Oil Viscosity - How It's Measured and

Reported

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Noria Corporation
Tags: viscosity, oil analysis
According to the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), viscosity is one of an oils
most important physical properties. It is often one of the first parameters measured by most oil
analysis labs because of its importance to oil condition and lubrication. But what do we really mean
when we talk about an oils viscosity?
A lubricating oils viscosity is typically measured and defined in two ways, either based on its
kinematic viscosity or its absolute (dynamic) viscosity. While the descriptions may seem similar, there
are important distinctions between the two.
An oils kinematic viscosity is defined as its resistance to flow and shear due to gravity. Imagine filling
a beaker with turbine oil and another with a thick gear oil. Which one will flow faster from the beaker if
it is tipped on its side? The turbine oil will flow faster because the relative flow rates are governed by
the oils kinematic viscosity.
Now lets consider absolute viscosity. To measure absolute viscosity, insert a metal rod into the same
two beakers. Use the rod to stir the oil, and then measure the force required to stir each oil at the
same rate. The force required to stir the gear oil will be greater than the force required to stir the
turbine oil. Based on this observation, it might be tempting to say that the gear oil requires more force
to stir because it has a higher viscosity than the turbine oil. However, it is the oils resistance to flow
and shear due to internal friction that is being measured in this example, so it is more correct to say
that the gear oil has a higher absolute viscosity than the turbine oil because more force is required to
stir the gear oil.
For Newtonian fluids, absolute and kinematic viscosity are related by the oils specific gravity.
However, for other oils, such as those containing polymeric viscosity
index (VI) improvers, or heavily contaminated or degraded fluids, this
relationship does not hold true, and can lead to errors if we are not
aware of the differences between absolute and kinematic viscosity. For
a more detailed discussion on absolute versus kinematic viscosity,
refer to the article Understanding Absolute and Kinematic Viscosity by
Drew Troyer.

Capillary Tube Viscometer Test Method

The most common method of determining kinematic viscosity in the lab
utilizes the capillary tube viscometer (Figure 1). In this method, the oil
sample is placed into a glass capillary U-tube and the sample is drawn
through the tube using suction until it reaches the start position
indicated on the tubes side. The suction is then released, allowing the
sample to flow back through the tube under gravity. The narrow
Figure 1. Capillary Tube
Viscometer

capillary section of the tube controls the oils flow rate; more viscous grades of oil take longer to flow
than thinner grades of oil. This procedure is described in ASTM D445 and ISO 3104.
Because the flow-rate is governed by resistance of the oil flowing under gravity through the capillary
tube, this test actually measures an oils kinematic viscosity. The viscosity is typically reported in
centistokes (cSt), equivalent to mm2/s in SI units, and is calculated from the time it takes oil to flow
from the starting point to the stopping point using a calibration constant supplied for each tube.
In most commercial oil analysis labs, the capillary tube viscometer method described in ASTM D445
(ISO 3104) is modified and automated using a number of commercially available automatic
viscometers. When used correctly, these viscometers are capable of reproducing a similar level of
accuracy produced by the capillary tube manual viscometer method.
Stating an oils viscosity is meaningless unless the temperature at which the viscosity was measured
is defined. Typically, the viscosity is reported at one of two temperatures, either 40C (100F) or
100C (212F). For most industrial oils, it is common to measure kinematic viscosity at 40C because
this is the basis for the ISO viscosity grading system (ISO 3448). Likewise, most engine oils are
typically measured at 100C because the SAE engine oil classification system (SAE J300) is
referenced to the kinematic viscosity at 100C (Table 1). Additionally, 100C reduces the rise of
measurement interference for engine oil soot contamination.

