ICML MLA 1 CERTIFICATION TRYOUT EXAM LATEST
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-
2027
1. 1. A plain-journal bearing has a composite sur- Correct Answer - B.
face roughness of 0.40 µm and a mean lubri- Explanation / arithmetic: λ = mean
cant film thickness estimated at 0.64 µm. Com- film thickness ÷ composite rough-
pute the specific film thickness λ and identify ness. Compute: 0.64 ÷ 0.40 = (64 ÷
the lubrication regime. 40) × 0.01/0.01 = 1.6. (step: 64/40 =
A. λ = 0.25 ’Boundary lubrication 1.6). According to KEW, mixed-film is
B. λ = 1.6 ’Mixed-film lubrication λ between ~1 and 2 (proper film be-
C. λ = 2.5 ’Hydrodynamic lubrication gins >1.5), so λ=1.6 places the con-
D. λ = 0.8 ’Mixed-film lubrication tact in the mixed-film regime.
2. 2. An oil cleanliness code goes from 18/16/13 Correct Answer - B.
’19/17/14 on successive samples. this change Explanation: KEW explicitly notes that
most nearly means: a one-digit increase across the three
A. No material change (within instrument ISO 4406 bands (e.g., 18/16/13 ’
noise) 19/17/14) represents roughly a dou-
B. Approximately twice as many particles at bling of reported particle counts (i.e.,
each size band ~2×). Use this as a flag to investi-
C. Ten times as many particles gate sampling, filtration or ingress
D. Half as many particles sources.
3. 3. When using the TOW (Temperature-Operat- Correct Answer - B.
ing-Warmup) approach to pick hydraulic fluid Explanation: The TOW method re-
viscosity, which single factor is the most critical quires knowing the lowest start-
driver of the nominal ISO viscosity grade selec- up (cold) and the highest in-ser-
tion? C. Additive package
A. Viscosity Index (VI) number only zinc/phosphorus
levels
B. The equipment's operating temperature
D. Flash point only
range (startup cold to highest operating
temp)
, ICML MLA 1 CERTIFICATION TRYOUT EXAM LATEST
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-
2027
vice fluid temperatures and then matching a viscosity grade that
meets both low-temp pumpability and high-temp film
requirements. VI and additives matter, but the oper-ating
temperature range dictates the ISO VG choice.
, ICML MLA 1 CERTIFICATION TRYOUT EXAM LATEST
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-
2027
4. 4. For typical fluid-power hydraulic systems, Correct Answer - D.
target cleanliness level (TCL) is closest to which Explanation: KEW lists target cleanli-
ISO 4406 code? ness levels by application and shows
A. <18/16/13 fluid power / hydraulic systems gen-
B. <17/15/12 erally target <15/13/10 (or better de-
C. <16/14/11 pending on sensitivity). Use this as a
D. <15/13/10 baseline when setting filtration and
sampling targets.
5. 5. Which sampling practice is most likely to un- Correct Answer - C.
der-report actual contaminant particle levels in Explanation: Sampling when the sys-
a circulating system? tem is cold or at a non-turbulent bot-
A. Sampling from a turbulent return-line loca- tle location tends to under-represent
tion while the system is at operating tempera- particles (sediment can settle; flow
ture conditions ditter). Best practice is to
B. Flushing 5-10× the dead volume before col- sample while running from a turbu-
lecting the sample lent or elbow location and flush the
C. Sampling a "cold" system (machine recently sampling point (KEW and Machinery-
stopped) from a calm area of the reservoir Lubrication explain this).
D. Using new tubing and sterile sample bottles
for every draw
6. 6. β-ratios and corresponding single-pass cap- Correct Answer - B.
ture efficiencies. Which β value corresponds to Explanation: KEW's example table
9H8 . 6 % capture efficiency (for the stated particle lists β75 H98.6% single-pass capture.
size)? 7.
A. β20
B. β75
C. β200
D. β1000
, ICML MLA 1 CERTIFICATION TRYOUT EXAM LATEST
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-
(Other examples:
β10 H9 0 %, β20 H 2027
95%, β200 H99.5%,
β1000 H99.9% in
their slide). Use
β-ratio
understand-ing
when specifying
filter elements.
