Life Extension Method

    The Life Extension Method (LEM) is a compilation of various test results applied to illustrate how component life can be extended by clean oil.  There are three separate tables based on the ISO Codes:

***Tables used with permission from Jim Fitch, Noria Corporation***

View ISO Code Definitions

Hydraulic Systems:

Life Extension Factor (LEF)

Initial ISO 2x 3x 4x 5x 6x 7x 8x 9x 10x
23/20 20/17 19/16 18/15 17/14 17/13 16/13 16/12 15/12 15/11
22/19 19/16 18/15 17/14 16/13 16/12 15/12 14/11 14/11 14/10
21/18 18/15 17/14 16/13 15/12 15/11 14/11 14/10 13/10 13/10
20/17 17/14 16/13 15/12 14/11 13/11 13/10 13/9 12/9 12/8
19/16 16/13 15/12 14/11 13/10 13/9 12/9 12/8 11/8 11/8
18/15 15/12 14/11 13/10 12/9 12/8 11/8 - - -
17/14 14/11 13/10 12/9 12/8 11/8 - - - -
16/13 13/10 12/9 11/8 - - - - - -
15/12 12/9 11/8 - - - - - - -
14/11 11/8 - - - - - - - -
13/10 11/8 - - - - - - - -
12/9 11/8 - - - - - - - -

Example:  By reducing the particulate levels from an ISO 21/18 to an ISO 15/12, component life is increased by a factor of 5.

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Rolling Element Bearings:

Life Extension Factor (LEF)

Initial ISO 2x 3x 4x 5x 6x 7x 8x 9x 10x
23/20 19/16 17/14 15/12 14/11 13/10 13/10 12/9 11/8 11/8
22/19 18/15 16/13 14/11 13/10 12/9 11/8 11/8 - -
21/18 17/14 15/12 13/10 12/9 11/8 11/8 - - -
20/17 16/13 14/11 13/10 11/8 - - - - -
19/16 15/12 13/10 11/8 - - - - - -
18/15 14/11 12/9 - - - - - - -
17/14 13/10 11/8 - - - - - - -
16/13 12/9 - - - - - - - -
15/12 11/8 - - - - - - - -
14/11 11/8 - - - - - - - -
13/10 11/8 - - - - - - - -
12/9 11/8 - - - - - - - -

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Moisture:

Life Extension Factor (LEF)

Initial PPM 2x 3x 4x 5x 6x 7x 8x 9x 10x
50,000 12,500 6500 4500 3125 2500 2000 1500 1000 782
25,000 6250 3250 2250 1563 1250 1000 750 500 391
10,000 2500 1300 900 625 500 400 300 200 156
5000 1250 650 450 313 250 200 150 100 78
2500 625 325 225 156 125 100 75 50 39
1000 250 130 90 63 50 40 30 20 16
500 125 65 45 31 25 20 15 10 8
250 63 33 23 16 13 10 8 5 4
100 25 13 9 6 5 4 3 2 2

1% water = 10,000 ppm

Example:  By reducing average fluid moisture levels from 2500 ppm to 156 ppm, component life is extended by a factor of 5.

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