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Diagnostic · fluid compatibility

Will EdjeTech equipment work with my fluid?

EdjeTech equipment supports many water-based coolants, straight oils, and parts-washer solutions. Compatibility depends on fluid chemistry, contamination type, filtration level, and whether foreign oil separates naturally. Review the common conditions below and use the bottle test as a practical separation check.

Review compatibility conditionsRun the bottle test →
Common applications
screened by fluid chemistry and contamination condition
Per system
filtration selected for the fluid and process
30–60 min
initial screen using a representative operating-fluid sample
Engineer review
fluid and process compatibility evaluated before quotation

Compatibility overview

Many common applications are compatible, but the fluid and contamination must be reviewed. EdjeTech systems remove unwanted oils and solids from many metalworking fluids and parts-washer solutions through mechanical separation and filtration. Many modern fluids reject tramp oil such as way oil, grease, hydraulic oil, and spindle oil, allowing it to separate from the working fluid. EdjeTech coalescing equipment is not designed to break a stable, surfactant-stabilized foreign-oil emulsion. Stabilized droplets may resist merging into a removable oil layer. The bottle test provides a practical indication of separation behavior.

Compatibility conditions

Six common compatibility conditions

Identify the condition that most closely matches the fluid and contamination in your equipment. If the separation behavior is unclear, use the bottle test below.

  1. 01
    Water-based coolant, oil floats on the sumpMost common
    Fluid condition
    The coolant is rejecting tramp oil, and the visible layer indicates that the oil is separating naturally. This behavior indicates potential for mechanical separation of free and mechanically dispersed oil.
    Equipment fit
    Potential fit, subject to application review. For one sump or reservoir, the T.O.S.S. separator holds tramp oil below 0.5% by volume. For shop-wide contamination, C.R.O.S.S. provides central recycling.
  2. 02
    Water-based coolant, oil gets in, but no layer forms
    Fluid condition
    A milky appearance is normal for many water-soluble and semi-synthetic coolants. The concern is foreign-oil droplets that remain stably dispersed instead of merging into an upper oil layer. Surfactants in the coolant, cleaner, or incoming oil can hinder that coalescing process.
    Equipment fit
    Requires evaluation. Run the per-oil bottle test with the actual coolant or cleaner. If an incoming oil does not form a distinct layer, ask the fluid supplier whether the combination is intended to reject tramp oil. Provide any customer or OEM fluid restrictions during the application review.
  3. 03
    Fines, sludge, and particulate
    Fluid condition
    Filtration must be selected for the fluid chemistry, process, and required cleanliness. Coolant-recycling stages commonly run at 35 microns and above, while paper-bed media grades run 10 to 60 microns for finer work. Review the proposed level against the fluid supplier's technical requirements before final selection.
    Equipment fit
    Compatible. Use a magnetic separator for ferrous fines, a paper bed filter for mixed and non-ferrous solids, or a DCO combination filter for both loads in one footprint.
  4. 04
    Straight cutting oil, hydraulic, quench, or EDM oil
    Fluid condition
    Neat oils require filtration rather than oil-water separation. Equipment selection depends on the contamination type, cleanliness requirement, and required flow.
    Equipment fit
    Compatible by application. The S.O.F. line covers straight and neat oils across 16 fluids and is configured for the specific fluid and process.
  5. 05
    Parts-washer bath
    Fluid condition
    Soils and foreign oil collect in the washer bath, and oil rejected by the cleaner can separate at the surface. Emulsifying cleaners can keep foreign oil stably dispersed and prevent formation of a removable oil layer.
    Equipment fit
    Compatible with the appropriate cleaner. The T.O.S.S. treats washer reservoirs continuously, while EdjeTech cleaner products are selected for the washer and soil.
  6. 06
    Separation behavior is unknown
    Fluid condition
    Supplier technical data can confirm whether the fluid is designed to reject tramp oil. A clear-bottle test at the machine shows how the fluid behaves under current operating conditions.
    Equipment fit
    Run the test below. Then provide the fluid, process, and observed result during an application review.
Practical separation check

How to tell whether your fluid releases tramp oil

First confirm whether the fluid is designed to reject tramp oil. If separation behavior remains unclear, use a representative operating-fluid sample and evaluate each likely incoming oil against the actual coolant or cleaner when needed.

Use normal chemical-handling and machine-safety controls. Review the applicable safety data sheets, wear required PPE, use a clean compatible container and an approved sample point, and follow facility procedures. Never reach into moving equipment. Do not perform the test if the sample cannot be collected and handled safely.

  1. Step 01

    Collect a representative sample

    Use the approved sample point and a clean, compatible bottle or beaker. Follow all machine and fluid-handling procedures.

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  2. Step 02

    Use an initial settling interval

    Set the sample somewhere it will not be disturbed for 30 to 60 minutes. Treat this as an initial screen rather than a final compatibility result.

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  3. Step 03

    Record the separation

    Record whether a distinct upper oil layer forms and approximately how long it takes. Do not judge the result from color or cloudiness alone.

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  4. Step 04

    Test each incoming oil when needed

    If an incoming oil's behavior is unclear, use a fresh mix of the actual coolant or cleaner at its normal concentration. Introduce one oil per container using a consistent facility-approved mixing method, then record layer formation and settling time.

An oil layer on the surface indicates potential for mechanical separation. Coalescing equipment is designed for fluids that release free or mechanically dispersed foreign oil. The screening result does not replace an application review.

No distinct oil layer during the initial interval requires further review. It does not, by itself, prove incompatibility, and color or cloudiness alone is not diagnostic. Ask the fluid supplier whether the coolant, cleaner, and incoming oils are intended to support tramp-oil rejection, and request an engineering review for unclear or mixed results.

Related questions

Common questions about fluid compatibility

Will filtration strip additives out of my coolant?+
Properly specified filtration is selected to remove unwanted particulate without disrupting the fluid package. Coolant-recycling stages commonly operate at 35 microns and above, while paper-bed media grades range from 10 to 60 microns. The required filtration level is confirmed for the fluid and process.
Does EdjeTech test my fluid for me?+
The bottle test is performed with fluid from the operating machine so it reflects actual conditions. An EdjeTech engineer can then review the result with the fluid, process, contamination load, and flow requirements.
What if my fluid does not release the oil?+
Ask the supplier whether the coolant, cleaner, and incoming oils are intended to support tramp-oil rejection. If customer or OEM approvals require the current fluid, provide those constraints and the observed settling behavior during the application review so EdjeTech can define what mechanical separation can and cannot remove.
Which system removes the oil once I know it separates?+
For one sump or reservoir with continuous oil loading, use the T.O.S.S. coalescing separator. For contamination across multiple machines with rising disposal cost and short coolant life, C.R.O.S.S. provides central recycling and removes 99.75% of tramp oil and particulate by volume. See the tramp oil guide for the equipment options.
Does this apply to parts washers too?+
Yes, when the cleaner rejects the foreign oil. A washer bath can form a surface layer that is skimmed and coalesced continuously. Emulsifying cleaners can keep oil stably dispersed and prevent formation of a removable layer, so cleaner chemistry must be reviewed with the washer and soil.
Equipment advice and pricing

Will separation work with your coolant?

Remove unwanted oil while preserving the working coolant your machines and parts depend on.

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