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-
2027
1. 1. A plain-journal bearing has a composite sur- Correct Answer - B.
face roughness of 0.40 µm and a mean lubri- Explanation / arithmetic: λ = mean
cant film thickness estimated at 0.64 µm. Com- film thickness ÷ composite rough-
pute the specific film thickness λ and identify ness. Compute: 0.64 ÷ 0.40 = (64 ÷
the lubrication regime. 40) × 0.01/0.01 = 1.6. (step: 64/40 =
A. λ = 0.25 ’Boundary lubrication 1.6). According to KEW, mixed-film is
B. λ = 1.6 ’Mixed-film lubrication λ between ~1 and 2 (proper film be-
C. λ = 2.5 ’Hydrodynamic lubrication gins >1.5), so λ=1.6 places the con-
D. λ = 0.8 ’Mixed-film lubrication tact in the mixed-film regime.
2. 2. An oil cleanliness code goes from 18/16/13 Correct Answer - B.
’19/17/14 on successive samples. this change Explanation: KEW explicitly notes that
most nearly means: a one-digit increase across the three
A. No material change (within instrument ISO 4406 bands (e.g., 18/16/13 ’
noise) 19/17/14) represents roughly a dou-
B. Approximately twice as many particles at bling of reported particle counts (i.e.,
each size band ~2×). Use this as a flag to investi-
C. Ten times as many particles gate sampling, filtration or ingress
D. Half as many particles sources.
3. 3. When using the TOW (Temperature-Operat- Correct Answer - B.
ing-Warmup) approach to pick hydraulic fluid Explanation: The TOW method re-
viscosity, which single factor is the most critical quires knowing the lowest start-
driver of the nominal ISO viscosity grade selec- up (cold) and the highest in-ser-
tion? C. Additive package
A. Viscosity Index (VI) number only zinc/phosphorus
levels
B. The equipment's operating temperature
D. Flash point only
range (startup cold to highest operating
temp)
, ICML MLA 1 CERTIFICATION TRYOUT EXAM LATEST
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-
2027
vice fluid temperatures and then matching a viscosity grade that
meets both low-temp pumpability and high-temp film
requirements. VI and additives matter, but the oper-ating
temperature range dictates the ISO VG choice.
, ICML MLA 1 CERTIFICATION TRYOUT EXAM LATEST
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-
2027
4. 4. For typical fluid-power hydraulic systems, Correct Answer - D.
target cleanliness level (TCL) is closest to which Explanation: KEW lists target cleanli-
ISO 4406 code? ness levels by application and shows
A. <18/16/13 fluid power / hydraulic systems gen-
B. <17/15/12 erally target <15/13/10 (or better de-
C. <16/14/11 pending on sensitivity). Use this as a
D. <15/13/10 baseline when setting filtration and
sampling targets.
5. 5. Which sampling practice is most likely to un- Correct Answer - C.
der-report actual contaminant particle levels in Explanation: Sampling when the sys-
a circulating system? tem is cold or at a non-turbulent bot-
A. Sampling from a turbulent return-line loca- tle location tends to under-represent
tion while the system is at operating tempera- particles (sediment can settle; flow
ture conditions ditter). Best practice is to
B. Flushing 5-10× the dead volume before col- sample while running from a turbu-
lecting the sample lent or elbow location and flush the
C. Sampling a "cold" system (machine recently sampling point (KEW and Machinery-
stopped) from a calm area of the reservoir Lubrication explain this).
D. Using new tubing and sterile sample bottles
for every draw
6. 6. β-ratios and corresponding single-pass cap- Correct Answer - B.
ture efficiencies. Which β value corresponds to Explanation: KEW's example table
9H8 . 6 % capture efficiency (for the stated particle lists β75 H98.6% single-pass capture.
size)? 7.
A. β20
B. β75
C. β200
D. β1000
, ICML MLA 1 CERTIFICATION TRYOUT EXAM LATEST
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-
(Other examples:
β10 H9 0 %, β20 H 2027
95%, β200 H99.5%,
β1000 H99.9% in
their slide). Use
β-ratio
understand-ing
when specifying
filter elements.
