FAQs

We can supply you with oil, fuel, hydraulic fluid, debris and SOAP sample kits.  Take a look at our Aviation Sample Kits page for further information.

We provide a range of sample kits for oils and coolants, fuel, hydraulic fluid and fire water mist.  In addition, our oil sample case and restock kits can also be used to send your coolant samples.

Click here to find out more.  

We also supply a sample kit for the verification of bunkered fuel specifically for the superyacht sector - find out more here.

We have a range of kits - Oil, Fuel, Hydraulic Fluid, Debris & Filter, Coolant, Silicon and Transformer Analysis – available to help you take your sample(s) and send to one of our Laboratories. Click here for further information.

A SOAP (Spectrometric Oil Analysis Program) kit generally contains a new filter and some 'O' rings with certificates, an oil sample bottle and a filter container. For the full list of SOAP kits available from Spectro | Jet-Care see our Sample Kit List.

You should sample at regular equipment operating hours (see your maintenance manual for recommendation) and with oil in circulation, alternatively within 30 minutes after equipment shutdown.

You should sample at regular equipment operating hours (see your maintenance manual for recommendation), after a major repair or refit and also prior to sale or purchase of a boat.  In addition, take a look at the attached Typical Sampling Frequencies document. 

Regular sampling helps avoid unscheduled shutdowns.  Sample timing may be indicated in your equipment handbook and should reflect the severity of service in terms of operating conditions, such as temperature, pressures and cycle times. If still unclear about sample cycles, our engineers can provide advice.

Ideally no deeper than the oil pump pick up. A length of tube passed down through the dip stick hole or similar usually works well, with a plastic bottle or a pump connected to draw up the oil. We need about 50ml of fluid.

Our Fluid Sampling Guidelines Best Practice document provides further information on taking samples.   

Most industrial equipment will have a dedicated sampling point. These often require "bleeding" an oil volume prior to sampling as "deadlegs" may give unrealistic samples. If there is no sampling point then the midpoint of the dipstick (between the high and low mark) but if no dipstick is fitted then ideally no deeper than the oil pump pick up. A length of tube passed down through the dipstick hole or similar usually works well, with a plastic bottle or a pump connected to draw up the oil. We require 100ml of fluid. Suitable sampling equipment can be supplied on request.

Please ensure that you have tightened the lid of the sample bottle properly and that the bottle is packaged suitably. Please do not use Vermiculite (highly absorbent and fire proof fine powder) as it  can contaminate the sample.

Supply the following information: company name, aircraft type, aircraft registration, unit type, unit serial number, unit position, unit hours, unit cycles, oil hours, oil brand name and grade, sample date and any operational problems. Then send your sample(s) to us, preferably via courier.

Please ensure that you have tightened the lid of the sample bottle properly and place in the outer transit cardboard tube.  If several samples are batched together please ensure they are packaged suitably. 

It is essential that the sample label supplied with the kit is completed with ALL  information required and attached to the sample bottle it relates to.  Any missing information will potentially delay the analysis of the sample.  In addition, failure to provide all data can have a detrimental effect on the integrity of the report and jeopardise the trend analysis accuracy.

Send your sample(s) to one of our Laboratories preferably via courier.
 

Please ensure that you have tightened the lid of the sample bottle properly and that the bottle is packaged suitably. Please also supply the following information: company name, site name, unit type, unit serial number, unit hours, oil hours, quantity of top up oil, oil brand name and grade, sampling point, sample date and any operational problems. Then send your sample(s) to us preferably via courier.

Our services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We understand the operator's pressure associated with AOG (Aircraft on the Ground) status samples, which is why these samples have a laboratory turnaround time of within one hour.

Please click here for further information and details on our AOG service.

Yes it is.  However please be aware of the Royal Mail official notification regarding their standpoint on the postage of used lubricant samples.

Click here to read our recommendations on packaging and postage, including a copy of the letter from Royal Mail Group.

Every sample is logged into our system on arrival at the laboratory and given a unique identification number. This number follows the sample right through the analysis programme and appears on our report to you as the Laboratory Reference.

For Spectro UK: collection services are available on request from London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports. Samples can also be collected from other nearby airports (London Luton, Southampton, Bournemouth).

For Spectro Switzerland: there is a daily collection service from Basel Airport. France.

For Jet-Care USA, there is a daily collection service from Newark (EWR), Morristown (MMU) and Teterboro (TEB) airports.

During opening hours, our collection service is free of charge.

Every sample is logged onto our system on arrival at the laboratory and is given a unique identification number. This number follows the sample right through the analysis programme and appears on our report to you as the Laboratory Reference.

Our online resource, webECHO, allows you to track the sample you submitted and locate the unique identification number, thereby allowing you to follow the analysis process and access your report as soon as it is available.

