To get management support for your lubrication program, make sure people, especially management, are aware of how the program is contributing to overall equipment reliability. There are many ways to do this including setting up a lubrication program newsletter, intranet site, sending out a periodic email, or just posting a paper on a bulletin board in a high traffic area. Whatever method is used, highlight successes like good catches or money saved. This will go a long way in helping your program grow and help you get funding for equipment and training. (Jeff Scott, Senior Engineer, Energy Northwest)

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From the book "The Practical Handbook of Machinery Lubrication":

Keep hydraulic fluids cool. (The bulk oil temperature at the exterior of the reservoir should never exceed 60°C).

Keep hydraulic fluids clean. (There is general agreement among hydraulic experts that 75 - 80 percent of hydraulic failures are caused by fluid contaminated with dirt, wear particles and other foreign material. In today's high-pressure systems, clearances between wear surfaces are very small, making contamination control critical).

Keep hydraulic fluids dry. (Water and condensation content should never exceed a maximum of 1000 ppm, depending on the system design).

Immediately repair fluid leaks. If oil can escape, dirt and dust can re-enter the system. (A fluid leak of one drop per second is equal to 400 gallons in a 12-month period.)

More information about "The Practical Handbook of Machinery Lubrication"

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• Particle Counting and Shape Recognition for In-Service Oils

• Creating an Effective Plant Lubrication Program

The textbook cases of distress modes are especially useful in diagnosing problems prior to the damage that occurs when a bearing can no longer support an oil film. Through the prudent use of temperature and vibration monitoring equipment, routine oil analysis, lubrication system evaluations and machine operational performance reviews, bearing distress may be identified and evaluated before catastrophic failure occurs.

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DECEMBER 2008

Machinery Lubrication I
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Oil Analysis I
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Oil Analysis II
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Predictive Oil Analysis
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