A. Yes. You need to bring the equipment to operating
temperature for a "hot" sample. This applies to both routine and special samples.
If the weather is cold, the oil in your equipment may be too thick for the oil sampling
pump to draw oil into the sample bottle or for the oil to flow freely
through the sampling valve into the sample bottle.
12-9. Q. What is laboratory response time?
A. The laboratory response time for routine samples, excluding weekends and holidays, is the
interval of time that begins when the laboratory gets the oil sample and ends when the unit that
submitted the oil sample gets the results.
12-10. Q. Should sampling be a part of scheduled routine maintenance services.
A. Yes, for both aeronautical and nonaeronautical equipment.
12-11. Q. How long does it actually take to obtain a sample?
A. That depends on the method used. In general, the only method that should take more than
5 minutes is the tube method.
12-12. Q. Why and how long should I hold onto a processed DD Form 2026 or ULLS DA Form
5991-E after I receive it from the laboratory?
A. The processed DD Form 2026 or ULLS DA Form 5991-E is your proof that a sample has
been taken and analyzed (as of a certain date). It contains accurate maintenance information,
such as the component/end item model/serial number/hours since overhaul and oil change. When
it is time to take your oil sample, simply pull out your old DD Form 2026 or ULLS DA Form
5991-E, copy the end item and update the hours since overhaul and oil change on a new form.
That way half of the form is already filled out. This reduces the chance of submitting incorrect
management information to the laboratory. Always file your most recent DD Form 2026 or
ULLS DA Form 5991-E, the one with laboratory results, and discard the previous one.
12-13. Q. What is the sample turn-around time?
A. Sample turn-around time is the interval of time that begins when the oil sample is taken
and includes sample delivery, analysis, evaluation of analytical results, and ends when the
submitting unit is notified of sample results (normal or abnormal). NOTE: Laboratory response
time (receipt, analysis, evaluation and notification) is a part of the sample turn-around time.
12-14. Q. If a tactical wheeled vehicle is scheduled for a mission, which would cause it to
exceed its 100 hrs/1000 miles sampling interval, when should the equipment be sampled?
A. An oil sample should be taken before departure and submitted to your regularly assigned
laboratory with a note in the remarks block of the DD Form 2026 or ULLS DA Form 5991-E
requesting priority analysis. The laboratory will provide your unit with the results and an oil
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