Hello everyone!
I took some oil samples of a turbine at our plant, the oil is R&O 68, but the oil is red in colour, what accounts for this? I have never seen this before. Turbine is steam driven.

Sounds like cross-contamination to me, have you sent it to the lab for analysis. some hydraulic fluids have a colourant in them OX30 springs immediately to mind as being very red.

If you've not seen this before and the color of fresh oil is normally yellowish, I'd say you possibly have severe oxidation induced by high temperature taking place. Check for escalated bearing temperatures or steam leaks at the proximity of lubricant path. You should also notice an increase in viscocity of lubricant.

Cheers....Rajan Muthukrishnan

Send a sample off for particle/chemical analysis. You almost certainly have some sort of oxide (iron) contamination, probably from cast iron casings/oil sump??

Check your new oil supply drum or tank. I know of at least one lube maker that makes it's non-syn in red.I sell it and I had a new client tell me that the shop guys went to the auto parts store for engine oil for 3 weeks after my drum of 15-w-40 showed up because when they opened the drum and saw the red color they assumed it was a mistake and wouldn't use it until I came in and explained. Ever since then I include that fact in my presentation.