Short-Term Tests to Assess Marine Steam Turbine and Diesel Lubricating Oils

Some U.S. Navy lubricating oil qualification tests are time consuming and costly. Steam turbine oils (MIL-L-17331) require a 1000-hour oxidation stability test. Diesel oils (MIL-L-9000) must pass two engine tests, the GM 3-71 and the Caterpillar 1G-2. Short-term tests have been developed and evaluated which correlate with pass/fail results by the 1000-hour test and with weighted total demerits by the Caterpillar 1G-2. More data on the short-term tests will help to better determine their usefulness.