Analysis of diesel engine oils from 2.5L engine pick-up trucks by means of X-ray fluorescence

Engine oil is one of the key elements to protect and to increase the life of the lubricated engine parts. However, it gets contaminated by external particles either in filtration or during combustion, which produces deterioration in some of the engine parts which are being lubricated. In that sense, delays and very expensive repairs are generated at the maintenance workshops due to the high contamination in oils and to the late detection of the deteriorated parts. This work presents an analysis of used oils, extracted from hot and cold engines of 2.5-liter engine pick-up trucks, by using the two methods of the X-ray fluorescence technique (XRF): standard-less and calibrated, in order to determine the elements present and to establish the engine parts that wear out more easily and thus, to help with predictive maintenance of the trucks. The results are also useful for comparison purposes and to evaluate the effectiveness of the XRF technique in analyzing these types of samples.