Fluids and fuel testing uses a laboratory environment to simulate the conditions that a vehicle component would endure in the real world. The results of this analysis help identify any potential failures or leaks that the part may experience during operation.

As a leading testing partner to the automotive industry, Element provides expert laboratory analysis of fluids and fluid systems, including engine oil, transmissions, vehicle cooling systems, refrigerant fluids and more as part of a components or system test program.

During fluids and fuel testing, our experts condition the fluid by applying different pressures, temperatures, and flow rates. Thanks to our cutting-edge laboratory equipment and extensive expertise, we can condition fluids to extremely high or subzero temperatures (from -50°C to +150°C) to provide certainty that your product can withstand the extreme temperatures characteristic of the industry.

Fluid Cooling Systems Testing

In an industry where minimizing energy requirements to help boost fuel economy is essential to staying competitive, Element provides testing of fluid cooling systems, battery cooling systems for both internal combustion and EV/hybrid vehicles, AC systems, and additional variations specific to customers’ requirements.

Element provides Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive manufacturers with timely, accurate, and reliable fluid cooling systems analysis that yields valuable performance information to help you optimize your system, minimize energy for better fuel economy and improve your processes. We test virtually any configuration, from simple O-rings and hoses to complete systems, and our capabilities cover all vehicle classes, including passenger cars, crossovers, SUVs, pick-up trucks, buses, motorcycles, military vehicles, off-road vehicles, and additional components.

Our years of experience in physical, environmental and durability testing allows us to offer complete analysis of vehicle fluid systems (radiators, radiator hoses, AC lines, condensers, and more). Our testing also extends to multiple fluid types, including hydraulic, transmission, brake, power steering, engine and battery coolants, and glycols.

Radiator Aging Testing

Element’s state-of-the-art vehicle testing facilities and team of industry experts allow us to perform intensive radiator aging tests per automotive test standards, and a battery of physical endurance tests after the accelerated aging process. This provides valuable insight on the radiator’s performance throughout its usable life.

Element technicians test complete radiator systems by running high-temperature coolant through radiators for an extended period of time, typically thousands of hours, and test the parts for leaks by submerging them in water tanks. The physical tests include mechanical fatigue testing, where technicians apply cyclic loads to the radiator ports to test for fatigue strength, and pressure pulse, where cyclic pressure is applied to the radiators with a specific pressure profile at elevated temperatures.

These tests determine the long-term durability of radiator systems after they have been mechanically aged through prolonged contact with high-temperature coolant. The high temperature simulates the stress radiators endure over the course of many years, and allow our experts to test samples with similar material strength as samples that have been in service for a very long time. This provides manufacturers with data to help them understand how their samples may fail after being subjected to the same load tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of times. Long-term fatigue strength is a different failure mode than short-term overloading, and must be validated in testing.

The Element Advantage

Partnering with Element allows you to take advantage of our laboratory infrastructure, encompassing Class 1 Division 1 environmental chambers. Our extensive expertise in materials and product qualification testing for the transportation sector makes us your single-source provider for all of your testing needs. We have broad expertise in fluids and fuel analysis to support your R&D projects and help you meet regulatory specifications. Our goal is to make certain that your products are durable and perform safely during operation for their entire lifespan.

To learn more about our complete fluids testing and analysis services or our many other vehicle systems testing capabilities, contact us today. 

Operating in one of the largest testing facilities within North America, our Engaged Experts perform fluids and fuel testing utilizing advanced equipment and instrumentation.

Our laboratory is outfitted with:    

  • Two soak rooms (one at +40°C & one at +60°C)
  • Two thermal cycles with fuel test stands (temperature from -40°C to +65°C), each holding and running six samples (25 gal tank size)
  • Nine rated class 1 division 1 chambers (temperature -40°C to +125°C)
  • Fuel chamber rated -40°C to +125°C, 1.5°C/min
  • Helium leak tester and refrigerant leak tester
  • Two fuel rated flow benches (temperature controlled) measuring pressure, voltage, current & RPM
  • Burst chamber rated to 45,000 psi  

Our depth of knowledge and experience allow us to provide comprehensive fluids and fuel testing programs, supporting the following tests: 

  • Butane & Gasoline Working Capacity 
  • Canister Aging & Durability 
  • Fuel Caps & Filler Neck Testing 
  • Fuel Filter Testing Exposure Testing  
  • Fuel Pressure Switches/Regulators Testing 
  • Fuel Pump Endurance Testing 
  • Fuel Pump Performance Testing 
  • Fuel Rail Testing Endurance & Exposure Testing 
  • Fuel Line Testing
  • Quick Connect Testing
  • Fuel Soak, Hot or Cold Temperature Cycling
  • Fuel Tank Aging and Performance Testing 
  • Fuel Vapor Exposure 
  • Helium Leak Testing 
  • Integrated Air Fuel Module (IAFM) Validation Testing 
  • Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR)
  • SHED testing, Mini & Micro 

