PerkinElmer OilExpress 4, User Manual

Page: 93 / 152

Getting Started with OilExpress 4 . 93
The FT-IR In-Service Lubricants Control Oil (part number N9308350) has been specially
formulated to mimic the spectral signature of an in-service diesel motor oil, and contains
known amounts of water, soot, oxidation (carbonyl-bearing compounds) and ethylene glycol.
Each bottle of the oil is supplied with a certificate of analysis stating nominal values and
uncertainties for several oil condition parameters, measured following the ASTM standards
1
.
The bottle should be shaken vigorously for at least 2 minutes, and then left to stand for at
least 5 minutes (to reduce air bubbles) before sampling.
The oil should be analyzed using the ASTM E2412 direct-trending protocol, with the
Petroleum Lubricant
oil type, and with empty-cell correction enabled. If all the values are
within the uncertainties stated on the certificate of analysis, the system is performing
correctly.
System Checks
System Checks are used to demonstrate that your complete system is fit-for-purpose – a
common requirement for regulatory compliance. When defining tolerances for System
Checks, you should consider what the definition of that is for your individual application.
NOTE: If you have a DUO system, the checks are run on the spectrometers independently.
To run the tests:
Ø
Select
System Checks
from the View menu, select the appropriate spectrometer and
the checks you want to run, and then click
Start
.
If you want to modify any of the thresholds used during the system checks, or the
Quant method used by the Cell Contamination check, click the appropriate
Properties
button. For the Cell Contamination check you are required to enter details of the sample
location.
– The Cell Contamination check collects the spectrum of a sample loaded from a
position on the autosampler deck.
If the cell is contaminated by soot, then the cell will absorb more than expected
in the regions selected. You can enter details for up to three regions. The
defaults correspond to regions that should be absent of peaks for
n
-heptane.
The
System Checks
sampling height is used for the Cell Contamination check.
If the Cell Contamination check fails, refer to Flow Cell Maintenance on page 96
for cleaning instructions for your flow cell.
NOTE: The addition of the OilExpress 4 System Liquid Additive (part number N9308354) to
the system liquid has been found to reduce soot build-up on the flow cell windows.
Refer to
OilExpress 4 System Liquid Additive
on page 32.