The Effects of Glycol Contamination in Engine Oils - Machinery Lubrication India Pgina 1 de 4

Skip to content

Search

Toggle navigation

Home
Current Issue
Archives
Subscribe
Advertise
Contact

The Effects of Glycol Contamination in Engine Oils

62% of lubrication professionals say glycol contamination has caused problems for their company's
equipment, according to a recent poll at machinerylubrication.com

The drive home started just the same as all the other ones had. I was a freshman in college at
Oklahoma State University and was driving home for Christmas break. Like any other teenager, the
last thing on my mind was checking the fluid levels in my car (my dad always told me to, but I
seldom remembered) before I started the six-hour drive to rural southwest Kansas.

I had driven about two hours when I noticed the temperature gauge on the dash was beginning to rise.
Not knowing why this was happening, I pulled into a gas station to check the radiator. After letting
the car cool down, I opened the radiator cap and filled the radiator with water and antifreeze, never
once wondering why it was low. Starting down the road again, my car sputtered and died. After a very
slow trip to a local mechanic, we discovered the intake manifold had cracked, allowing the coolant to
flow into the engine block. This fluid being on top of the pistons could have easily resulted in bent
rods or blown valves. It can also have very detrimental effects in oil.

http://machinerylubricationindia.com/magazine/90-2013/jul-aug/146-the-effects-of-glycol... 01/10/2017
The Effects of Glycol Contamination in Engine Oils - Machinery Lubrication India Pgina 2 de 4

Did You Know? Glycol contamination is reported to be the No. 1 cause of premature filter failure in a
diesel engine and overall poor lubrication.

Glycol contamination is common in engine oils and can greatly alter the properties of the lubricant.
Antifreeze causes a thickening of the oil, increasing the viscosity and not allowing it to flow as readily
as before. This can lead to boundary conditions in parts of the engine that require a less viscous fluid
to properly lubricate and protect them. It also creates an acidic environment within the oil, resulting in
corrosion within the system, especially on copper surfaces. The additives within the oil can be
compromised as well.

Glycol contamination is common in engine oils and can greatly alter the properties of the lubricant.

Once contaminated, the oil continues the same route of flow, from the sump, into the crankcase,
through various parts of the engine and through the filter. With the added glycol, these filters become
plugged sooner, which can cause reduced flow and eventually, once the bypass pressure is reached, a
condition in which you are no longer filtering your oil. This allows particles that normally would have
been filtered out to remain in the system, disrupting the lubricating film and resulting in surface
damage to components.

Antifreeze also mixes with oil to form small globules called oil balls. Although very small, typically 5
to 40 microns in size, they can cause big problems. These balls are abrasive and create surface
erosion. A common place to see this would be on the inside walls of the cylinder, where the oil balls
could cut and gouge into the wall. They can produce all types of surface fatigue and lead to
lubrication failures in areas of very tight tolerances.

Beware of Black Mayonnaise

The effects of coolant and antifreeze contamination are many. One is simply a rise in the oil's
viscosity or a thickening of the oil. This often produces what's called black mayonnaise, which is a
thick gel or emulsion when mixed with the oil. Acids are formed like glycolic acid, formic acid and
other organic acid types. Flow is restricted as this black mayonnaise moves throughout the engine. It
can occlude to the walls and narrow passageways, and interfere with oil flow, causing partial or total
starvation where the oil is intended to go. It is very common for glycol and these emulsions and gels
to completely block flow-through filters. It is reported to be the No. 1 cause of premature filter failure
in a diesel engine and overall poor lubrication.

Did You Know? Oil balls typically are only 5 to 40 microns in size.

In my case, the culprit for this contamination was a cracked manifold, but there are several ways
glycol can find its way into oil. If the piston heads are warped or cracked, contamination would be
allowed into the system. In more severe cases, cavitation wear provides a straight path for ingression.

http://machinerylubricationindia.com/magazine/90-2013/jul-aug/146-the-effects-of-glycol... 01/10/2017
The Effects of Glycol Contamination in Engine Oils - Machinery Lubrication India Pgina 3 de 4

Cavitation occurs when an air bubble implodes against a hard surface, resulting in a pitting action. As
it becomes more aggressive, this can cause a hole or crack in the cylinder wall.

The first step to combating this problem is to discern that you have a coolant leak. Periodic checks of
fluid levels are the easiest way to do this. If you notice levels beginning to change, try to find the
coolant leak. Fixing the leak should be your first priority. Otherwise, any actions you take to clean the
oil will be in vain. For most engines with small sump volumes, an oil change after the leak has been
fixed will ensure that any contamination has been mitigated by new oil.

In systems with large volumes of oil, small leaks can be hard to detect. Oil analysis can reveal glycol
in several ways. A patch test can show sludge or precipitates associated with this type of
contamination. A blotter test is another simple test that can expose the presence of glycol. If the oil
appears thick and doesn't wick into the blotter paper very well, glycol contamination could be a
possible culprit.

Although many years have passed since my breakdown on the road home, the lessons it taught me are
still useful today. Simple inspections on all types of machines provide invaluable information as to
their condition as well as reassurance that they are operating in a reliable manner.

About the Author

Wes Cash is a technical consultant with Noria Corporation, focusing on machinery lubrication and
maintenance in support of Norias Lubrication Program Development (LPD). He is a mechanical
engineer who holds a Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) Level I certification and a Machine
Lubricant Analyst (MLA) Level I certification through the International Council for Machinery
Lubrication (ICML). Contact Wes at wcash@noria.com .

Lubrication excellence begins with training.

World-class training programmes in your region.

Mumbai, New Delhi, Dhaka | 2017 Calendar

Essentials of Machinery Lubrication

Advanced Machinery Lubrication

Practical Oil Analysis

Advanced Oil Analysis

Limited Seats | Register Now!

Publisher's Note
5 Ways to Prevent Bearing Failures
Linking Enhanced Reliability to the State of Lubrication
How to Achieve Gear Coupling Reliability

http://machinerylubricationindia.com/magazine/90-2013/jul-aug/146-the-effects-of-glycol... 01/10/2017
The Effects of Glycol Contamination in Engine Oils - Machinery Lubrication India Pgina 4 de 4

How Silt Lock Can Destroy Hydraulic Valves

Simple Ways to Improve Your Gearbox
Education is Key to Get the Most from a Lubrication Program
When and How to Clean a Sealable, Reusable Container
Industry News: Shell Lubricants bags John Deere 'Supplier Award'
The Effects of Glycol Contamination in Engine Oils
Characterization of Particles from In-Service Lubricants
Base Oil Report

2017 Machinery Lubrication India

Brought to you by:

Website designed by Kalimati Digital

http://machinerylubricationindia.com/magazine/90-2013/jul-aug/146-the-effects-of-glycol... 01/10/2017