Method for quantitatively determining the dye content in dyed oils

Abstract

A new method to determine by quantitative analysis the amount of dye present in dyed engine oils is provided. The method uses imaging techniques, such as spectrophotometry, and a combination of dilution and standard addition techniques to quantitatively determine the concentration of dye in the engine oil to ascertain whether dye concentrations in engine oil have decreased as compared with original specifications, and to quantify the amount of dye to be added to the dyed engine oil to bring dye concentrations to original concentrations.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of Invention[0002]The present disclosure is generally related to oil such as engine and / or lubricant oil and, in particular, the analysis and use of dyed oils.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Determination of the origin of oil leaks for engines, turbines and the like, can be a difficult problem whether the equipment is being newly-built, tested, repaired or rebuilt. The problem is exacerbated by the presence of build oil or assembly oil that is already on the outer surface of the engine, so that it may be difficult to determine the source of the oil. The problem of phantom oil leaks, in particular, often results in unnecessary engine teardowns.[0005]One remedy to the problem has been to add dye into engine oil during engine testing, so that detection of the dyed oil on the outside of the engine would indicate the presence of an oil leak. However, while this method may show, qualitatively, whether or not there is a leak, there are...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The method disclosed herein offers several advantages over the previous methods. The method disclosed more readily detects dyed engine oil even where the background color of the engine oil makes visual detection or instrumental detection of a dye difficult or impossible. The method can be used effectively where dyed engine oil is used, whether the engine is being newly-built, tested, repaired, or rebuilt. In addition, the method provides a means to calculate the exact amount of dye that must be added to the engine oil to replace the amount of dye lost because of dilution where oil is added from another source. The method disclosed herein is advantageous due to its quantitative analysis of the dyed engine oil.

Problems solved by technology

The method disclosed more readily detects dyed engine oil even where the background color of the engine oil makes visual detection or instrumental detection of a dye difficult or impossible.

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