FLUIDS ANALYSER • Chassis manufacturers specify oil change intervals, but
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how can you be sure that the oil circulating around the engine of your particular vehicle does not need changing before one of those intervals is reached? Or, indeed, how do you know if it is good for another few thousand kilometres?
Similarly, how do you know when the hydraulic fluid in your clutch linkage system needs changing, or whether the fuel you are using is as clean as it should be?
A device which has been designed to answer these questions quickly and simply has been introduced by Rakestar. The Zidex DFA-1000 Digital Fluid Analyzer is a hand-held instrument that is used to detect and measure various types of contaminants in fuels and lubricating oils. It will show immediately the presence of water, metal particles, sulphur, and other damaging contaminants as well as the breakdown of the lubricating properties of oils.
These are compared with the measurements of fluids of known purity which have been used to calibrate the instrument.
The DFA-1000 works by detecting changes in the electro-chemical properties of fluid samples dropped into its sensor well.
These are compared with the measurements of fluids of known purity which have been used to calibrate the instrument.
Analyses are presented as a digital readout — the higher the figure, the higher the level of contamination. Reference charts are provided with the unit so that the user can evaluate readings in terms of "good" (comparable with pure fluid), "fair" (slight contamination), "borderline", and "caution" (do not operate the unit until the fluid has been changed).
Power for the unit is provided by a 9V battery, which should last for about 9,000 tests.
Price of the DFA-1000 is 2395 plus VAT.
Rakestar Ltd 123 Friern Barnet Lane Whetstone London N20 OXZ