University of Cebu

College of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Laboratory

EXPERIMENT # 2
Cloud, Pour and Solid Points of Different Types of Oil

Name: Genita, Mark Lemuel C. Course & Year: BSME - 5

Subject: ME-412A 6:31-9:31 FS Date: 02/27/2021

I. OBJECTIVE

To study and determine the cloud, pour and solid points of different types of oil.

II. DISCUSSION

Lubricants are frequently tested to determine the temperature at which paraffin wax
and similar substances found in oil crystallize and separate the oil. A test of this kind is
called the cloud test.

Pour point test is essentially important for oils used in automobiles during winter.
There is often a great difference when temperature changes. Lubricating oils have the same
characteristics at room temperature. However, they become viscous when they get very
cold. Hydrocarbons will separate out and float at the surface of the oil. Hydrocarbons,
which freeze relatively at high temperatures, present in sufficient quantities in the oil will
cause the entry mass of the oil to congeal.

III. APPARATUS

2 Thermometers
2 Test Tubes
Glass Jar
Rubber Stopper
Oil Sample
Crushed Ice

IV. SKETCH

Draw the actual set-up of the experiment neatly and label each apparatus.
Fig. 1 - Experiment Setup
V. PROCEDURE

1. Fill the test tube with oil until the level is about 50 mm high and carefully insert the
thermometer with it about 10 mm from the bottom.
2. Prepare the ice bath or freezing mixture by mixing 1 part of the salt to 20 parts by
volume of crushed ice. If preparation does not give good result, add more salt to the
mixture.
3. Place the test tube in the bath. For every to2 deg C reduction in temperature, take
the test tube out and observe the paraffin wax of similar substance crystallize and
separate from oil or when the lower half of the oil becomes opaque. Record the
temperature as cloud point. Care must be taken when removing the test tube so as
not to remove the thermometer. Its movement would hinder the congealing oil.
4. Lower the temperature of the ice bath by mixing 1 part of salt to 1 part by volume of
crushed ice. Just add more salt to decrease the temperature further.
5. Place the test tube into the ice bath (as in step 3). For every 5 deg C reduction in
temperature, take out the test tube and hold it at 45 deg position for not more than
10 seconds. If the oil does not flow out but show minimal movement, record the
temperature as pour point.
6. Chill the oil sample further by adding more salt to the bath. If the sample does not
show appreciable movement, record the temperature as solid point.

VI. TABULATED DATA

Trial Time (seconds) Temperature (0C) Observation

1 0 28 base temperature
2 120 18 no wax observed
3 210 12 no wax observed
4 240 9 no wax observed
5 290 7 no wax observed
6 334 6 no wax observed
7 404 4 no wax observed
8 445 2 no wax observed
9 782 1 crystals start to form
10 910 0 cloudy spots visible
11 1038 -1 cloud point attained
12 1228 -2 oil starts to solidify
13 1408 -3 minimal movement of oil
14 1768 -4 pour point attained
15 2488 -7 solid point attained

VII. GRAPH

Make a graph of temperature (deg C) versus time (seconds).

Note: Use a separate sheet of graphing paper for the graph.
Fig. 2 - Time (x-axis) vs. Temperature (y-axis)
VIII. OBSERVATION

At time t0 = 0, 28 deg C was taken as the base temperature. An appreciable decrease

in the rate of temperature depression started at around 500 seconds after the initial
recording. Adding salt lowered the freezing point of water. This caused the oil to attain a
relatively lower temperature. Crystals started to form at ~800 seconds elapsed time which
peaked at ~1000 seconds elapsed time to attain the cloud point. This corresponds to a
temperature of -1 deg C. About 10 minutes later, pour point at temperature of -4 deg C was
attained. The setup consumed another 10 minutes, more or less, to attain the solid point at
temperature of -7 deg C. This is when the oil behaves like a solid.

IX. CONCLUSION

The relationship between temperature and time can be approximated to behave like
the multiplicative inverse of logarithm of time plus an offset, as can be seen from the graph
and the tabulated values. This implies that the same amount of time consumed to achieve
a temperature of 0 deg C from a base temperature of ~30 deg C must be allocated to
achieve another temperature decrease of ~3 deg C. At this point, the relative motion of oil is
indistinguishable. For liquids, decreasing the temperature causes the viscosity to increase.
The experiment established this consequence so that lowering the temperature further to -7
deg C causes the (liquid) oil to behave like a solid.