Rotary Viscometer Test Method

A less common method of determining an oils viscosity utilizes a rotary viscometer. In this test
method, the oil is placed in a glass tube, housed in an insulated block at a fixed temperature (Figure
2). A metal spindle is then rotated in the oil at a fixed rpm, and the torque required to rotate the spindle
is measured. Based on the internal resistance to rotation provided by the shear stress of the oil, the
oils absolute viscosity can be determined. Absolute viscosity is reported in centipoise (cP), equivalent
to mPas in SI units. This method is commonly referred to as the Brookfield method and is described
in ASTM D2983.
While less common than kinematic viscosity, absolute viscosity and the Brookfield viscometer are
used in formulating engine oils. For example, the W designation, which is used to denote oils that
are suitable for use at colder temperatures, is based in part on the Brookfield viscosity at various
temperatures (Table 2).
Based on SAE J300, a multigrade engine oil that is designated as SAE 15W-40 must therefore
conform to the kinematic viscosity limits at elevated temperatures according to Table 1 and the
minimum requirements for cold cranking as shown in Table 2.

Viscosity Index
One other important property of an oil is viscosity index (VI). The
viscosity index is a unitless number, used to indicate the temperature
dependence of an oils kinematic viscosity. It is based on comparing the
kinematic viscosity of the test oil at 40C, with the kinematic viscosity of
two reference oils - one of which has a VI of 0, the other with a VI of
100 (Figure 3) - each having the same viscosity at 100C as the test oil.
Tables for calculating VI from the measured kinematic viscosity of an oil
at 40C and 100C are referenced in ASTM D2270.

Figure 2. Rotary
Viscometer

Figure 3. Determination of Viscosity Index (VI)

Figure 3 shows that an oil that has a smaller change in kinematic viscosity with temperature will have
a higher VI than an oil with a greater viscosity change across the same temperature range.
For most paraffinic, solvent-refined mineral-based industrial oils, typical VIs fall in the range of 90 to
105. However, many highly refined mineral oils, synthetics and VI improved oils have VIs that will
exceed 100. In fact, PAO-type synthetic oils typically have VIs in the range 130 to 150.

Viscosity Monitoring and Trending

Monitoring and trending viscosity is perhaps one of the most important components of any oil analysis
program. Even small changes in viscosity can be magnified at operating temperatures to the extent
that an oil is no longer able to provide adequate lubrication. Typical industrial oil limits are set at 5
percent for caution, and 10 percent for critical, although severe- duty applications and extremely
critical systems should have even tighter targets.
A significant reduction in viscosity can result in:

Loss of oil film causing excessive wear

Increased mechanical friction causing excessive energy consumption n Heat generation due
to mechanical friction n Internal or external leakage

Increased sensitivity to particle con- tamination due to reduced oil film

Oil film failure at high temperatures, high loads or during start-ups or coast-downs.

Likewise, too high a viscosity can cause:

Excessive heat generation resulting in oil oxidation, sludge and varnish build-up

Gaseous cavitation due to inadequate oil flow to pumps and bearings

Lubrication starvation due to inadequate oil flow

Oil whip in journal bearings

Excess energy consumption to over- come fluid friction

Poor air detrainment or demulsibility

Poor cold-start pumpability.

Whenever a significant change in viscosity is observed, the root cause of the problem should always
be investigated and corrected. Changes in viscosity can be the result of a change in the base oil
chemistry (a change in the oils molecular structure), or due to an ingressed contaminant (Table 3).

Viscosity changes may require additional tests, such as: acid number (AN) or Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), to confirm incipient oxidation; contaminant testing to identify signs of
water, soot or glycol ingress; or other less commonly used tests, such as the ultracentrifuge test or
gas chromatography (GC), to identify a change in the base oil chemistry.
Viscosity is an important physical property that must be monitored and controlled carefully because of
its impact on the oil and the oils impact on equipment life. Whether measuring viscosity onsite using
one of many onsite oil analysis instruments capable of determining viscosity changes accurately, or
whether sending samples routinely to an outside lab, it is important to learn how viscosity is
determined, and how changes can impact equipment reliability. A proactive approach must be taken to
determine the condition of the equipments lifeblood - the oil!