FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

To help you navigate our site better and make your testing & analysis experience easier, we have provided answers to some frequently asked questions. You are always welcome to call our customer service if your question remains unanswered.

Oil Testing

How long does it take to get my Oil Analysis results

It normally takes 48 to 72 hours to get the test results. We even give the test results in 24 hours in case of urgent samples, warranty samples and failure samples.

How do I collect my oil sample?

We provide clean sampling bottles, sampling pump and tubing for proper and contamination free sampling. While drawing the sample from the Engine oil sump, drop the tubing down the dipstick hole about half way into the sump. Using the sample bottle provided, collect the sample till the bottle is about 90% filled. Remove the bottle from the pump and seal it with the inner cap. Fill the sample details on the label provided. Paste the label on the bottle and send it to the laboratory for analysis.
While drawing a sample from a multi-component system, always take the sample from the last lubricated component before the filter system. Ensure to use the same sampling point to enable proper data analysis.

How do I send my sample to you?

You can send the sample to us by courier / any logistics company. To prevent leakage, use an airtight sampling bottle (which we can provide) and pack it firmly in a carton. Once we receive the sample we will intimate you via email.
If you have any queries sending us the sample feel free to contact our team at any point in time.

What format do I get my results in?

We send out the test reports in PDF format to the email address registered with our laboratory. A hard copy of the reports will be sent to you within 3-4 days after the report has been emailed.

Why do I need to get oil analysed?

We send out the test reports in PDF format to the email address registered with our laboratory. A hard copy of the reports will be sent to you within 3-4 days after the report has been emailed.

Is it possible to determine if the equipment is in good mechanical condition?

Yes of course, this is what Chem-Tech’s Oil Analysis service will provide you. Chem-Tech® will assess the wear condition at the moment of sampling and check if the equipment shows major anomalies. Also contamination of the oil which leads to equipment wear is detected.

I don't know which testing package is right for me can I speak with someone first?

You are most welcome. You can visit the lab or call our executive for assistance. We will be more than happy to help you.

Fuel Testing

How do determine diesel fuel adulteration?

Adulteration of fuel can be due to multiple reasons. Depending on the possible type of adulteration, there are a set of tests which we conduct to confirm the adulteration of fuel.

Is my stored fuel suitable for use?

Have an expanded analysis performed on your aged fuel to monitor the effects of long-term storage. In general, diesel fuel have adequate storage stability for normal use. For long-term storage of fuel a fuel monitoring program is an important part of a long-term storage program. Periodic sampling and analysis will provide the means by which to make important decisions regarding your aged fuel, its storage, and its suitability for continued use.

Does my diesel fuel have the appropriate Sulfur concentration?

The grade of the fuel mainly depends on the concentration of Sulphur Content in the fuel. The concentration will determine whether the fuel is BS III , BA IV or a ULSD fuel. Higher Sulphur obtained in the fuel indicates that the fuel does not comply with regulatory specifications.

I can't see any visual contamination... How clean is my fuel?

Particulate contamination analysis measures the cleanliness of fuel by determining the total particulate amount which is not normally visible to the naked eye. Testing of fuel for particulate contamination is conducted by ISO 4406 test or NAS Value test which determines the degree of contamination in the fuel. Higher particle count can lead to fuel filter chocking, wearing etc.

Is my system clean of Moisture and mocrobial Contamination?

One of the common sources of contamination in diesel fuel is water. Water contamination can lead to corrosion within the fuel system. Microorganisms require water to grow and, since most microbial growth occurs at the fuel water interface, keeping fuel systems dry will greatly reduce the likelihood of microbial contamination outbreaks and its related problems. Measure your fuel’s water content to make certain your fuel is dry. One of the potential problems with microbial contamination is the increased potential for filter plugging. The waste created by microbial growth, rather than the microbes themselves, create a potential cause of premature filter plugging. If there is a known water contamination issue currently or in the past in a fuel system, a check for microbial contamination is recommended. When possible, water should be drained from tanks regularly.

Does my fuel have the appropriate vicosity?

If the viscosity is too low, fuel injection pump and injector leakage can occur. Proper viscosity affects the fuel’s ability to lubricate fuel system components and properly atomize during injection.

Does my diesel fuel have good ignition quality properties, therby providing good cold start performance?

