Polished machine surfaces can improve equipment performance by reducing friction and increasing efficiency. There are many ways to polish machine surfaces, with the results depending on the desired outcome. When it comes to lubricants, additives can be used to help chemically polish these surfaces during the running-in process. However, problems can arise if you do not understand the proper way to polish surfaces or how lubricant selection factors into the equation.
Whether your site has an established, well-functioning lubrication program that has been in place for several years or you have just begun the journey of building your program, if long-term, recurrent success is the end goal, the challenge of developing and sustaining a reliability culture will need to be addressed.
“How can you tell if an oil has exceeded the appropriate temperature range?”
Lubricants are formulated with base oils and additives to function under the conditions expected for the intended application in terms of speed, load, temperature, oil change interval, etc. These formulas may be designed for compressors, turbines, engines, gearboxes, etc. When their properties or performance are diminished as a result of contamination, temperature changes or additive depletion, the lubricants must be modified.
How uncomfortable is it for your organization when off-specification product moves through your quality-assurance process and reaches your customers?
“Our maintenance department is understaffed, especially when it comes to completing lubrication tasks. Do you have any advice for helping management understand when more resources/people are needed?”
