Oil Contamination PPM Checker
A gearbox oil analysis comes back with water at 800 PPM and iron at 45 PPM — change it, filter it, or run it? These bands turn analysis numbers into maintenance decisions.
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Oil Contamination PPM Checker
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A gearbox oil analysis comes back with water at 800 PPM and iron at 45 PPM — change it, filter it, or run it? These bands turn analysis numbers into maintenance decisions.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the contaminant PPM.
- Select contaminant type.
- Get the action band.
The formula
Bands based on common industrial oil-analysis guidelines.
What the units mean
PPM (parts per million) — one part of solute per million parts of the total mixture. The workhorse unit for trace concentrations in water, air, and food.
Worked example
Water 800 PPM in gear oil → above the 500 PPM caution line; investigate seals, consider change.
Quick reference
| Water PPM | Action |
|---|---|
| <300 | Normal |
| 300–500 | Watch |
| >500 | Act |
General industrial guidance.
Where you will actually use this
Oil analysis only saves money if someone acts on the numbers.
- Predictive maintenance
- Gearbox monitoring
- Hydraulic systems
Mistakes that give wrong answers
- One reading without trend
- Ignoring the specific machine's history
Key takeaways
- Formula: Contamination severity bands for industrial oils
- Remember: General industrial guidance.
- Watch out for: One reading without trend
- Next step: run your own numbers in the calculator above, then verify with a measurement — calculated values are only as good as the inputs.
Frequently asked questions
How much water in oil is too much?
Above ~500 PPM warrants action for most industrial oils.