What Is Oil Resistance?
Oil resistance test is performed by keeping the sample in standard reference oil (such as IRM 901/902/903) at a defined temperature and time; It is an experiment in which volume, mass, hardness and mechanical property changes are measured.
Purpose of Oil Resistance
The aim is to verify that swelling and loss of properties of the elastomer in contact with oil remain within specification limits.
Which Products Is Oil Resistance Applied To?
- Engine and transmission gaskets
- Hydraulic hose and seals
- Oil seals and O-rings
- Compressor elastomers
In Which Sectors Is Oil Resistance Used?
Standards Related to Oil Resistance
- ISO 1817
- ASTM D471
- ASTM D5964 (IRM reference oils)
- ISO 23529
Oil Resistance Conditions
- Reference oil
- IRM reference oils or service oil as defined in the standard
- Temperature
- Defined in the specification; represents the service temperature
- Time
- Defined in the standard; typically 70 or 168 hours
- measured change
- Volume and mass change, hardness change, tensile properties
Equipment for Oil Resistance
- Closed dip pots and temperature-controlled oven/bath
- Analytical balance and volume measurement setup
- Durometer and tensile tester
- Reference oil stock
Sample Requirements for Oil Resistance
- Initial measurements should be recorded
- Oil type and batch information must be documented
- The sample surface must be cleaned as defined in the standard.
- The number of specimens is defined in the standard
Duration of Oil Resistance
1–2 weeks depending on duration.
Oil Resistance Procedure
- 1Samples are measured and weighed.
- 2The reference oil is brought to temperature.
- 3Samples are immersed for a defined period of time.
- 4The samples are removed and the surface is cleaned.
- 5Volume, mass and hardness are measured.
- 6Mechanical properties are measured and the change is calculated.
Oil Resistance Acceptance Criteria
The acceptance criteria are the maximum volume change and property loss limits given in the specification.
Evaluation of Results
Different reference oils (IRM 901, 902, 903) have different aniline points and affect swelling to a different extent; results cannot be compared without specifying oil. Additives in actual service oil may behave differently than the reference oil.
Oil Resistance Report
- Applied standard and reference oil
- Temperature and duration
- Before/after measurements
- Volume and mass change
- Mechanical property change
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- Automotive and industrial sealing specifications
Otomotiv Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Oil Resistance test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Automotive testing shows that a component keeps working under conditions representing the loads it will meet over the life of the vehicle. A vehicle is not a single product but an ENVIRONMENT: vibration, temperature cycling, salt water, stone impact, electrical transients and electromagnetic noise are all present at the same time and for years.
What distinguishes this family is that VEHICLE MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS sit on top of the standards. ISO and SAE publications establish the common ground; but Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota and Renault define different severity levels, additional tests and different acceptance criteria in their own specifications. For a component, the phrase "complies with automotive standards" is not sufficient on its own; which manufacturer's specification, and which revision of it, must be answered.
The family carries three separate processes together and they are often confused. Homologation covers the type approvals a vehicle needs to enter traffic and runs under state authority. Supplier approval means passing the vehicle manufacturer's own quality and testing requirements and is a commercial relationship. The third is design verification: the engineering team demonstrating that its own design meets its targets.
At component level the test plan is built around the LOCATION OF USE. A module in the engine bay and a module in the boot do not go through the same temperature and vibration profile; a component inside a door and one in the roof console do not see the same water and dust exposure. The ISO 16750 series is the common framework for this location-based approach.
The shift to electric vehicles has reshaped the field. High-voltage safety, insulation coordination, battery safety, charging interface conformity and the electromagnetic behaviour of high-voltage components have been added to the classical automotive test set. In a quiet vehicle, acoustic and vibration expectations have changed too; sounds once masked by the combustion engine are now audible.
The quality system side cannot be separated from testing in this field. A manufacturer under IATF 16949 presents test results in the PPAP file; measurement system analysis, process capability study and the control plan stand around the test report. A single good result is not enough — the process must be shown to be able to repeat it.
Method groups in this field
Environmental and climatic
Temperature cycling, thermal shock, damp heat, salt spray, dust and water ingress (IP), solar radiation. Severity levels vary with the mounting location.
Mechanical
Sine and random vibration, shock, mechanical loads, fastener torque and durability cycles.
Electrical
Supply voltage variations, transients (ISO 7637), reverse polarity, overvoltage, short circuit and sleep current measurements.
EMC
Component emissions (CISPR 25), radiated and conducted immunity (ISO 11452 series), electrostatic discharge (ISO 10605).
Materials and emissions
Odour, fogging and VOC emissions from interior materials; flammability; UV ageing; coating durability and stone impact.
Functional safety and cyber security
Functional safety evidence under ISO 26262 and cyber security engineering under ISO/SAE 21434; these are tied to regulation through UNECE R155 and R156.
Commonly confused in this field
- An automotive report without a specification reference is not accepted in the supply chain; which OEM specification and revision was applied must be stated.
- Type approval and supplier approval are different processes. A component with E-Mark approval is not thereby considered to have passed the OEM's own acceptance tests.
- A result obtained on a prototype does not carry over to series production; PPAP is done with series production parts.
- On the EMC side, measuring emissions alone is incomplete; immunity is a separate body of work and is more critical in a vehicle.
- On electric vehicle components, high-voltage safety is a distinct competence; classical 12 V test infrastructure is not sufficient.
Which decisions these results support
- Supplier component approval and the PPAP file
- UNECE type approval and E-Mark marking
- Design verification and durability evidence
- Root cause analysis of field complaints and warranty returns
- Assessing the impact of a design or supplier change
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Oil Resistance
According to which standard is Oil Resistance made?
Oil Resistance is executed in scope ISO 1817, ASTM D471, ASTM D5964 (IRM reference oils) and ISO 23529. The limit values and acceptance criteria to be applied are defined in the product standard; The version valid for your product is confirmed in writing at the offer stage.
Which products does Oil Resistance apply to?
Mainly applied to Engine and transmission gaskets, Hydraulic hose and seals, Oil seals and O-rings and Compressor elastomers. Whether your product is included in the scope is determined by examining its technical specifications and intended use.
Under what conditions is Oil Resistance done?
The determining parameters are: Reference oil — IRM reference oils or service oil as defined in the standard, Temperature — Defined in the specification; represents the service temperature and Time — Defined in the standard; typically 70 or 168 hours. The full terms are in the "Test Conditions" section on the page and vary depending on the product standard.
What kind of sample is needed for Oil Resistance?
Initial measurements should be recorded, Oil type and batch information must be documented and The sample surface must be cleaned as defined in the standard.. The number of samples is determined according to the product standard and the scope to be reported.
How long does Oil Resistance take?
1–2 weeks depending on duration. This duration belongs to the experiment itself; sample preparation, queuing and reporting are also evaluated. A realistic schedule for your product is given in the offer.
What is the Oil Resistance result called "appropriate"?
The acceptance criteria are the maximum volume change and property loss limits given in the specification.