Our Engaged Experts conduct fuels testing and analysis in compliance with many national and international standards, as well as technical specifications and industry standards, including:  

American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM J2334; ASTM D380

Deutsches Institut für Normung

DIN 75302; DIN 50021 SS

International Organization for Standardization

ISO 4548; ISO 16750-5; ISO 1817; ISO 527-1/2

Japanese Industrial Standards

JIS D 0203

Society of Automotive Engineers

SAE J 2044; SAE J 2045; SAE J 2064; SAE J 1681; SAE J 20R3; SAE J 3062; SAE J 343

Other Specifications

BMW G2X; BMW LH10356669-000-02

Borg Warner Specification P514A_b

BRP ES-122 

Chrysler PF.90012

Continental S0283 Rev B; Continual SYVVS_ENV_Bobcat-DIS-NGD 

Daimler Specification A2100064099

Engineering Work Request EWR 12716-60

ES-CU5A-9H307-AA; ES-DS7H-19B591-AA

F-347972.05_000_AC

FCA A.210 006 4099; FCA PF.1118; FCA PF.8477; FCA PF.90242; FCA PF. 500 EL; FCA PF.11007; FCA PF.9.0015; FCA PF.9.0080; FCA PF.900035; FCA PF.90335; FCA PF.90197; FCA PF.10881; FCA PF.11051; FCA PF.11746; FCA PF.12226; FCA PF.90315; FCA PF.A0551; FCA PS.9163; FCA SD.11597 

FMVSS 106

Ford ES 97760-01, Ford ES ACP1-5A967-AA; Ford ES FL3E-6N660-AA; Ford ES HL3E-6N660-AA; Ford ESBT4P-7H420-AC_Rev A_TOC; Ford ES-CU5A-9H307-AA; Ford ESDG93-18B402; Ford ES-DG93-8260-AA; Ford ES-DG9P-&H322-AA; Ford ESDS7H-19B591-AA; Ford ES-FU5A-9J279-AA; Ford ES-HC24-8005-AA; Ford ES-HC24-8005-CB; Ford ESHC24-8005-CE; Ford ESHL3E-6N660-AA ; Ford ES-HL3E-8C369-AA; Ford ESJT4E-6C683-AA; Ford ESJU5A-9H307-AA; Ford ES-XS71-540A06-AA; Ford LX6E-9J433-AB & ES-JT4E-9J433-AA; Ford WSE-MM96D34 & ESDG93-18B402-AA

GM 14655; GM 6130; GM 9676; GM 9080

GMW 14081; GMW 14192; GMW 14319; GMW 14322; GMW 14329; GMW 15024; GMW 14638, GMW 14785; GMW 15310; GMW 16288; GMW 15432; GMW 15667; GMW 15570; GMW 16654; GMW 15724; GMW 15773; GMW 15829; GMW 15964; GMW 15986; GMW 16153; GMW 16270; GMW 16295; GMW 16296; GMW 16409; GMW 17246; GMW 17137; GMW 17334; GMW 17335; GMW 17582, GMW 3013; GMW 3172; GMW 15784; GMW 14091; GMW 14658; GMW 16295; GMW 16527; GMW 3056, GMW 15390; GMW 3155; GMW 3172

Harley Davidson

Honda 1950Z-R2A-M001; Honda 7521Z-S3V-A000; Honda EAOB DRG # 3J20Z-EA0B-0000 (A-A010-M1); Honda EAOB; Honda Specification 7140ZTLA-0030-A1506980

KIA 1F-SG-0002; KIA ESPE Pressure Cycle A/C Lines; KIA ES35320-04

LP-500 EL-02, PF-10577; LP-500 EL03; LP-500 EL04; LP-500 EL05; LP-500 EL06

Mercedes A 210 006 4099; Mercedes A 211 830 06 00 ZGS 003; Mercedes A 211 830 06 00 ZGS 004-d

MIL-Std DTL-26500; MIL-Std D1L-2650G

NES E-D5803, NES E-D5804; NES E-D5805; NES D5806 WH-4b 

Nissan 2100 NDS02; Nissan MES PA15185A; Nissan NES D 5313 EH-21; Nissan NES D5501

PF.90035; PF-12226; PF-12282 and CS-11982 Rev E; PF-90242 Gas Fuel Module Specification; PF-90298 (S, E, D)

Ford WSS-M2P121-A1

TL Spec82253 

Toyota TSB5501G

VW TL52361

Volvo E-23398-03

ZF 1094 700 127-089

Our team of over 9,000 Engaged Experts in North America, Europe, The Middle East, Australia, Asia and Africa are ready to help you.