Designation: D 1742 83 -

Reprlnlsd trom t h e Annual Book of A S N Standards, Copy'right ASTM

If not lirtsd in the current combined index, will appear in the next edition.
Standard Test Method for
OIL SEPARATION FROM LUBRICATING GREASE DURING
STORAGE'
Thi! standard,is issued under the fixed designation D 1742: the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
ong~naladopt~on,or,in the case o r revision. the year of last revision. A n u m b in parenthem indicata the year of last reapprod.
A superscript cpsllon (t) indicates an editorial change s i n a the last revision or m p p r o b d .

This mahod h a been adopred for m e by governrnenr agencies ro replace M e f h d 322 of Federal Tesf MerhodSrandard No. 791b.

1. Scope
I . I This test method covers the determination
of the tendency of lubricating grease to separate
oil during storage in either normally filled or
partially filled containers from which some grease
has been removed leaving a crater.
1.2 This srandard may involve hazardous ma-
ferials, operafions and equipmenf. This standard
does no! purporf 10 address all oJfhesaJefyprob
[ems associated wifh ifs use. I f is !he responsibil-
ify oJ whoever uses !his slandard lo consul1 and
csfablish appropriale saJely and healrh pracfices
and deferminethe applicabilifyoJregulafor-ylimi-
falions prior to use. For specific precautionary
statement, see 6.1.
2. Applicable Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D484 Specification for Hydrocarbon Dry-
cleaning Solvents2.
E I I Specification for Wire-Cloth Sieves for
Testing P ~ r p o s e s . ~
3. Summary of Method
in ( 104 mm)clear (no solder).
3.1 The sample of grease, supported on a 75-
pm (No. 200) sieve, is subjected to 0.25 psi
( 1 .72kN/m2) air pressure for 24 h at 77°F (25°C).
Any oil seepage that occurs drains into a beaker
and is weighed.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The results correlate directly with oil sep
aration which occurs in 35 Ib pails of grease
during storage. This method is not suitable for
use with greases softer than NLGI No. 1 consist-
ency, because of a tendency for the grease to seep
through the screen. It is not intended to predict
the oil separation tendencies of grease under
dynamic service conditions.
5. Apparatus
5.1 Tesf ApparafuS-The assembled appara-
tus consists of a tightly fitting cup and cover
which contains a 75-pm (No. 200) sieve strainer
for supporting the grease, a funnel for collecting
separated oil, and a 20-mL beaker for retaining
the separated oil. A fitting is provided in the
cover for inlet air (0.25 psi) and a hole is provided
in the side of the cup to prevent back pressure.
Figure I is a photograph of a dissassembled ap-
paratus. Photographs of the two types of appa-
ratus which are available commercially are
shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The details of construc-
tion are given in Figs 3 and 4.
5.2 Air Pressure Supply and Regulafion-An
air pressure supply, controlled by reducing valves
or regulators, should be used. A manometer, or
other suitable pressure indicating device, and a
pressure relief valve to protect against pressure
surge should be. included in the pressure system.
NOTE I-The 75ym (No. 200) stainless steel sieve
shall conform to the resuirernents of Specification E 1 1.
The diameter of the 75IPm (No. 200) sieve shall be 4%
'This lrst method is under the jurisdiction of the ASTM
Comrnittcz D-2 on Petroleum ProduN and Lubricants and is
r h e d i m rrspansibility of Subcommitla DO2.G on Lubricating
Grease.
C u m n t edition approved Ocl. 28. 1983. Published January
-
1984. Originally published as D 1742 60. Last previous edition
-
D 1742 64 (1978).
' AnnuaI Book of A S T M Sinndards. Vol 05.0 I.
' A n n d Bmk of ASTM Smndards. Vol 14.0 1.
'Thc apparatus shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is available from
Koehlcr Instrument Co., Inc.. 1595 Sycamore Ave.. Bohemia.
LI., NY. 11716 as Catalog No. K189; the apparalus shown in
Figs. 4 and 5 is available from L a b t i n e Instruments. Inc., 15th
and Bloomingdde Aver. Mclrou: Park, 111. M)lbO, 8s Catalog
No. 4 170. OLhcr appropriately designed quipmen1 may k d.

6.9 ThoroughBy clean the strainer, cup, and
oil-collecting beaker with a suitable solvent and
follow by air drying.
7. Reagents
7.1 Stoddard Solvenr, (Cautioas-Combusti-
ble. Vapor harmful. See Annex Al. I), conform-
ing to Specification D 484.
8. Procedure
8.1 Place the stainer sieve side up in the funnel
and tare the assembly. By means of a spatula,
completely fill the space between the strainer
sieve and the top of the funnel with grease. Avoid
unnecessary working and the occlusion of air.
Use the straight edge of the spatula to remove
excess grease and provide a level surface. Take
care to avoid fbrcing any of the grease through
the sieve. Then determine the wei@t of the Sam-
ple to the nearest 0.5 g, place the tared beaker in
the positioning retainer at the center of the cup,
and assemble the entire apparatus as indicated in
Fig. 1. & ~ e C t a suitable length of rubber tubing
to the air inlet fitting in the cover. Bring the
apparatus and the sample to 77 f 2'F (25 * obtained by d i K i n t operators working in direr-
1.1.C) before starting the test; regulate the air
pressure to 0.25 rt 0.01 psi (1.72 f 0.07 kN/m2)
and continue the test for 24 h at this pressure
and temperature. At the end of the test, weigh
the beaker containing the collected oil to the
nearest 0.01 g and iecoid the weigh'( pemfrtof
oil separated.
NOTE2-Wen using the apparatus as shown In
Fig. 5, the strainer is placed sieveside down in fbe
funnd.
NOTE 3-Tbe ana occupied by the grease $hail have
a depth of 0.50 & 0.01 in. (12.7 .f 0.3 mm).
9. Report
9. Report the percentage weight of the oil
scparatad.
10.1 The precision of the method as deter-
mined by statistical examination of interlabra-
tory results is as follows:
10.1.1 RepeucabiIity(Note 4)-The difference
between two test rtsufts, obtained by the same
operator with tbe same apparatus under constant
operating conditions on identical test material,
would in the Iong m, in the normal and corrtd
operation of the test method, exceed the follow-
ing vaIues only in one case in twenty
10 96
10.1.2 Reproducibiliiy (Note 4)-The dia'er-
ence between two single and independent results
ent laboratories on identical test material would,
in the long run, in the normal and correct om-
ation of the test method, exceed the following
values only in one case in twenty:
 FIG. 2 Ressmc Bleeding Test Cell B

FIG. 1 Rtssmc Bkediq Tar Ce(I A