Lubrication School

Level 2

This course is designed to elevate your understanding and skills in the field of machinery lubrication, aligning with both the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML) requirements for MLA II certification and the relevant ISO standards.

The MLA II preparation course offers a comprehensive curriculum covering advanced topics in lubrication, oil analysis, and machinery maintenance. Key areas of focus include tribology fundamentals, oil sampling methods, maintenance strategies, lubrication regimes, and in-depth analysis of both mineral and synthetic lubricants. This course is structured to provide both theoretical knowledge and practical insights, ensuring you are well-equipped to apply these concepts in real-world settings.

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Course Outline

2.5 Days

9 Core Modules

Lubricant Roles and Functions

Fundamentals of tribology and the science of friction, wear, and lubrication
Hydrodynamic lubrication: full-film separation and its role in reliability
Elastohydrodynamic lubrication: high-pressure film formation in rolling contacts
Mixed and boundary lubrication: when surface asperities interact
Functions of base oils in carrying load and transferring heat
Categorisation of base oils by API groups (I–V)
Molecular structure of base oils and how it affects performance
Synthetics versus mineral oils, and the effect on lubricant selection

Machinery Strategies

Types of machine failure and how lubrication relates to each
The role of lubricants in preventing and contributing to failures
Maintenance types: run-to-failure, preventive, predictive, proactive
Maintenance philosophy: cost, risk, and reliability balance
Linking lubrication practices to overall equipment reliability
Reliability roles across the organisation (operators, technicians, engineers)
Asset management principles and how lubrication fits within ISO 55000

Oil Sampling

Objectives for oil sampling: trending, root cause detection, condition monitoring
Sampling methods: drain, drop-tube, live-zone, valve-based, vacuum pump
Identifying the right sampling zones for meaningful data
Importance of bottle cleanliness to avoid false positives
Sampling valves and hardware recommendations
Primary and secondary sampling points, and when to use them
Sampling methods for circulating, splash, and hydraulic systems
High-pressure hydraulic sampling safety
Common sampling errors and how to avoid them
Data collection standards and documentation best practices
Determining sampling frequency based on machine criticality and operating environment

Lubricant Health Monitoring

Oxidation processes and how they shorten lubricant life
Nitration in combustion-related systems and its effects
Thermal failure: causes, symptoms, and prevention
Additive depletion: how to detect loss of protection
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) in lubricants and damage mechanisms
Varnish and sludge: causes, consequences, and monitoring techniques
Establishing baselines for oil analysis programs
Identifying and interpreting trends in used oil data
Measuring viscosity and understanding viscosity index
Acid number (AN) and base number (BN) and what they reveal
FTIR analysis for oxidation, nitration, and contamination detection
RPVOT for oxidative stability assessment
ICP metals analysis for wear, contamination, and additive monitoring

Particle Contamination Control

Effects of particulates on machine wear and fatigue
Sources of particles: manufacturing, ingression, wear debris
Types of particles: metallic, non-metallic, environmental
Filtration philosophy: exclusion vs removal strategies
Particle counting systems (ISO codes, laser counters)
Visual particle identification and patch testing
Particle count testing for trending cleanliness
Storage and handling practices to prevent contamination
Breather technologies for controlling ingression
Filter types (depth, surface, magnetic) and their uses
Filtration types: offline, in-line, kidney-loop, portable carts
Filter rating and selection best practices
Centrifuging as a method for contaminant separation

Water Contamination Control

Effects of water on oil performance, additives, and machine surfaces
Sources of water: condensation, process leaks, ingress during handling
States of coexistence: dissolved, emulsified, and free water
Understanding miscibility and its effect on lubricant selection
Demulsibility testing and significance for performance
Water-in-oil measurement techniques (Karl Fischer, crackle test, relative sensors)
Strategies for controlling water ingress
Water prevention practices during storage and use
Desiccant breathers for preventing humidity entry
Nitrogen blankets as a barrier against moisture
Water separation methods: gravity, coalescing, centrifuge
Filtration and vacuum dehydration technologies
Choosing the right water removal method for the application

