PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-674
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 674
JANUARY 2009
56
JAN 09
PS 674
MYTH
– All of the Army’s equipment is enrolled in the
Army Oil Analysis Program (AOAP).
FACT
– Only 23 percent of aeronautical equipment
and 27 percent of non-aeronautical equipment are
enrolled in the AOAP.
MYTH
– Hand-held oil analyzers, currently being tested and evaluated
will replace AOAP laboratories.
FACT
– AOAP laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art analytical
equipment and trained evaluators. Automated AOAP Business Intelligence
Tools have also been incorporated to aid the Soldier. Currently, handheld
analyzers only provide limited oil analysis capabilities, which result in GO/NO
GO readings.
MYTH –
Condition-based maintenance (CBM) will replace the Army Oil
Analysis Program (AOAP) and the analysis of component oil samples.
FACT –
AOAP is a condition-monitoring program. Current CBM is
based on vibration analysis, which measures the increase in vibrations as a
component wears. AOAP not only analyzes lubricants and grease to detect
increases in wear particles and other contaminants in the lubricant but it also
analyzes the physical properties of the lubricants and detects contaminants
in the lubricants. Maintaining the proper physical properties of the lubricants
and eliminating contaminants reduces component wear to meet conditioned-
based maintenance (CBM) and reliability centered maintenance objectives
(RCM).
MYTH –
The requirement to have the crew chiefs/
maintainers draw and submit component samples is an
undue burden on them.
FACT –
Samples
can
be
drawn
during
normal
maintenance processes and these sent to the AOAP
laboratories for analysis. The AOAP sample process has
been streamlined and automated. The addition of sampling
valves on components further reduces the burden.
MYTH
– The AOAP has not resulted in any signiFcant
maintenance Fnding in the past related to aircraft
component wear and failures.
FACT
– AOAP has a high percentage of success
in detecting increases in component wear, impending
component failures, contaminants in oil and degradation
of oil.
MYTH
– AOAP labs perform spectrometric elemental analysis only on
aeronautical and non-aeronautical oil wetted components.
FACT
– AOAP laboratories perform spectrometric elemental wear metal
analysis and physical property testing to determine the presence of abnormal
wear metal particles and the lubricants serviceability at the time of analysis.
This includes titration for total base and acid numbers, viscosity at dual
temperatures (40° & 100° Celsius), Karl ±ischer method for presence of water,
lasernet Fnes for shape particles, and ferrographic analysis for determining
types of wear as cutting, spalling, rubbing and normal wear.
Common AOAP myths
and
Facts
Common AOAP
need help?
contact
aOap hotline,
dsn 645-0869,
(256) 955-0869
or by email
logsa.aoap
@
conus.army.mil
soldiers! I say
to you the
world is filled
with both
facts
and
myths.
those on the street
who deal with the
army Oil analysis
program (aOap)
seem to be confusing
myths with facts
about aOap.
here’s
the
real
word
about
aOap.
myths
and
Facts
674.56-57.indd
1-2
12/1/08
4:38:42 PM
Click here for a copy of this article to save or email.
Back to TopBack to Top
