About oil analysis

The first experiences of oil analysis dates back at the beginning of the 1940s by railway companies in the United States.   Prompted by the purchase of new diesel locomotives, the technicians monitored the engines using simple spectrographic equipment.  As steam locomotives gave yield to diesel locomotives, oil analysis practices became more and more current.

In the mid 1950s, thanks to the success in the railroad companies, the US NAVY starts using spectrometric techniques to monitor jet engines.  The US  ARMY and US AIR FORCE start using oil analysis in the late 1950s.

A similar evolution is seen in Europe.    Railroad companies (for example the SNCB of Belgium) are the precursors in the 1960s.  Plane engine builders (for example SNECMA/TURBOMECA)  and airline companies follow this evolution.

In the 1970s, the service of oil analysis starts being commercialized , first by specialized companies and later by petrol companies.

More about the history of ANAC