When determining your motor oil's quality and age, color often means everything. Because oil is one of your engine's most vital components, it's critical to monitor it regularly to ensure the proper levels and the ability to perform productively. Color consistency is even more crucial to motor oil manufacturers because it indicates the product quality and whether any contaminants are present during processing.
Color consistency is the amount of chromaticity between two samples. Chromaticity refers to the color's quality without considering the light that illuminates it. When comparing the samples, chromaticity is critical because the amount of light, the quality of light and the angle at which the light hits the surface determine how a color appears to the human eye.
If you check your engine oil frequently, you know the color changes over time. Each color typically has a specific meaning. In most combustion engines, fresh oil is amber, then turns black and becomes ineffective as it ages. When the oil is black and has symptoms of lower viscosity, it loses its lubrication properties and the ability to absorb the heat from your motor.
In addition, color consistency in motor oil allows consumers and manufacturers to tell the difference between oil and other similar products, like transmission fluid.
Because color consistency is a vital factor in manufacturing, methods for measuring it in processing plants vary significantly from those that consumers often use. While many automotive repair shops and consumers rely on lubricating oil color charts to evaluate color, manufacturers depend on more advanced measures like spectrophotometry to ensure high quality and consistency.
Spectrophotometers are ideal for manufacturing applications because they're durable, portable and highly accurate. With their precise color analysis, these devices can help determine a fluid's purity while identifying potential contaminants. These factors are vital for ensuring optimal performance and safety for consumers.
HunterLab's Vista® spectrophotometer is one of the market's most reliable and precise solutions for measuring color consistency in motor oil and other petroleum-based lubricants. Vista's custom index feature lets users evaluate samples in nearly any type of container and delivers measurements in various color scales, including ASTM D1500. Besides measuring transmission color, Vista® can calculate haze measurements while verifying product and process integrity.
Connect with us online to learn more about color consistency and the various instruments we offer to measure it. Our team can answer technical questions or provide you with a quote on one of our many spectrophotometers. You can also explore our comprehensive blog for more informative posts about color science.
HunterLab goes beyond color, delivering precise, science-backed solutions that help industries achieve superior quality and appearance control. As a global leader in spectrophotometry, we empower businesses to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and enhance product consistency—directly impacting the bottom line. By combining innovation, real-world expertise, and sustainable measurement solutions, we help manufacturers optimize production, minimize material loss, and meet the highest industry standards. Follow us on LinkedIn