All samples, excluding fuels, are analysed and results usually reported within two working days. Due to incubation time, fuel samples are on a 5-day turnaround.

Our services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you require an urgent analysis, inform us prior to the arrival of the sample in our laboratory.

Every sample is logged into our system on arrival at the laboratory and given a unique identification number. This number follows the sample right through the analysis programme and appears on our report to you.

All samples, excluding fuels, are analysed and results reported within two working days. Due to the incubation time required to identify if there is microbial contamination, fuel samples are on a five working day turnaround.

Our services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need an urgent analysis, inform us prior to the arrival of the sample in our laboratory.

For speed of reporting and quality of reading we email results as a PDF document.

You can also view your analysis results through our online resource, webECHO™ allowing you to manage your equipment and access your latest trends and results in a single integrated portal.  To find out more click here.

For speed of reporting and quality of reading we prefer to email results as a PDF file rather than fax or post. You can specify how you want to receive your results when sending us the sample.

You can also view your analysis results through our online resource, webECHO™ allowing you to manage your equipment and access your latest trends and results in a single integrated portal.  To find out more click here.

Our reports are supplied as a PDF file which is sent to the designated recipients by email.
  
You can also view your analysis results through our online resource, webECHO™ allowing you to manage your equipment and access your latest trends and results in a single integrated portal.  To find out more click here.

A detailed analysis results report is sent to you every time you send us a sample.  The report uses simple colour codes to show the status of the results eg. Normal (Green), Early Warning (Yellow) or Red (Advanced Warning).  Recommendations and previous oil data (if any) are also included in the report. If you require more information our engineers and analysts will be happy to help you.

All samples, excluding fuels, are analysed and results reported within 2 working days. Due to incubation time, fuel samples are on a 5-day turnaround.

Our services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need an analysis on an AOG basis, click here for information on our urgent sample analysis service.

A detailed analysis report is sent to you every time you send us a sample.

The report uses a simple colour coding to show the severity status of the results, e.g. Normal (Green), Early Warning (Yellow) and Advanced Warning (Red).

Recommendations are included in the report as well as trend data from previous analysis. If you require more information our engineers and analysts will be happy to help you, especially if you have an Advanced Warning.  

If there are any results you do not understand our technical advisers would be happy to explain these to you. Please contact us via our enquiry form or by telephone.

A detailed analysis report is sent to you every time you send us a sample. Recommendations and previous oil data (if any) are included in the report. If you require more information our analysts will be happy to help you. If your sample is in alert you should contact your Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

Of course, we are here to help no matter what. If there are any results you do not understand, our technical advisers would be happy to explain these to you. Please contact us via our enquiry form or by telephone.

All of our laboratories hold ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation.This is specifically for laboratories and cross references to all the clauses in ISO 9001:1994 and ISO 9002:1994 and, in addition, covers further technical competence requirements that these standards do not include.  Click here to view our Certificates and Schedules of Accreditation.

If there are any results you do not understand, our technical advisers would be happy to explain these to you. Please contact us via our enquiry form or by telephone.

All of our laboratories hold ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation.This is specifically for laboratories and cross references to all the clauses in ISO 9001:1994 and ISO 9002:1994 and in addition, covers further technical competence requirements that these standards do not include.  In addition, our UK and US laboratories hold ABS (American Bureua of Shipping) Service Supplier Status and our UK lab holds Lloyd's Register Service Supplier Status.

Click here to view our Certificates and Schedules of Accreditation.

We can monitor any fixed-wing piston, turboprop or turbofan engine and associated oil wetted equipment as well as any rotorcraft piston, turboshaft, main and tail rotor gearboxes. Fixed-wing aircraft covers everything from a Spitfire Rolls Royce Merlin up to the latest GP7200 Turbofan fitted to the Airbus A380.

All of our laboratories hold ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation. For further information and to view our Certificates and Schedules of Accreditation click here.

Spectro | Jet-Care has over 47 years’ experience of laboratory analysis at the highest level. This experience, plus ISO:17025 accreditation across all three laboratories, coupled with knowledgeable and qualified scientists, ensure customers receive reports that provide the very best and most intuitive early warning information to understand the health of their equipment.

Many oil compaies and OEMs with every resource available to them continue to use our laboratories as we remain at the peak of analysis technology with the constant updating of our laboratory equipment to ensure the best and most efficient service.

Finally, remember this important equation - the average main engine major mechanical failure requiring intervention (insurance underwriter data) is 27,000 times the cost of a single oil analysis that could have prevented it.

There is only one chance to avoid machinery failure - pick the best laboratory for a first class analysis service.

The Jet-Care Gas Path Analysis (GPA) program is the proven method for engine performance monitoring and targets the detection of engine core deterioration.  We have over 43 years experience in providing fully independent, engine condition trend monitoring programs covering the widest range of engines.  To find out more click here.