Cetane index is normally used to estimate the natural cetane number of diesel fuel. Note: The cetane index is not affected by cetane number improvers. Cetane number is a measure of the ignition quality of diesel fuel. Cetane number is essentially a measure of a fuel’s ignition delay: the time period between the start of injection and the actual start of fuel combustion. Generally, fuels with higher cetane numbers provide a shorter ignition delay period than fuels with lower cetane numbers.

Will my fuel perform well in low temperature applications?

Measurement of low temperature operability of your fuel is done by tests like cloud point, cold filter plugging point, and pour point. The cloud point is the temperature at which the fuel begins to display a wax haze or cloud. Use of fuel at or below its cloud point may cause operability issues due to the wax crystals triggering fuel system plugging.

I've been told I have contaminated fuel, can you confirm this?

Fuel contamination often leads to faulty injectors, fuel line damage and engine failures. The root cause can be adulteration, water or bacteria within the tank or sometimes even degraded fuel. We can perform analysis to look at the depth of your problem to identify the cause.

RoHS Testing

What is RoHS?

RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. RoHS, also known as Directive 2002/95/EC, originated in the European Union and restricts the use of specific hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products (known as EEE). All applicable products in the EU market after&nbsp;<b>July 1, 2006</b>&nbsp;must pass RoHS compliance.

What are the restricted materials mandated under RoHS?

The substances banned under RoHS are lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (CrVI), polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), and four different phthalates (DEHP, BBP, BBP, DIBP).

Why is RoHS compliance important?

The restricted materials are hazardous to the environment and pollute landfills, and are dangerous in terms of occupational exposure during manufacturing and recycling.

Which companies are affected by the RoHS Directive?

Any business that sells or distributes applicable EEE products, sub-assemblies, components, or cables directly to EU countries, or sells to resellers, distributors or integrators that in turn sell products to EU countries, is impacted if they utilize any of the restricted materials. Since RoHS-like regulations have spread to a number of other countries, this just doen’t apply to EU countries anymore.
RoHS also applies to the metal industry for any application of metal plating, anodizing, chromating or other finishes on EEE components, heatsinks, or connectors.

What is RoHS 2 and how does differ from the original RoHS?

RoHS 2, or the Recast RoHS 2 Directive 2011/65/EU, was published in July 2011 by the European Commission. The scope of the original RoHS was expanded to cover all electrical/electronic equipment, cables, and spare parts with compliance required by July 22, 2019 or sooner depending on product category.
<strong>RoHS 2 is also a CE-marking directive</strong>, with RoHS compliance now being required for CE marking of products. As such, all manufacturers of electrical/electronic products must comply with RoHS 2 before the CE mark can be applied on their products.&nbsp;<em>The original green RoHS label with the checkmark is no longer required or used as the CE mark now includes RoHS compliance.</em>
RoHS 1 required that any product in scope should not contain any of the 6 restricted substances and that the company (manufacturer, importer, or distributor) placing the product on the EU market should maintain records to show compliance. RoHS 2 requires additional compliance recordkeeping from everyone in the supply chain. Additional compliance recordkeeping (which must be kept for 10 years) can include a conformity assessment, CE marking, maintenance of compliance throughout production, and self reporting of non-compliance.
The proposed changes to the original RoHS Directive in RoHS2 (2011/65/EU) are relatively minor. No additional substances have been added to the six currently restricted. Inclusion of RoHS categories 8 (medical devices) and 9 (control and monitoring instruments) products in RoHS has been added as well. RoHS 2 took effect January 2, 2013.

What is RoHS 3 ?

RoHS 3 (EU Directive 2015/863) adds Category 11 (catch-all) products and adds four new restricted substances – all phthalates. The four phthalates are mainly used as insulation plasticizers, and are on the REACH list of SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern). The expanded list for RoHS 3 is thus as follows:
<p>Cadmium (0.01 %)<br>
Lead (0.1 %)<br>
Mercury (0.1 %)<br>
Hexavalent chromium (0.1 %)<br>
Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) (0.1 %)<br>
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) (0.1 %)<br>
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (0.1 %)<br>
Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) (0.1 %)<br>
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) (0.1 %)<br>
Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) (0.1 %)
Extention exemption:&nbsp;Of note is that medical devices have a two-year extension to meet RoHS 3 compliance:<em>“The restriction of DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP shall apply to medical devices, including in vitro medical devices, and monitoring and control instruments, including industrial monitoring and control instruments, from&nbsp;22 July 2021.”</em>

What is RoHS 5/6?

