Water in Lubricating oil

Form of presence of water in Lube oil

Water can exist in oil in three states or phases. The first state, known as dissolved
water, is characterized by individual water molecules dispersed throughout the oil.
Dissolved water in a lubricating oil is comparable to moisture in the air on a humid
day - we know the water is there, but because it is dispersed molecule-by-molecule, it
is too small to see. For this reason, an oil can contain a significant concentration of
dissolved water with no visible indication of its presence. Most industrial oils such as
hydraulic fluids, turbine oils, etc., can hold as much as 200 to 600 ppm of water (0.02
to 0.06 percent) in the dissolved state depending on the temperature and age of the oil,
with aged oils capable of holding three to four times more water in the dissolved state
than new oil.

Once the amount of water has exceeded the maximum level for it to remain dissolved,
the oil is saturated. At this point, the water is suspended in the oil in microscopic
droplets known as an emulsion. This is similar to the formation of fog on a cool,
spring day. In this case, the amount of moisture in the air exceeds the saturation point,
resulting in a suspension of small droplets of moisture or fog. In a lubricating oil, this
"fog" is often referred to as haze with the oil said to be cloudy or hazy.

The addition of more water to an emulsified oil/water mixture will lead to a separation
of the two phases producing a layer of free water as well as free and/or emulsified oil.
This is like rain falling when the amount of moisture in the air becomes excessive. For
mineral oils and PAO synthetics whose specific gravity is less than 1.0, this free water
layer is found on the bottom of tanks and sumps.

The Effects of Water

The presence of water in hydraulic fluids and lubricants can have wide-ranging effects
on system components. Surface corrosion, probably the most obvious effect, is
directly linked to the presence of free bulk water. Accelerated metal surface fatigue,
such as in bearings, can be promoted even if all the water present in the fluid is
dissolved.

Other Effects

The other effects of water on system is reduced lubricating characteristics. ( lubricant

film thickness, load carrying capacity etc) caused by presence of water, which can
lead to increased component wear and jamming of components.

The physical properties most affected are

1. Viscosity
2. Lubricity and load carrying characteristics
3. Power transfer characteristics ( compressibility)

Effect on Chemical properties

1. Thermo oxidative Stability – The reaction of oxygen with fluid base stock
forms oxygenated compounds and is accelerated by heat and presence of
water. Metals in the form of debris often acts as catalyst. Oxidation ultimately
leads to higher viscosity and deposits, such as polymeric compounds or
sludge.

2. Hydrolysis – The decomposition of ester based fluid as a result of heat and

water, results in acid and alcohols leading to increased corrosivity.

3. Deposition Characteristics ( soot and Coaking) increases.

4. Premature additive depletion and additive precipitation impacting lube oil

performance.