ASTM D4378-20 - 1.5.2020
 
Significance and Use

4.1 This practice is intended to assist the user, in particular the power-plant operator, to maintain effective lubrication of all parts of the turbine and guard against the onset of problems associated with oil degradation and contamination. The values of the various test parameters mentioned in this practice are purely indicative. In fact, for proper interpretation of the results, many factors, such as type of equipment, operation workload, design of the lubricating oil circuit, and top-up level, should be taken into account.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This practice covers the requirements for the effective monitoring of mineral turbine oils in service in steam and gas turbines, as individual or combined cycle turbines, used for power generation. This practice includes sampling and testing schedules to validate the condition of the lubricant through its life cycle and by ensuring required improvements to bring the present condition of the lubricant within the acceptable targets. This practice is not intended for condition monitoring of lubricants for auxiliary equipment; it is recommended that the appropriate practice be consulted (see Practice D6224).

1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D2272-22

Standard Test Method for Oxidation Stability of Steam Turbine Oils by Rotating Pressure Vessel

D2273-08

Standard Test Method for Trace Sediment in Lubricating Oils

D2422-24

Standard Classification of Industrial Fluid Lubricants by Viscosity System

D2668-07(2021)

Standard Test Method for 2,6-di-tert-Butyl- p-Cresol and 2,6-di-tert-Butyl Phenol in Electrical Insulating Oil by Infrared Absorption

D3427-26

Standard Test Method for Air Release Properties of Hydrocarbon Based Oils

D4057-22

Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products

D4898-23

Standard Test Method for Insoluble Contamination of Hydraulic Fluids by Gravimetric Analysis

D5185-26

Standard Test Method for Multielement Determination of Used and Unused Lubricating Oils and Base Oils by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)

D6224-23

Standard Practice for In-Service Monitoring of Lubricating Oil for Auxiliary Power Plant Equipment

D6304-25

Standard Test Method for Determination of Water in Petroleum Products, Lubricating Oils, and Additives by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration

D6439-23

Standard Guide for Cleaning, Flushing, and Purification of Steam, Gas, and Hydroelectric Turbine Lubrication Systems

D6810-22

Standard Test Method for Measurement of Hindered Phenolic Antioxidant Content in Non-Zinc Turbine Oils by Linear Sweep Voltammetry

D6971-22

Standard Test Method for Measurement of Hindered Phenolic and Aromatic Amine Antioxidant Content in Non-zinc Turbine Oils by Linear Sweep Voltammetry

D7155-20(2026)

Standard Practice for Evaluating Compatibility of Mixtures of Turbine Lubricating Oils

D7647-24

Standard Test Method for Automatic Particle Counting of Lubricating and Hydraulic Fluids Using Dilution Techniques to Eliminate the Contribution of Water and Interfering Soft Particles by Light Extinction

D7669-20

Standard Guide for Practical Lubricant Condition Data Trend Analysis

D7720-21(2025)

Standard Guide for Statistically Evaluating Measurand Alarm Limits when Using Oil Analysis to Monitor Equipment and Oil for Fitness and Contamination

ISO 11171

Hydraulic Fluid Power--Calibration of Automatic Particle Counters for Liquids

D445-26

Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)

D664-24

Standard Test Method for Acid Number of Petroleum Products by Potentiometric Titration

D665-25

Standard Test Method for Rust-Preventing Characteristics of Inhibited Mineral Oil in the Presence of Water

D892-25

Standard Test Method for Foaming Characteristics of Lubricating Oils

D943-25

Standard Test Method for Oxidation Characteristics of Inhibited Mineral Oils

D974-22

Standard Test Method for Acid and Base Number by Color-Indicator Titration

D92-24

Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester

D130-26

Standard Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from Petroleum Products by Copper Strip Test

D1500-24

Standard Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)

D1401-21

Standard Test Method for Water Separability of Petroleum Oils and Synthetic Fluids

F311-26

Standard Practice for Processing Aerospace Liquid Samples for Particulate Contamination Analysis Using Membrane Filters

ISO 11500

Hydraulic Fluid Power--Determination of the Particulate Contamination Level of a Liquid Sample by Automatic Particle Counting Using the Light Extinction, Second Edition, 2008

ISO 4407

Hydraulic Fluid Power--Fluid Contamination--Determination of Particulate Contamination by Counting Method Using an Optical Microscope, Second Edition, 2002

F312-08(2023)

Standard Test Methods for Microscopical Sizing and Counting Particles from Aerospace Fluids on Membrane Filters

ISO 4406

Hydraulic fluid power--Fluids--Method for Coding the Level of Contamination by Solid Particles, Second Edition, 1999