Real-time oil quality monitoring set to enter automotive industry

Daimler researchers have developed a special oil monitoring sensor

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March 13, 2008 The theory is simple: once your engine oil gets too dirty, change it. In practice though, striking a balance between changing the oil too early (wasting money and maintenance time) and changing it too late (potentially damaging the engine) can be difficult. This is a particularly important consideration in road transport and fleet management situations. A bit like Goldilocks' porridge, it has to be "just right". The solution is on the way with systems that provide real-time analysis of oil quality that can be monitored from inside the vehicle progressing on several fronts. Daimler Chrysler is developing an oil quality monitoring system for application in commercial vehicles that it says could extended maintenance intervals by as much as 25 percent and Flowtronics has announced that its fluid quality sensors will be used for the DiMora Motorcar Volcano V16 engine, the 1200hp powerplant driving the $2 million Natalia SLS 2 sport luxury sedan.

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