Machine oil contamination

Lines show up sometime after install

Machine oil contamination

Manufacturing issue

Machine Oil Contamination (Carpet)

Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide

Summary

Machine oil contamination is a manufacturing-origin appearance condition that occurs when residual lubricants used during tufting, shearing, or finishing remain on carpet yarns after processing. These lubricants are often not visible at installation but act as soil attractants during normal use, resulting in progressive dark linear or banded discoloration as airborne particulates and traffic-related soils accumulate on oil-treated fibers. The condition commonly develops in the machine direction and may become increasingly visible over time under traffic or airflow exposure. Machine oil contamination affects appearance only and does not independently involve dye loss, fiber degradation, backing failure, or installation deficiency. The condition may resemble filtration soiling or generalized soiling patterns, but machine-direction alignment and progressive soil attraction behavior support manufacturing origin. See also Filtration Soiling, Crushing, and Carpet Problems for broader context.

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