For those not familiar with what a "Crackle Test is";
Method:
The crackle test is a simple test to identify the presence of free and emulsified water suspended in the oil, provided a few simple rules are followed.
No visible or audible change.
No free or emulsified water
Very Small Bubbles (0.5 mm) produced and quickly disappear.
0.05 - 0.1% 500-1000 ppm
Bubbles approximately 2 mm are produced, gather to center, enlarge to 4mm, and disappear quickly.
0.1 - 0.2% 1000-2000 ppm
Bubbles 2-3 mm are produced growing to 4 mm, process repeats, possible violent bubbling and audible crackling.
0.2 and more >2000 ppm
1. Raise the hot plate temperature to 320ｰF (160ｰC). Always use the same temperature.
2. Violently agitate oil sample to achieve homogenous suspension of water in oil.
Using a clean dropper, place a drop of oil on the hot plate.
Observations:
1. If no crackling or vapor bubbles are produced after a few seconds, no free or emulsified water is present.
2. If very small bubbles (0.5 mm) are produced but disappear quickly, approximately 0.05 to 0.10 percent water is present.
3. If bubbles approximately 2 mm are produced, gather to the center of the oil spot, enlarge to about 4 mm, then disappear, approximately 0.1 to 0.2 percent water is present.
4. For moisture levels above 0.2 percent, bubbles may start out about 2 to 3 mm then grow to 4 mm, with the process repeating once or twice. For even higher moisture levels, violent bubbling and audible crackling may result.
5. Be wary of the presence of dissolved gases, fuel, refrigerants and volatile solvents, which can cause false positives.
Hot plates are almost things of the past. A frying pan works also. A cast iron skillet works great. You are on your own with the cast iron skillet. The wife may decide your head would be a nice place to see if the skillet will ring when striking a hard object. The wife may not get upset from the smell generated by burning oil in her kitchen in an old frying pan, but most wives cherish those cast iron skillets.
Method:
The crackle test is a simple test to identify the presence of free and emulsified water suspended in the oil, provided a few simple rules are followed.
No visible or audible change.
No free or emulsified water
Very Small Bubbles (0.5 mm) produced and quickly disappear.
0.05 - 0.1% 500-1000 ppm
Bubbles approximately 2 mm are produced, gather to center, enlarge to 4mm, and disappear quickly.
0.1 - 0.2% 1000-2000 ppm
Bubbles 2-3 mm are produced growing to 4 mm, process repeats, possible violent bubbling and audible crackling.
0.2 and more >2000 ppm
1. Raise the hot plate temperature to 320ｰF (160ｰC). Always use the same temperature.
2. Violently agitate oil sample to achieve homogenous suspension of water in oil.
Using a clean dropper, place a drop of oil on the hot plate.
Observations:
1. If no crackling or vapor bubbles are produced after a few seconds, no free or emulsified water is present.
2. If very small bubbles (0.5 mm) are produced but disappear quickly, approximately 0.05 to 0.10 percent water is present.
3. If bubbles approximately 2 mm are produced, gather to the center of the oil spot, enlarge to about 4 mm, then disappear, approximately 0.1 to 0.2 percent water is present.
4. For moisture levels above 0.2 percent, bubbles may start out about 2 to 3 mm then grow to 4 mm, with the process repeating once or twice. For even higher moisture levels, violent bubbling and audible crackling may result.
5. Be wary of the presence of dissolved gases, fuel, refrigerants and volatile solvents, which can cause false positives.
Hot plates are almost things of the past. A frying pan works also. A cast iron skillet works great. You are on your own with the cast iron skillet. The wife may decide your head would be a nice place to see if the skillet will ring when striking a hard object. The wife may not get upset from the smell generated by burning oil in her kitchen in an old frying pan, but most wives cherish those cast iron skillets.
