Method for determining lubricant properties

A method for determining a suitability of a lubricant to avoid false brinelling damage in a bearing, comprising:

• providing a rheometer and the lubricant;
• performing a first conditioning of the rheometer, the first conditioning comprising:
• equilibrating the rheometer to a first temperature;
• waiting for a predetermined first temperature equilibrium time of the rheometer;
• and
• determining a first zero point;
• filling the rheometer with a first lubricant sample of the lubricant;
• deforming the first lubricant sample to determine a first shear stress from a first shear deformation of the first lubricant sample at the first temperature, with reference to the first zero point;
• performing a second conditioning of the rheometer, the second conditioning comprising:
• equilibrating the rheometer to a second temperature;
• waiting for a predetermined second temperature equilibrium time of the rheometer;
• and
• determining a second zero point;
• refilling the rheometer with a second lubricant sample of the lubricant;
• deforming the second lubricant sample to determine a second shear stress from a second shear deformation of the second lubricant sample at the second temperature, with reference to the second zero point;
• and
• classifying the lubricant as suitable or unsuitable for avoiding false brinelling damage as a function of the first shear stress and the second shear stress.