D-I-EY oil monitorin
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• Oilcheck is a do-it-yourself oil monitoring device from UCC International.
To use the hand-held device a clean sample of the same oil being used in the engine under test is put into the sensor well and the calibration button pressed. The well is then thoroughly cleaned and the process is repeated with a sample of oil from the engine. This time the `test' button is pressed and a reading will show up on an analog scale which is divided into green, yellow and red sections.
If the reading is in the green section the oil is fit for further use; in the yellow it should he changed at the next convenient time; and in the red an immediate change is required.
The Oilcheck monitor analyses the dielectric constant of the sample; effectively this means the comparative electrical resistance of the oils. Clean oil does not conduct electricity well, but water or metal particles in the sample will change the conductivity.
Oilcheck is claimed to warn of impending engine failure and to be ideal for workshops and fleet owners.
There is a top-of-the range model which has a digital as well as analog readout; both models are powered by internal 9V batteries. The basic model costs £195 or £248 with digital readout.