Denso Corporation

Kiwamu Naito

Kazuyuki Horie

Hiroshi Ueda

Takahiko Yoshida

Kazushi Asami

Hayaki Teramoto

Tatsuhiko Nonoyama

A method and a device for detecting a deterioration of vehicle oil are disclosed in which the end point of the oil service life can be detected with higher accuracy, while at the same time detecting the progress of the oil condition in the vicinity of the end point of the oil service life. The acidity or basicity of the vehicle oil is measured using a pH sensor () generating an output in responding to the degree of the acidity or basicity. The deterioration of the vehicle oil can be detected based on the fact that with the increase in vehicle mileage, a line approximating the output of the pH sensor () with respect to the vehicle mileage has a tendency to change from a first inclination to a second inclination larger than the first inclination and then from the second inclination to a third inclination smaller than the second inclination.

Device and method for detecting oil deterioration

An oil condition sensor detects a condition of oil in response to the potential difference between electrodes. The electrodes include at least a first and second electrodes coaxially arranged. The electrodes have projections being arranged to face each other in an opposed manner. Therefore, the projections provide wide surface area that performs as electrodes. It is possible to provide compact oil condition sensor that is easy to install into an oil tank or oil pan.

Oil condition sensor and method for making the same

In a pair of electrodes where a potential difference is changed in accordance with acidity or basicity of oil, a reference electrode is made of cobalt or a cobalt alloy, and a sensitive electrode is made of tungsten or a tungsten alloy. The sensitive electrode is used in combination with the reference electrode. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a pair of electrodes for detecting the acidity or the basicity of the oil which use a novel electrode material not hazardous to the environment and at the same time, suited for use in a semiconductor fabrication technique.

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Chita-gun, Japan

Kiwamu Naito