Air Contamination Control

Types of air in oil: entrained, dissolved, foam
Sources of air: agitation, leaks, improper design
Effects of air: cavitation, oxidation, varnish formation
Physics and chemistry of air-oil interaction
Foam sequence testing to evaluate performance
Air release testing for hydraulic and turbine oils
Antifoam additives and their limitations
Troubleshooting aeration and foam problems

Glycol, Soot and Fuel Contamination

Soot formation in combustion engines and its lubricant impacts
Effects of soot on viscosity, oxidation, and wear
Testing methods for soot in oil (thermogravimetric, elemental carbon)
Strategies for controlling soot through formulation and maintenance
Sources of fuel dilution and ingress in lubricants
Effects of fuel in oil: viscosity loss, volatility, deposits
Testing for fuel dilution (gas chromatography, flash point)
Sources of glycol contamination and failure modes
Effects of glycol on lubricant properties and machine surfaces
Testing for glycol contamination (FTIR, patch tests)

Wear Debris Monitoring and Analysis

Common wear mechanisms: abrasive, adhesive, corrosive, fatigue, cavitation
Detecting wear with ICP spectroscopy (ppm levels of wear metals)
Using the Particle Quantifier Index (PQ) for total ferrous debris
Direct ferrography for visual particle classification
Ferrogram preparation techniques
Basic analysis of wear particle morphology
Decision points for escalating corrective actions based on wear data

Who should attend

Course Objectives

Certification with ICML

Snapshot

Lubricant Roles & Functions

Maintenance Strategies

Oil Sampling

Lubricant Health Monitoring

Particle Contamination Control

Water Contamination Control

Air Contamination Control

Glycol, Soot & Water Control

Wear Debris Monitoring & Analysis

Your Instructors

Shane Scriven

Practical Lubrication Specialist, Data Scientist, Reliability Engineer, AI/ML

Asset Management Consultant

With 20 years of practical, hands-on experience, Shane combines his knowledge of lubrication with cutting edge technology and holistic asset management approaches to deliver well-rounded solutions.

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Michael Hooper

Tutor, Analyst and Technical Author

Noria Corporation

40 years lubrication & oil analysis expert across multiple continents. Noria Services Training Consultant. Managed labs & LIMS development. Author & presenter on lubrication & analysis.

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Rafe Britton

Technical Director

Lubrication Expert

Independent lubrication specialist and founder of Lubrication Expert. 15+ years across mining, power generation, and transport. ICML Machinery Lubrication Engineer, Chartered Professional Engineer.

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Sanya Mathura

Founder & CEO

Strategic Reliability Solutions

Registered Engineer with dual engineering degrees. First Caribbean ICML Machinery Lubrication Engineer. First woman globally with ICML Varnish Badges. International tribology board member championing maintenance education access.

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Enquiries &

Booking

Lubrication School Level 2

Perth WA

Instructor-led, classroom learning

2026-11-23

Nov 23

–

25 Nov

2026

3195

$3195 +GST

Enquire Book Now

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Private Courses

Whether you have 15 or 1500 people to train, our schools can be offered at a time and location most convenient for your company.

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Your Learning

Pathway

Asset Schools training courses can be completed individually at any time, but have you considered planning a Learning Pathway? For example:

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Lubrication Fundamentals

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Lubrication School

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Still unsure about something?

Our Clients

The training provided by Asset Schools was exceptional, offering a highly educational experience that enabled us to learn a wealth of new knowledge and skills.

Ali Sahin

Senior Engineer, Reliability

Rio Tinto

Asset Schools give peace of mind that the investment in our Maintenance and Reliability professionals will provide a great return to both them and the business.

Gwyn Garland

Senior Manager

Asset Health Newmont

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