Does reclaiming oil with the use of ultra-fine filtration restore the original color of the oil?
Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Some industrial lubricating fluids will show dramatic recovery of their original color, possibly to the point at which it cannot be distinguished from new fluid. Nearly every fluid will show some visible improvement in cleanliness with the removal of moisture and particles in the “wear range” (.5-15 micron) for engines and hydraulic/lubricating systems. The dark color that will remain is the dyeing effect the carbon ash has on the oil molecules. We rely on laboratory analysis to tell us how clean the oil is and that the oil is suitable for continued service.
