After you identify your equipment lubrication requirements and match the types of lubricants for your applications and operating environments, you must choose from the different brands of lubricants or even the different types of lubricants from your supplier. For example, should you buy the best synthetic or semi-synthetic, since you’ve heard that synthetics are better? How do you decide what is best for your business, not necessarily what’s best for your supplier?
Machines fail for a reason. They’re not supposed to wear out. Humans are at the root of the vast majority of these failures. It’s also humans that can intervene and restore plants to healthy and sustained operation. This is not an imaginary concept but rather a living reality in a growing number of companies today.
“Is it practical to add additives to oil after it has been depleted? If so, what types of oil additives could be added and how is this done? Are there companies that offer this service?”
Most maintenance professionals know that clean oil can result in significant cost savings and that oil analysis can be used to reveal the state of lubricants and machines. However, as online particle counters and other sensors become increasingly popular, it is important to be aware that one number does not tell the whole truth about a system’s conditions.
“My supplier is pushing hard to move his synthetic gear oils into my operation. His position is that the units run too hot for long-term use of mineral oils. At what temperature should I switch to a synthetic lubricant for a non-circulated gearbox?”
