The Measurement of Silicon, Tin, and Titanium in Jet-Engine Oil

A wear metal profile is often prepared for each engine. Typically an early wear-in period of high metals concentration is observed, followed by a plateau of low metals concentration [2]. Impending component failure will be indicated by a rapid increase in wear metal concentration, or the sudden appearance of a metal. The metal type and concentration may also indicate to the analyst and engineers which part of an engine is failing. A change in the concentration of sodium for example, may indicate an antifreeze leakage, the increased presence of lead may indicate the wear of bearings in a diesel engine [3].