ASTM D6184 - Oil Separation from Lubricating Grease (Conical Sieve Method)

Significance and Use

5.1 When lubricating grease separates oil, the residual material may change in consistency, which can affect the ability of the product to function as designed. Test results obtained with this procedure are not intended to predict oil separation tendencies of grease under dynamic service conditions.

Scope

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the tendency of lubricating grease to separate oil at an elevated temperature. This test method shall be conducted at 100 °C for 30 h unless other conditions are required by the grease specification.

1.2 This test method can be used on any grease with a worked penetration (Test Methods D217) greater than 220 mm ⁄10 (NLGI Consistency Number 3 or softer). However, no precision data exists for greases with a penetration greater than 340 mm ⁄10 (softer than NLGI Consistency Number 1).

Extracted, with permission, from ASTM D6184-17 - Oil Separation from Lubricating Grease (Conical Sieve Method), copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard may be purchased from ASTM International, astm.org