Machinery Lubricant Analyst (MLA) General Information

Level I Machinery Lubricant Analyst

Purpose The purpose for the Level I Machinery Lubricant Analyst (MLA) certification is to verify that technicians practicing in the field of lube oil analysis, as it is applied to machinery condition monitoring and maintenance, are qualified to perform the following tasks: Install sampling hardware such that a representative sample may be efficiently and repeatedly extracted from mechanical systems commonly found in industrial and fleet applications. Effectively extract representative samples from typical industrial machinery, and prepare them for analysis. Employ basic oil analysis techniques to identify and troubleshoot conditions of wrong or degraded lubricant, and devise and implement corrective actions. Employ basic oil analysis to identify and troubleshoot contaminated lubricant conditions, and devise and implement corrective actions. Employ basic oil analysis techniques to identify and troubleshoot abnormal machine wear conditions, and devise and implement corrective actions. Inspect and receive new oil deliveries.

Common job titles for the individual who would become Level I MLA certified include Oiler, Lube Technician, Lubricator, PM or PDM Technician, Millwright, Mechanic, Reliability Technician, etc. Generally, this individual has regular contact with the machine and has routine influence over the condition of lubricants and hydraulic fluids in use. The individual is likely to be directly involved in oil sampling and troubleshooting routine problems identified by lab test results and field lubricant inspections. As such a basic understanding of lubrication, oil analysis tests, oil analysis terminology, and data interpretation are required.

Level I MLA Certification Requirements

To become certified, an individual must meet the following requirements: Education and/or Experience - Candidates must have at least two years of on-the-job training or education (post-secondary) in one or more of the following fields/trades: engineering, mechanical maintenance, maintenance trades, lubrication, oil analysis and/or condition monitoring (mechanical machinery). Training - Candidate must have received at least 16 hours of documented formal training in oil analysis for machine condition monitoring. ICML does not require, recommend, endorse or authorize any specific training course as official or approved. It is the responsibility of each candidate to research the training options available in his/her area and make a decision as to the training provider of his/her choice. ICML recommends the outline of the course of choice be compared to the exam's Body of Knowledge. It is in the person's best interest and their responsibility as an ICML candidate to ensure they are being trained in the same subject areas in which they will be tested. ICML's Bodies of Knowledge are of

public domain and can be utilized by companies in the development of courses, as well as by any prospective candidate for evaluating the appropriateness of chosen training. Examination - Each candidate must successfully pass a written, 100-question multiple choice examination that evaluates the candidate's knowledge of the topic. Candidates have three hours to complete the closed-book examination. A score of 70% is required to pass the examination and achieve certification. In the United States and certain other countries, the exam is conducted in the English language only. Contact ICML about the availability of the exam in other languages.

Level I MLA Re-Certification

Certification is valid for three years from the date of issue. Re-certification may be achieved by one of the following two methods: Re-certify by points. Candidates must obtain sufficient re-certification points and submit a completed application to ICML within six months after the expiration of certification (see below for detailed discussion of the re-certification points system). Re-certify by examination. Previously certified individuals may re-certify by correctly answering 70% of a re-certification exam (50-question multiple choice examination). Re-certification points system Individuals certified as Level I Machinery Lubricant Analysts (MLAs) must re-certify their competency every three years. The purpose for re-certification is to ensure that certified individuals keep their skills current and up to date. An application for re-certification must be received within six months after expiration of one's certification in order to re-certify by points. All points must be earned during the time the certification is in effect. Points earned before or after the certification period will not be accepted. Points may be applied to multiple ICML certifications held by the individual, assuming that the points are applicable and approved for each individual re-certification. To re-certify by points, individuals must accumulate 15 re-certification points over the three-year period. Points may be claimed using the following criteria: Category Training Points 1 point per day Maximum 10 points Documentation Proof of attendance (certificate, badge or letter from training company in its letterhead) and a copy of the course outline Letter from employer, in company letterhead, with title of signer shown Copy of article and table of contents of the book, proceedings, magazine or journal in which it was published Proof of attendance (certificate, badge or letter from conference organizer in its letterhead) and copy of program

Employment Article Publication Conference Attendance

4 points per year 2 points per article

12 points 6 points

1 point per conference day

6 points

Criteria of Acceptability Employment - Employment must be in a field related to industrial lubrication and/or oil analysis. Training - Training topics related to oil analysis, lubrication or other topics important to effective equipment maintenance and management will be accepted. Article Publication - Articles published in journals, magazines, books or proceedings should be related to a topic within the body of knowledge for oil analysis, lubrication or equipment maintenance or management. Conference Attendance - Conference topics related to oil analysis, lubrication or other topics important to effective equipment maintenance and management will be accepted.

