Name: Rommer Lloyd M.

Misoles Date Performed: 09-21-22

Subject: ME 312L (MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 09-26-22
LABORATORY I)
Due Date:
Instructor: Rhizail C. Mortalla Date Submitted: 09-25-22

FLASH AND FIRE POINTS OF LIQUID FUELS AND GREASES

LAB ACTIVITY NO. 2

I. OBJECTIVES

1. To be able to determine the flash and fire points of lubricating oils by open cup method.
2. To be able to determine the melting point of grease.

II. Theory

Flash Point and Fire Point

Flash point is the lowest temperature at which the lubricant oil gives off enough vapors that ignite for a moment, when
a tiny flame is brought near it. At this temperature the vapor may cease to burn when the source of ignition is removed.
A slightly higher temperature, the fire point, is defined at which the vapor continues to burn after being ignited. In most
cases, the fire points are 5° C to 40° C higher than the flash points.

The flash and fire do not have any bearing with lubricating property of the oil, but these are important when oil is
exposed to high temperature service. A good lubricant should have flash point at least above the temperature at which
it is to be used. This safeguards against risk if fire, during the use of lubricant.
Grease Drop Point
Dropping point is an indicator of the heat resistance of grease. As grease temperature increases, penetration increases
until the grease liquefies and the desired consistency is lost. The dropping point is the temperature at which grease
becomes fluid enough to drip. The dropping point indicates the upper temperature limit at which grease retains its
structure, not the maximum temperature at which grease may be used.
Resources
1. Cleveland Open Cup Tester which includes the following:
a. High temperature bulb-type thermometer
b. Thermometer holder
c. Infrared Thermometer
d. Electric Heater
2. Fume hood / vacuum exhauster
3. Cooking Oil
4. Lube Oil
5. Diesel Oil
6. Safety goggles

WARNING! KEEP SAFETY AS FIRST PRIORITY AT ALL TIMES DURING THE EXPERIMENT. ALWAYS WEAR
PROTECTIVE GOGGLE AND HEAT RESISTANCE GLOVES
Part 1: Flash Point and Fire Point
1. Place the hydrocarbon to be tested inside the cup.
2. Heat the sample to a temperature of 50°C, then decrease the heat rate (temperature increase rate) to C per
minute. 5̊
3. Observe carefully until greenish vapors are emitted. Pass a flame of about half an inch over the oil. If a flash
(momentary combustion) was observed, get the temperature, and record it as the flash point. Caution:
Maintain a good distance from the hydrocarbon to avoid burns or inhaling the fume. Use the vacuum
exhauster to minimize pollution.
4. Continue heating the sample. Get the temperature when it starts to burn continuously as you pass the flame
above, and record this as the fire point.

Part 2: Grease Drop Test

1. Prepare 100 grams of grease. Identify and records its drop point temperature as this will be the true value to
which the experimental value will be compared.
2. Apply 5mm thick layer of grease on the inner wall of the grease cup. Ensure that grease is applied completely
throughout the periphery and up to the brim of the grease cup.
3. Using the thermometer holder, position the thermometer inside the grease cup as close as possible to the wall
and bottom of the cup (about 2 mm from the wall and bottom). Make sure that the bulb has good contact with
the grease and not with the cup.

Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QVoqaQr9Q0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLtuDv3GzWo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eHDT0zQ_pg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj6K6jqLDAs
III. OBSERVATIONS
The purpose of this experiment is to test the sample lubricating oils and grease on how well it can be
used before placing in on practical applications on machines. These test of flashpoints and fire points made
on a Cleveland Open Cup Tester are crucial in ME works if you are testing new lubricants and their performance. The
step-by-step procedure is simple:

• Cleaning the apparatus with the appropriate solvent is needed before it can be placed to dry in
the open flame or the oven.
• Next, we are to cool the cup to 56 degrees Celsius below the expected flash point before using.
The thermometer should be suspended in vertical position held by the thermometer clip.
Lighting the test flame and adjusting to a diameter similar to the comparison bead.
• Then, the regulator is used to apply initial heat with a rate of rise of 5 degrees Celsius to 17
degrees Celsius per minute. The test temperature should be approximately 56 degrees Celsius
below the expected flash point. We decrease the heat so that the rate of rise of temperature
during the test 28 degrees Celsius before the flashpoint is 5 to 6 degrees Celsius per minute
• Meanwhile, we should observe the rise of 2 degrees Celsius past the test flame across the test
cup at a right angle to the diameter which passes through the thermometer. The test flame has
moved to the horizontal plane having an arc of 150mm and not more than 2mm above the
upper edge of the cup. The flash point is taken as the temperature read on the thermometer
when the firs flash point appears at any point on the surface of the sample.
• Finally, in the event of the flash point is determined. The heating is continued at the raetof rise
of 5 - 6 degrees Celsius per minute as an application of test flame is continued and when the
test sample ignites that is now the fire point of the experiment.

The steps are also similar in determining the grease dropping point where we clean the apparatus
before and after using. Although it is different when we use grease as we directly apply it into the machine
and turn on the device.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
The purpose of the experiment is to test on the lubricant oils and grease on their limits on the
temperature that is needed before it reaches the point of flash. The middle region where it is close to burning
and where it is still in the saturated region. Then, it is heated to it`s burning point to see at what temperature
it should last. Before using it into machines, it is first tested in the Open Cup Tester for observation. The
lubricant should be able to withstand at high temperature in order for it to not cause a hazard or cause an
accident in a workshop. The heat rate produced by the engine must not reach the burning point of the lubricant
oil so that it does not cause harm to the workers. We should also observe the table values given, where the
repeatability of both flash points, and fire points are 8 degrees Celsius while different in reproducibility as
flash point has 18 degrees Celsius and 14 degrees Celsius on fire point. We can get this by using the formula
of corrected flash point or fire point in which we use the ambient barometric pressure and observed flash
point. The concept is also the same case for the greases, that is why the company Changsha Friend
Experimental Analysis Instrument Co., professional manufacturers ensure good quality products to use for
their users to prevent these accidents to happen.

V. RECOMMENDATIONS

My recommendations for the persons who will undergo measuring the flash point and fire point is that:

• All safety and health precautions should be followed before conducting any test.
• No breathing near the cup of the apparatus as it is highly flammable.
• There should be no existing air drought in the laboratory.
• The sample should exactly reach the fill line. To make it accurate we should use a pipette to match the
fill line of the cup.
• Any excess should immediately mean that the starting steps is to be done again. Emptying the cup and
cleaning it with a solvent, then we are to pour it again without any excess.
• Any bubbles found on the surface of the given sample should immediately mean a stop of experiment.
• After the test we should wait until the apparatus has cooled down before we are to arrange all of the
equipment.