What is an example of predictive maintenance?

• A. Oil analysis to monitor lubricant condition
• B. Replacing parts on a fixed schedule
• C. Running equipment until it fails
• D. Inspecting after a failure

Answer: (A)

Predictive maintenance uses real condition data to forecast when a component will fail and then perform maintenance just before that point. Oil analysis fits this approach because it measures lubricant condition—such as wear metals, contamination, viscosity, and acidity—to reveal ongoing wear and lubricant degradation. When these indicators begin to rise beyond normal levels, you can plan service or part replacement before a failure occurs, reducing downtime and damage. This contrasts with time-based preventive maintenance (replacing parts on a fixed schedule) and reactive maintenance (running until a failure or inspecting only after a failure). Oil analysis provides actionable, data-driven insight that predicts issues rather than waiting for them to happen.