling or analysis.
2. Wear latex type gloves to protect hands when handling waste engine oil.
3. Wash any oil that contacts the skin immediately with a high quality industrial hand
cleaner and plenty of water.
4. Never perform any of the field tests near an open flame, or in a poorly ventilated area.
5. Do not smoke when performing these tests.

NOTE:
Used engine oil is an oil that has gone through the internal combustion engine of automobiles,
marine vessels, generators and heavy duty equipment. In recent times, the demand for used
engine has increased greatly due to its use in the following areas.
i. suppressing of dust.
ii. It can serve as heater.
iii. Preserving of woods against termites attack.
iv. It is used as a weed killer.
v. It prevents the breeding of mosquitoes in stagnant water.
vi. It can be used to run tractors and equipment.
vii. It is used in the cleaning of rust.
viii. Re-using of used engine oil in other vehicles.
ix. It is used in the firing of industrial boiler.
x. Mixing with asphalt for road tarring
As a result of these increase in the demand of used engine oil, many vendors have adulterated
it in order to maximize profit which in turn affect the quality of products derived and the
overall reaction of the process. Used engine oil can be contaminated through the following
ways:
a. Mixing with hydrocarbon residues
b. Effluents from oil vessels washed with diesel or kerosene
c. Entrained water
d. Mixing of asphalt with other organic liquids
e. Contamination with halogens through Calcium and Sodium Hypochlorite
f. Mixing of used engine oil with kerosene.
g. Scooped oil from oil spilled site
h. Drilling fluids from oil drilling operations
A. MIXING WITH HYDROCARBON RESIDUE
These are heavy distillates obtained from conventional and illegal refining process with a high
proportion of lighter ends and sulphur content. When these heavy distillates are mixed with
used engine oil, it is contaminated such that the catalyst installed for the re-refining operation
stand the risk of being poisoned, thereby leading to obtaining of off-spec and increasing
operational cost for the company. On the other hand, a rudimentary test of colour, smell,
density(specific gravity) and fingers feel can be used to a great extent to ascertain the quality
of used engine oil whether it is mixed with hydrocarbon residues or not.
B. EFFLUENTS FROM OIL VESSELS WASHED WITH DIESEL OR KEROSENE
Marine vessels that has been used to transport either crude oil or other petroleum products
are cleaned up using kerosene or diesel. The effluents obtained from these cleaning process
are mixed used engine oil in storage tanks. When such contaminated used oil are purchased,
the entire operation process is jeopardized as lots of lighter end will be produced stand as
threat to the catalyst and Bunorr plant is not designed to handle lighter ends. With these
lighter ends released, we stand a chance of having high vapour pressure build up that can
lead to explosion.
However, a rudimentary test though not confirmatory test of specific gravity and viscosity can
be used to ascertain the quality of such used engine oil
C. ENTRAINED WATER
When water is entrained in used engine oil, an acidic emulsion is formed as a result of the
physical and chemical changes in the base oil and additives. There is also a viscosity change
and increased density of the used engine oil. Water entrained in feedstock if not properly
handled can lead to cavitation of pumps during plant operation. Pump cavitation can cause
premature wearing of the impeller and the pumping house. In the case of extreme cavitation,
impeller shaft can break which tend to increase operational cost with man hour lose.
D. MIXING OF ASPHALT WITH OTHER ORGANIC LIQUIDS
When asphalt and other organic liquids are mixed, the resultant liquid appears to be used
engine oil with a specific gravity that is within the acceptable range of used engine oil.
However, such liquids can be differentiated from used engine oil through consistency and
homogeneity when it is being transferred from one storage medium to another.
E. CONTAMINATION WITH HALOGENS.
Halogen contaminants such as Sodium and Calcium hypochlorite in used engine oil can be
through storage medium such as tanks and drums that were originally used to store halogens
compounds for water treatment plants and swimming pools. When used engine oil come in
contact with these halogenated compounds, corrosive acids are formed which will tend to
increase the corrosion of pipes, viscosity, maintenance cost and poison the catalyst for the
reaction process. The clean-up of halogens contamination can be costly and it can cause the
temporary shutdown of processing facility.
F. MIXING OF USED ENGINE OIL WITH KEROSENE
The mixing of used engine oil with kerosene has been found to give an off spec feedstock as
the end product. Such adulterated mixtures separate when pick-up as used engine oil,
standing the threat of having high sulphur feedstock and entrainment of lighter ends that will
result to little yield of the final product or an off spec product as the case may be.