L.O COOLER LEAKAGE..

HOW DETECT AND

TESTING!
MEO SUCCESS

L.O Cooler Leak Detection

plate type l.o cooler

When we talk about L.O cooler, first thing comes to our mind that ok,
the cooling medium is Water.
Now General arrangement of water type L.O cooler (generally plate
type)
is that water enters the plates from one side and l.o from the other,
such that they both cross each other which ensures maximum
interaction (heat exchange).
Now suppose due to any factor, excessive sea water pressure or
corrosion, the water side gets corroded, then water will start to
release to the l.o.
This is a major danger!
Thus to combat this we have to keep a close track on the quality and
contamination level of Lub Oil (l.o).
Broadly, there are two hazards in L.O contamination..

Sea Water Ingress in L.O (main topic)

Microbiological Development (big enemy)

Sea Water Ingress in the L.O can be detected in many ways,

Onboard Lub Oil Tests

Shore Based Lub Oil Tests
Purifier Sludge tank filling too fast (easiest indication)
Purifier Sludge Tank definitely fills up faster if there is an water
ingress in l.o.
L.O Purifier separates out deposits and water content form the l.o
system that is circulated from the L.O sump of engine.
Now if there will be water ingress then more water will be separated
and the separated sludge goes to the L.O sludge tank.Thus its sudden
increasing level implies L.O Cooler Leakage!

Reasons to test L.O

To monitor the deterioration of quality of oil with time

To check for contamination with other oil, water and microbacterial attack
To avoid damage to the lubricating part of the machinery
To determine any leak or source of contamination of oil

Sampling Point For L.O

The sample to be tested (be it shore based or on board) must be
ensured to take after the L.O system with system in running
condition.
Some C/E ask to take samples before the system, but it is good
practice to take post system.
Also allow sample to cool to atmospheric temperature before use.

Shore Based L.O Testing at Lab

The sample is filled in the bottles provided by the lab (Visva Lab most popular).
Then a form is filled for information about the oil and its running hours.
Put all the things in a courier packet.
Later fill a removal report and submit it to agent for landing at next
port.
They will send a report in few weeks by email.

Onboard Lub Oil Tests

Certain tests are done to test water leakage.They are explained

further,

Water Ingress Test

5 ml of sample is taken inside digital water content meter mixed with 15 ml of

reagent containing paraffin or toluene. Before closing the lid of the digital meter, a
sealed sachet containing calcium Hydride is kept and container closed tight. The
meter is shaken by hand and the pressure rise due to the chemical reaction in the
test container is shown as water percentage in the digital display.
Testing its Viscosity

This test is performed by using a Flow stick in which two paths are provided for
flow of oil side by side. In one path fresh oil is filled and in other side path used
sample oil is filled. Now the flow stick is tilted allowing oil on both paths flowing in
the direction of the tilt due to gravity. A finish point is provided along with
reference points along the flow stick and the position of used oil is checked when
fresh oil reaches the finish point.
Spot Test
In this test a drop of lube oil is put on the blotter paper and it is then dried for
few hours. The dry spot is then compared with the standard spot available which
determines the insoluble components in lube oil.