ASTM D5302 Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Automotive Engine Oils for Inhibition of Deposit Formation and Wear in a Spark-Ignition Internal Combustion Engine Fueled with Gasoline and Operated Under Low-Temperature, Light-Duty Conditions
10. Miscellaneous Laboratory Equipment
10.1 Timing Light - Use an inductive pickup timing light to measure ignition timing.
10.2 Volumetric Graduates - Measure the test oil quantity, fresh and used, by volume. A16-oz (500-mL) (fluid) graduate is recommended for the small samples (2 to 10 oz [60 to 300 mL]); this graduate shall have a resolution of 0.25 oz (7 mL) (fluid). A large graduate, capable of transferring 124 oz (4 L) (fluid), is required, and it shall have a resolution of 1.0 oz (30 mL) (fluid). All graduates shall have an accuracy of 2 % of full scale.
11. Test Standard Calibration
11.1 Verification:
11.1.1 Verify the calibration of test stands with reference oils supplied by the TMC. Stand calibration tests are normally conducted upon expiration of the 180-day calibration time period. However, calibration time periods may be adjusted by the TMC. Any deviation from the standard calibration time frequency shall be approved by the TMC and reported on a supplemental operational data sheet of the final test report. Any non-reference test started within 168 days of the completion date of the previous calibration test is considered within the calibration time period.
11.1.2 A3.0-gal (11.4-L) sample of reference oil is provided by the TMC for each stand calibration test.
11.2 Unacceptable Calibration Results:
11.2.1 It is recognized that a certain percentage of calibration tests will fall outside the acceptance limits because of the application of statistics in the development of the acceptance limits. Failure of a reference oil test to meet Shewhart or exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) precision control chart limits can be indicative of a false alarm or a stand, laboratory, or industry problem. When this occurs, the laboratory in conjunction, with the TMC, shall attempt to determine the problem source. The TMC may solicit input from industry expertise (other testing laboratories, the test sponsor, ASTM Technical Guidance Committee, Sequence VE Surveillance Panel, Sequence VE Operations and Hardware Subpanel, and so forth) to help determine the cause and extent of a problem. Industry problems shall be adjudicated by the Sequence VE Surveillance Panel.
11.2.2 If the TMC determines the problem is a false alarm, and is stand related, there is no impact on non-reference tests running in other stands within the laboratory. If the TMC determines the problem is laboratory related, non-reference tests run during the problem period shall be considered invalid, unless there is specific evidence to the contrary for each individual test.
11.2.3 The TMC will reschedule a calibration test once it is satisfied that no particular problem exists or the problem has been resolved. The laboratory shall provide adequate documentation to support the conclusions reached during this process. This documentation shall be attached to the acceptable calibration test report. It shall provide sufficient information to show how the problem related to other tests operated during the same period of time.
11.3 Test Stand Modifications - Report modification of test stand control systems or completion of any nonstandard test on a calibrated stand to the TMC immediately. A nonstandard test includes any test completed under a modified procedure requiring hardware or controller tuning modifications to the test stand. The TMC will determine whether another calibration test is necessary after the modifications have been completed.
11.4 Reference Oil Accountability:
11.4.1 Laboratories conducting calibration tests are required to provide a full accounting of the identification and quantities of all reference oils used.
11.4.2 With the exception of new oil analysis required in 13.7.1, no physical or chemical analysis of new reference oils shall be performed without the permission of the TMC. Retain engine parts from reference oil tests for six months.
11.5 Test Numbering System:
11.5.1 Acceptable Tests - The test number shall follow the format AAA-BB-CCC. AAA represents the stand number. BB represents the number of tests since the last reference. CCC represents the total number of tests on the stand. As an example, 6-10-175 represents the 175th test on Stand 6 and the 10th test since the last reference. Consecutively number all tests on a given stand.
11.5.2 Unacceptable or Aborted Tests - If a calibration test is aborted or the results are outside the acceptance limits, the CCC portion of the test number for subsequent calibration test(s) shall include a letter suffix. The suffix shall begin with the letter A and continue alphabetically until a calibration test is completed within the acceptance limits. For example, if three consecutive unacceptable calibration tests are completed on the same test stand, and the test number of the first test is 6-0-175, the next two test numbers would be 6-0-175A and 6-0-175B. If the results of the next calibration test are acceptable, the test number 6-0-175C would permanently identify the test and appear on future correspondence. The completion of any amount of operational time on tests other than calibration tests will cause the test number to be increased by one. No letter suffix will be added to the test number of tests other than calibration tests.
