Overview
ISO 17536-1:2015 - Road vehicles - Aerosol separator performance test for internal combustion engines - Part 1: General - defines terms, measurement principles and general test conditions for evaluating oil aerosol separators used in engine crankcase ventilation systems. It establishes the basic principles for blowby oil aerosol separator performance tests performed in the laboratory or on engines, using either gravimetric or fractional test methods. The document also contains normative and informative annexes covering pressure loss, test equipment, sampling, validation and more.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and terminology: Precise definitions for blowby, aerosol separator, wall flow trap, absolute filter, oil carryover, test air flow, mass feed rate, isokinetic sampling, etc. - ensuring consistent vocabulary for tests and reports.
- Measurement accuracy requirements: Specified tolerances for key instruments, for example:
- Air flow ±5% of reading
- Differential pressure ±25 Pa
- Temperature ±1.5 °C
- Mass measurement: ±0.1 g (general), ±0.01 g for absolute filter and downstream wall flow trap
- Relative humidity ±2% RH, barometric pressure ±3 hPa
- Test principles and equipment: Guidance on grounding, upstream sampling probes, particle counters (optical or aerodynamic), particle counter calibration, maximum particle concentration, and particle counter flow. Encourages use of instruments conforming to ISO 21501-1 for optical particle counters.
- Separation performance metrics: Methods to determine separator efficiency, pressure loss (differential pressure corrected for dynamic head), oil carryover, and gravimetric calculations. Annexes explain differential pressure, wall flow trap design, and validation of absolute filter media.
- Sampling and validation: Isokinetic sampling guidance, validation of absolute filters and wall flow traps, leakage testing and life reference considerations described in annexes.
Applications and users
ISO 17536-1 is intended for:
- Automotive OEMs and component manufacturers developing or qualifying crankcase ventilation (CCV/OCV) systems and aerosol separators
- Independent test laboratories performing engine or laboratory separator performance testing (gravimetric or fractional)
- R&D and quality engineers assessing oil carryover, separator efficiency, and pressure loss
- Regulators and technical committees seeking harmonized test methods and terminology
Practical benefits include repeatable test procedures, comparable performance data across suppliers, and clear acceptance criteria for separator design and durability.
Related standards
- ISO/TS 17536-2 (aerosol distribution / lab gravimetric provisions) and ISO 17536‑3 (engine gravimetric method, Technical Specification)
- ISO 21501-1 (optical particle counters)
- EN 1822 / IEST RP-CC001 (HEPA filter classification and testing referenced for absolute filter performance)
Keywords: ISO 17536-1:2015, aerosol separator, blowby, crankcase ventilation, gravimetric test, fractional test, particle counter, wall flow trap, absolute filter, separator efficiency.