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ISO Cleanliness Code

The document discusses the ISO Cleanliness Code for lubricating and hydraulic oils, which measures the size and quantity of solid contaminants in oil systems. It explains the testing process, categorizing particles by size and reporting results as an ISO Cleanliness Code, which is crucial for determining system cleanliness and efficiency. The cleanliness requirements vary based on machine precision, reliability, and hydraulic system pressure levels, with recommendations to consult experts for optimal cleanliness levels.

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16 views2 pages

ISO Cleanliness Code

The document discusses the ISO Cleanliness Code for lubricating and hydraulic oils, which measures the size and quantity of solid contaminants in oil systems. It explains the testing process, categorizing particles by size and reporting results as an ISO Cleanliness Code, which is crucial for determining system cleanliness and efficiency. The cleanliness requirements vary based on machine precision, reliability, and hydraulic system pressure levels, with recommendations to consult experts for optimal cleanliness levels.

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ISO Cleanliness Code for Lubricating and Hydraulic Oils

Technical Information Sheet


With increasing customer emphasis placed on lubricating oil system cleanliness, there has also been growing awareness of the ISO
Cleanliness Code, which is the predominant cleanliness code used in industry. The ISO Cleanliness Code by SAE AS4059 D and
ISO 4440-1999 identifies the size and amount of solid contaminants (not element type as does ICP Spectroscopy). This data is
critical in determining the overall cleanliness of your system and the efficiency of the system's filtration.

In brief, here's how this test is accomplished:

1. All components in the oil capable of casting a shadow (laser blockage technology) or being trapped by a filter (pore
blockage technology) are quantified and measured per ml of oil.
2. These quantities are then grouped according to micron sizes >4 (optional), >6, and >14.
3. Each of the three groups are then assigned a range code and reported in terms of the code.

Here's a quick example:

A paper machine oil sample with the following particle quantity distributions would have the resultant range codes and then
be reported as an ISO Cleanliness Code of 21/17/12.

Range Number of Particles per ml


Code More Than Up to & Including
24 80,000 160,000
23 40,000 80,000
Size Particle 22 20,000 40,000
Groups Quantities 21 10,000 20,000
>4 micron 11250 20 5,000 10,000
>6 micron 1050 19 2,500 5,000
>14 micron 28 18 1,300 2,500
17 640 1,300
16 320 640
15 160 320
14 80 160
13 40 80
12 20 40
11 10 20
10 5 10
9 2.5 5
Reported ISO Code 21/17/12 8 1.3 2.5
7 0.64 1.3
6 0.32 0.64
5 0.16 0.32
4 0.08 0.16
3 0.04 0.08
2 0.02 0.04
1 0.01 0.02
0 0.005 0.01
00 0.0025 0.005
The level of cleanliness required for a machine element depends primarily on its precision and in-service reliability. The size of
particles that cause the most damage in a machine element are those equal to or slightly larger than the clearance space between
load-bearing or sealing surfaces. High precision machines, such as industrial robotics and numerically controlled (NC) machine tools,
have very small clearances and require much cleaner oils than less precision machines. Reliability is another factor affecting
cleanliness requirements. Engines and hydraulic systems for aircraft must, for obvious reasons, be much more reliable than their land-
based counterparts. Cleanliness standards for their lubricants are, therefore, among the most stringent.

Hydraulic system pressure levels also affects the cleanliness required of hydraulic oils. Generally speaking, the hydraulic oil must be
cleaner for high-pressure systems with extremely sensitive components. Some hydraulic servo valves can have tolerances less than a
single micron, thus the need for cleaner oil to prevent damage and/or malfunction.

Like most other labs, ExxonMobil's lab will not interpret an ISO Cleanliness Code as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. However,
some labs may comment that the resultant ISO Cleanliness Code may be high for a given general application. Furthermore, some labs
will report all three ranges while others may only report the two highest ranges (6 and 14 micron) due to the fact that most OEMs are
only concerned with those ranges.

Consult your ExxonMobil Lubrication Engineer, your filter manufacturer and equipment manufacturer for the optimum target ISO
Cleanliness Level for your system.

Revised 12/05/02

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