Level I MLA Body of Knowledge

The Level I MLA Body of Knowledge is an outline of concepts that one should have in order to pass the exam. References from which exam questions were derived can be found in the Domain of Knowledge below. I. Lubricant roles and functions (5%) A. Base oil 1. Functions 2. Properties B. Additive functions 1. Surface active additives and their functions 2. Bulk oil active additives and their functions C. Synthetic lubricants 1. Synthetic lubricant types 2. Conditions dictating their use D. Lubrication regimes 1. Hydrodynamic 2. Elasto-hydrodynamic 3. Boundary II. Oil Analysis Maintenance Strategies (5%) A. Fundamental aspects of Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) B. Fundamental aspects of Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) 1. Predictive maintenance strategies 2. Proactive maintenance strategies III. Oil Sampling (30%) A. Objectives for lube oil sampling B. Equipment specific sampling: 1. Gearboxes with circulating systems 2. Engines 3. Single and multi-component circulating oil systems with separate reservoirs 4. Hydraulic systems 5. Splash, ring and collar lubricated systems C. Sampling methods 1. Non-pressurized systems 2. Pressurized systems - Low 3. Pressurized systems - High D. Managing interference 1. Bottle cleanliness and management 2. Flushing 3. Machine conditions appropriate for sampling E. Sampling process management 1. Sampling frequency 2. Sampling procedures 3. Sample processing IV. Lubricant health monitoring (20%) A. Lubricant failure mechanisms 1. Oxidative degradation a) The oxidation process b) Causes of oxidation c) Effects of oxidative degradation 2. Thermal degradation a) The thermal failure process b) Causes of thermal failure c) Effects of thermal degradation 3. Additive depletion/degradation a) Additive depletion mechanisms b) Additives at risk for depletion/degradation by the various mechanisms.

B. Testing for wrong or mixed lubricants 1. Baselining physical and chemical properties tests 2. Additive discrepancies C. Fluid properties test methods and measurement units 1. Kinematic Viscosity (ASTM D445) 2. Absolute (Dynamic) Viscosity (ASTM D2893) 3. Viscosity Index (ASTM D2270) 4. Acid Number (ASTM D974 et al) 5. Base Number (ASTM D974 et al) 6. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis 7. Rotating Pressure Vessel Oxidation Test (ASTMD2272) 8. Atomic Emission Spectroscopy V. Lubricant contamination measurement and control (25%) A. Particle contamination 1. Effects on the machine 2. Effects on the lubricant 3. Methods and units for measuring particle contamination 4. Techniques for controlling particle contamination B. Moisture contamination 1. Effects on the machine 2. Effects on the lubricant 3. States of coexistence 4. Methods and units for measuring moisture contamination 5. Demulsibility measurement 6. Techniques for controlling moisture contamination C. Glycol coolant contamination 1. Effects on the machine 2. Effects on the lubricant 3. Methods and units for measuring glycol contamination 4. Techniques for controlling glycol contamination D. Soot contamination 1. Effects on the machine 2. Effects on the lubricant 3. Methods and units for measuring soot contamination 4. Techniques for controlling soot contamination E. Fuel contamination (fuel dilution in oil) 1. Effects on the machine 2. Effects on the lubricant 3. Methods and units for measuring fuel contamination 4. Techniques for controlling fuel contamination F. Air contamination (air in oil) 1. Effects on the machine 2. Effects on the lubricant 3. States of coexistence 4. Methods for assessing air contamination a) Air release characteristics (ASTM D3427) b) Foam stability characteristics (ASTM D892) 5. Techniques for controlling air contamination VI. Wear Debris Monitoring and Analysis (15%) A. Common wear mechanisms 1. Abrasive wear a) Two-body b) Three-body 2. Surface fatigue (contact fatigue) a) Two-body b) Three-body 3. Adhesive wear 4. Corrosive wear

5. Cavitation wear B. Detecting abnormal wear 1. Atomic emission spectroscopy methods a) Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy b) Arc-spark emission spectroscopy 2. Wear particle density measurement C. Wear debris analysis 1. Ferrogram preparation 2. Filtergram preparation 3. Light effects 4. Magnetism effects 5. Heat treatment 6. Basic morphological analysis Domain of Knowledge Roylance, B. and T. Hunt (1999) Wear Debris Analysis. Coxmoor Publishing, Oxford, UK.. Denis, J., J Briant and J. Hipeaux (1997) Lubricant Properties Analysis & Testing. Editions TECHNIP, Paris, France. Troyer, D. and J. Fitch (1999) Oil Analysis Basics. Noria Publishing, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. Hunt, T. (1993) Handbook of Wear Debris Analysis and Particle Detection in Liquids. Elsevier Science Publishers, LTD, Essex, UK. Toms, L. (1998) Machinery Oil Analysis. Coastal Skills Training, Virginia Beach, VA, USA. Fitch, E. (1992) Proactive Maintenance for Mechanical Systems. FES, Inc., Stillwater, OK, USA. Bloch, H. (2000) Practical Lubrication for Industrial Facilities. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, USA. Standard Practice of In-Service Monitoring of Mineral Turbine Oils for Steam and Gas Turbines, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D 4378-92. Standard Practice for In-Service Monitoring of Lubricating Oil for Auxiliary Power Plant Equipment, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D 6224-98. These references can be purchased from the following organizations: Amazon.Com ASTM Barnes and Noble Noria Corporation

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the exams? All ICML examination have 100 multiple choice questions. How long do I have to complete the exams? You have three hours to complete the exam. What score is required to pass an exam? 70% correct answers. What is the cost of the exam? The application fee is $200. Although the fee is not refundable, any candidate that does not take the applied for exam can reschedule the same for a period of one year.

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