RoHS 5/6 refers to compliance for 5 out of the 6 restricted substances (no compliance for lead (Pb)). Lead in very specific applications for Categories 8 and 9 is also exempted under Annex III for a few more years. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href=”https://www.rohsguide.com/rohs-lead-exemptions.htm”>RoHS Annex III Lead Exemptions</a>.

WEEE is the acronym for Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment. WEEE, also known as Directive 2002/96/EC, mandates the treatment, recovery and recycling of electric and electronic equipment. All applicable products in the EU market after&nbsp;<b>August 13, 2006</b>&nbsp;must pass WEEE compliance and carry the “Wheelie Bin” sticker. WEEE compliance aims to encourage the design of electronic products with environmentally-safe recycling and recovery in mind. RoHS compliance dovetails into WEEE by reducing the amount of hazardous chemicals used in electronics manufacture.
Put another way, RoHS regulates the hazardous substances used in the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), while WEEE regulates the disposal of this same equipment. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href=”https://www.rohsguide.com/rohs-weee.htm”>WEEE Compliance</a>.

The EU End of Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive relates to automobiles, while the RoHS directive covers a broad array of electrical and electronic products across many industries. The ELV directive applies to electrical cables, wiring, and associated components used in transportation vehicles. It went into effect July 1, 2003, and limits the use of lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium (also restricted under RoHS).
In general, XLP (cross-linked polyethylene) insulated automotive-use wire such as SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) types SXL, GXL and TXL comply with this directive. However, PVC-insulated automotive wire types such as GPT, TWP, SGT and SGX may contain lead and as such may not be compliant unless specifically requested in purchase specifications.

RoHS Testing Methods ?

The initial method used for RoHS compliance testing is by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF). XRF analyzers come in stand-alone, bench-top and handheld formats. Portable, on-site XRF testing using a handheld XRF analyzer is usually performed first and focuses on the parts of a product with the highest risk of containing restricted substances. With the advent of RoHS 3 and the four added phthalates, additional testing is required to ascertain levels of these compounds, which are extracted with a solvent. The extraction solvent is then analyzed for the presence of phthalates using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or coupled with flame ionization detection (GC/FID). Other elements and PBDE/PBE are analysed by ICP and GCMS respectively.

Water Testing

Why should I test my water?

Water might be clear, odorless and tasteless but it dissolves many things that it comes into contact with, be it underground rock formations containing minerals, or the pipes in your home. The resulting contaminants are unseen, can’t be smelled or tasted, so professional testing is the best way to be confident your water is safe to drink.

How do I get my water tested?

We send you a sampling kit with everything needed for testing. You simply fill the bottles according to the sampling instructions you received in your kit.
Please completely fill out the&nbsp;sample registration form, and most importantly, record the&nbsp;date and time&nbsp;you collected your sample and send it back to us.

What tests are needed?

The analysis should be based on your water source and what contaminants may potentially be in the water, as well as potential regulations for end use. We are able to refine the list of parameters necessary for testing to reflect the water use, etc.

How often should I test my water?

The frequency of testing and servicing of your water supply depends on the complexity of your system, the components involved, the quality of the water and the risk posed to the supply/end user from contamination. Best practice&nbsp;would be to test the system and have the water quality analysed annually. We can help evaluate your water use and purpose, and recommend a sampling frequency based on regulations and/or risk. Please contact us.

What is hard water?

Hard water is a common quality of water which contains dissolved compounds of calcium and magnesium and, sometimes, other divalent and trivalent metallic elements. The term hardness was originally applied to waters that were hard to wash in, referring to the soap wasting properties of hard water. Hardness prevents soap from lathering by causing the development of an insoluble curdy precipitate in the water; hardness typically causes the buildup of hardness scale (such as seen in cooking pans). Dissolved calcium and magnesium salts are primarily responsible for most scaling in pipes and water heaters and cause numerous problems in laundry, kitchen, and bath. Hardness is usually expressed in grains per gallon (or ppm) as calcium carbonate equivalent.

When can I expect test results for my water sample?

You can expect test results for your water sample in 2-5 days after your sample is received at the Laboratory for most testing.

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