TWO COMMON PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT CONSTRUCTION & HEAVY EQUIPMENT OIL PERFORMANCE

When you spend thousand, if not millions, of dollars investing in state-of-the-art machineries and equipment for your business, it is always in your best interest to keep them well maintained and running smoothly. And while breakdowns and mechanical problems are sometimes inevitable, there are ways that you do to try to minimize these problems from arising or from causing irreparable damage. Enforcing a regular oil maintenance program is one of them.

Below are the two most common industrial oil-related problems that you can look out for as well as possible solutions that you can enforce to keep your production operations running smoothly:

PROBLEM: Solid Particle Build Up
During operations, oil used in machineries can accumulate solid particles that come from dirt, metal wear and environmental elements. These particles eventually build up and can cause the oil to become abrasive. When left ignored, this constant abrasion can lead to a decreased operational performance of the machine seals that will, in turn cause leakage and increased operational costs.

SOLUTION: Regular maintenance of the machinery (cleaning and diagnostic check-ups) and scheduled oil filtering, analysis (eg. ISO Cleanliness Code or “Particle Count”) and oil change.

PROBLEM: Moisture Accumulation
Industrial oils have a tendency to accumulate moisture. Whether it’s from humidity or from other from additives, this can affect the oil’s over-all effectiveness and can cause equipment/machines to seize or chatter, along with a whole slew of other performance problems. Additionally, when moisture becomes acidic, it can slowly corrode a machine’s internal parts and valves, which leads to bigger, more expensive mechanical problems.

SOLUTION: Scheduled preventive maintenance and neutralization tests like Total Acid Number can greatly help minimize the loss of oil efficiency, loss in production and equipment downtime.

GREASE FAQS

What factors should you consider before buying high temperature grease for my machineries?
Choosing the right type of high temperature grease is critical in ensuring the optimal performance and life cycle of your machineries and equipment. To help you get started, below are some points you should consider before buying:

• oil type and viscosity
• oil viscosity index
• thickener type
• oil & thickener stability
• additive properties
• ambient temperature
• operating temperature
• atmospheric contamination
• loading & speed capability
• re-lubrication schedule

Other helpful factors in selecting the right grease to use include:

• Use accurate sensors to determine the specific temperature range that your machinery works on. This would greatly help you narrow down the best grease type choices that can optimise your equipment’s performance.
• Determine whether your grease usage is continuous or need-based. This will help you decide if the high cost of a premium grease brand will prove more practical in the long run and if it would serve your operational needs best.
• Consider other equipment and tools that will be used concurrent with your machinery and factor in the heat generated by them as well as the cooling system that is being utilised in the room. These elements are important in determining the moisture level that can result during regular operations.