Certified Reliability Leader (CRL) Practice Test

What does Fluid Analysis (FA) primarily monitor in machinery?

1. Wear rates and fluid contamination

2. Temperature and vibration levels

3. Lubrication viscosity and pressure

4. Electrical resistance and insulation quality

The correct answer is: Wear rates and fluid contamination

Fluid Analysis (FA) primarily monitors wear rates and fluid contamination because it focuses on assessing the condition of lubricants and hydraulic fluids in machinery. By analyzing the properties of these fluids, practitioners can detect the presence of wear particles that indicate how much wear is occurring within the machinery components. This can provide insight into the operational health of the equipment and potential failures. Additionally, monitoring for fluid contamination helps identify issues such as leaks, ingress of dirt or debris, and degradation of the fluid itself, which can all severely affect the performance and reliability of machinery. In contrast, the other options address different aspects of machinery monitoring. Temperature and vibration levels are crucial for assessing the operational state of machinery but are not the primary focus of fluid analysis. Similarly, while lubrication viscosity and pressure are important for ensuring effective lubrication, they fall outside the core objectives of FA, which is centered more on wear and contamination levels. Lastly, electrical resistance and insulation quality pertain to electrical systems and components, notably different from the analysis of fluids in mechanical systems.