“In the course of improving our lubrication management, we discovered that lube oil leaks were being recorded frequently. When combined with higher lubricant consumption, this has led to increased costs and has had an impact on the environment. What can be done to improve our processes and reduce oil consumption and the environmental hazards?”
It is widely accepted that particle contamination reduces the service life of hydraulic components. Fact is, some level of particle contamination is always present in hydraulic fluid, even in new fluid.
“We suspect that we have an air contamination problem in one of our hydraulic systems. What types of problems can air contamination cause?”
“Can you explain how to find the source of water contamination in a steam turbine boiler feed pump? We have problems with high water contamination in the pump’s oil tank. Oil analysis tests showed water at approximately 15,000 parts per million (ppm) in less than a month after changing the potential water leak area (gland seal, cooler oil seal and seal to the pump).”
As oil or oil additives degrade, they develop varnish and begin to accumulate this material within the oil. The amount of varnish carried by or within the oil will progressively increase as the oil continues its service. The oil’s carrying capacity for varnish will also fluctuate based on temperature. As the oil becomes saturated, this material can settle from the oil and form harmful deposits. Fortunately, varnish can be extracted from oil and measured in a laboratory by its change in color.
