Fuels and Lubricants Testing

Safeguard your critical machinery and avoid unexpected failures with comprehensive Fuels and Lubricants Testing at Element. Detect quality issues, contamination, and early signs of wear before they impact your operations, reducing maintenance costs and extending equipment life while maintaining compliance with all industry standards.

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What is Fuel and Lubricants Testing at Element?

Fuels and lubricants testing involves analyzing petroleum products to verify quality, monitor condition, and identify potential issues before they cause failures. Element focuses on evaluating the quality and performance of fuel and lubricant products to ensure they meet industry standards. We offer independent testing and technical investigations for both new products and in-service systems. Our services provide essential quality control and condition monitoring, helping to prevent failures and minimize unplanned downtime, ensuring smooth operations across diverse industries.

Element testing specialist examining precision measurement equipment for materials analysis

What Can Element Offer You For Fuels and Lubricants Testing?

Key Tests Offered

We provide tailored testing solutions to address your specific operational challenges, whether you need regular quality control, condition monitoring, or specialized technical investigations. Our comprehensive approach includes expert guidance on sampling routines, detailed analysis of test results, and practical recommendations to optimize your maintenance strategy and prevent costly failures.

Quality control of new and stored products - Comprehensive quality control tests for fuels (biofuels, jet fuel, gasoline, diesel, aviation gasoline) and lubricants (engine oils, transmission oils, hydraulic oils, etc.) based on international standards (ISO, ASTM, MIL).

In-service condition monitoring through oil analysis - Regular monitoring to detect wear, contaminants, and lubricant degradation. We offer trend monitoring to predict potential issues before they cause failures.

Technical investigations for failures and contamination – Our expert team undertakes investigations of abnormal wear, contamination or failure in mechanical systems, identifying root causes and providing guidance for correction

Compatibility studies and additive effect analysis - Detailed tests on lubricants and fuels to assess compatibility between different formulations and the effects of additives on performance and degradation.

Aircraft fuel systems testing for icing and contamination resistance - Specialized tests for fuel systems, ensuring they can withstand environmental stresses like icing and contamination, particularly in aviation fuel systems.

Low Lubricity testing – Our team can test lubricants under extreme conditions to assess their ability to reduce friction and wear, using methods like the Ball on Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator (BOCLE).
Hydrogen Fuel Testing - Testing of both gaseous and liquid hydrogen, including performance under varied temperatures (18K to 800K), to support the development of hydrogen-powered systems.

Products We Test

We test a comprehensive range of petroleum products used across multiple industries, from aviation and transportation to industrial manufacturing and power generation. Our capabilities include testing various fuels (jet fuel, diesel, gasoline, biofuel), oils (engine, hydraulic, turbine, transmission), and greases (lubricating, solid film, corrosion preventive), helping you maintain optimal performance and prevent costly system failures.

Fuel Products:

Biofuel

Jet Fuel

Gasoline

Diesel Fuel

Aviation Gasoline

Hydrogen Fuel

Gaseous Hydrogen

Liquid Hydrogen

Lubricant Products:

Engine Oil

Hydraulic Oil

Instrument Oil

Transmission Oil

Aviation Turbine Oil

Corrosion Preventive Oil

Lubricating Grease

Solid Film Lubricant

Corrosion Preventive Grease

Our team are also able to test related fuel system components, covering:

Hoses and Connectors

Pumps

Filters

Filler Caps

Injectors

Tanks

Hydraulic systems

Gearboxes and transmissions

Gas turbine engines (aviation, marine)

Circulation systems(power generating turbines, industrial processes)

Combustion engines

Which Labs Offer This Service

Our 8,500-strong team operates from Materials Testing hubs across the world - including our centre of excellence for fuels and lubricants testing in Sweden - providing global access to our expert capabilities. Find your nearest Materials Testing hub on our Locations Page.

Key Properties Tested for Quality

Appearance and Color

Viscosity

Acid/Base Number

Additive Concentration

Wear Metal Traces

Contaminant Levels (e.g., oxidation, nitration, soot, glycol, water, fuel)

Water Contamination

Fuel Dilution

Particle Count

PQ Index

Insoluble Contaminants

Flash Point

Air Release Characteristics

Water Separability

Foam Formation Properties

Oxidation Stability (RPVOT)

Antioxidant Levels (RULER)

Varnish Potential (MPC)

Rust Prevention Characteristics

Standards we test to and products we test

These are our most prevalent requests. Don't see what you're looking for? Contact us!

ISO standards
ASTM standards (including D6224 and D4378 for turbine oils)
DIN standards
MIL specifications

Your Challenges, Our Solutions

Inconsistent Fuel Quality

Inconsistent fuel quality can lead to operational failures and costly downtime. At Element, we ensure fuel meets strict international standards (ISO, ASTM, MIL) with comprehensive quality control testing for new and stored fuels, preventing issues before they arise.

Lubricant Degradation and Contamination

Lubricant breakdown and contamination can severely impact system performance. Element’s in-service oil analysis offers condition monitoring to detect early signs of degradation and contamination, enabling proactive maintenance and preventing costly failures in hydraulic, engine, and turbine systems.

Uncertainty Under Stress

When components are exposed to extreme environments, failure risks rise. Element provides specialized testing (e.g., radiator aging, low lubricity tests) to simulate real-world conditions, ensuring your systems perform reliably under harsh operational stress, avoiding unplanned downtimes.

Lack of Comprehensive Hydrogen Testing

As hydrogen fuel technology evolves, testing challenges increase. Element’s hydrogen testing services for both gaseous and liquid hydrogen offer precise modeling and performance evaluation, ensuring safety, reliability, and compliance across diverse hydrogen applications from automotive to aerospace.

Element Experts at your service

Steve Summerhayes

Lead Engineer

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Why Choose Element

Element materials testing engineer operating precision measurement equipment for quality analysis

Independent petroleum analysis

Get unbiased, reliable test results from accredited laboratories for critical petroleum product decisions.

Comprehensive testing capabilities

Access 200+ test methods covering all critical properties of fuels and lubricants.

Technical investigation expertise

Resolve complex system failures with our specialized contamination and compatibility analysis.

Full-cycle monitoring solutions

Receive quality control, in-service monitoring, and technical support throughout your equipment lifecycle.

200+
test methods

for comprehensive petroleum product analysis

40+
methods accredited

to ISO/IEC 17025 international standard

24/7
online access

to critical test results

Element materials scientist conducting precision testing with advanced laboratory instrumentation

Frequently asked questions

What is the recommended frequency for in-service oil testing?

For most applications, we recommend testing 2-4 times per year. The ideal interval depends on your specific equipment, operating environment, and risk factors. Our experts can help establish the optimal testing schedule for your systems.

How does aircraft fuel systems testing work?

We condition high-pressure air, oil, or fuels to extreme temperatures while sustaining flow. For fuel icing testing, we cool fuel to -45°F while maintaining flow and pressure conditions to simulate real-world operations across all flight phases.

Does Element provide hydrogen fuel testing?

Yes, Element is currently the only UK facility offering both gaseous and liquid hydrogen testing. We conduct tests across a wide temperature range (18K to 800K) and provide precise, ATEX-compliant testing to support the development of hydrogen-powered systems, ensuring safety, performance, and regulatory compliance.

How does Element handle extreme testing environments?

Element's labs simulate real-world conditions, including extreme temperatures from -50°C to +150°C for automotive systems. Our facilities also support high-temperature and high-pressure testing, ensuring reliability under a variety of operational stressors.