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  • 1.  Oil Sampling Vacuum pumps: is there an electric option?

    Posted 02-19-2021 05:10 PM
    Is there an electric option for Oil Sampling Vacuum pumps. I've always used the hand pump variety, but I was wondering if there is a battery powered option.
    "Why?", you ask?
    1) Because if you are jiggling the tubing around in the process of getting your sample, you are dislodging dirt into the oil right where you are sampling, it makes it a less representative sample.
    2) because hand vacuum pumping out heavy oil from a few feet down is time consuming and hard on the wrists.

    OK, those are the reasons, I'm just trying to find ways of doing things better. I looked at some small oil transfer pumps that were 12V powered, but those would be awkward to use. My search on the web has not been fruitful.

    Stay well, safe, and happy, everyone.

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    Carson Blocker
    Vancouver WA
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  • 2.  RE: Oil Sampling Vacuum pumps: is there an electric option?

    Posted 02-22-2021 02:26 PM
    Hello Carson,
    I've not come across any electrical methods so I can't help you there. But in my opinion, the drop tube method is outdated and should be used only if there are no other alternative methods. The drop tube often gives you inconsistent results, due to the fact different survey samples were collected at different heights. However, if you still want to use a drop tube, I would suggest you attach ( using cable ties) a rod to the tube where the tip of the tube is at 50% of the oil reservoir depth.
    But rather than go that way, I would recommend you install fixed sampling points as they ensure oil samples are drawn from the most appropriate location of the sump reservoir, and that the sample is taken from the exact location inside the system each time, which is important for maintaining consistency in routine sampling. The metal tubing in these sampling points can be bent and directed to the ideal sampling location with the use of a swivel adapter.
    There are a lot of companies that provide these products and services.
    This is a one-time investment and involves some work as measuring the thread size, the oil sump dimensions, selecting the best location, cutting the tube to the appropriate length, etc.

    Hopefully, these links below can provide you some better insights.

    https://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/914/oil-sampling
    https://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/650/used-oil-sampling

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    Mark Mendonsa, CMRP, CMRT, VA Cat III, MLT1
    PDM Technologies Inc.
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Oil Sampling Vacuum pumps: is there an electric option?

    Posted 02-22-2021 03:47 PM
    I've not see an electric pump before but I would suggest installing a fixed pitot tube sample port in a flooded/closed system gearbox for sampling.  It gets you a repeatable sample without getting into the side wall and contaminating your sample.

    They also make these with larger tubes for high viscosity oils.  The regular sized tubes, valves etc. are too small for high viscosity.

    If it is a large enough gearbox for example, you may want a small kidney loop filter unit of which you could have the sample port on that to take a pressurized sample from.

    Just a few quick thoughts.

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    Randy Riddell, CMRP, PSAP, CLS
    Reliability Manager
    Essity
    Cherokee AL
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    Original Message


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