Book Bits

From "Proactive Maintenance for Mechanical Systems":

The presence of fluid contaminants, such as water and particulates, can severely affect a system fluid's antiwear stability. For example, ZDDP decomposes in the presence of water to form free sulfur and/or hydrogen sulfide. This ZDDP is susceptible to hydrolysis and the formation of some highly corrosive hydro-sulfurous acids when water is present in the formulated fluid. The transformation of the aqueous solution of the sulfurous acid into sulfuric acid creates a highly corrosive substance that affects all metal surfaces.

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Today's Tip

• Always ensure that disconnected hoses are capped while maintenance is taking place. It is surprising how much debris can enter an open pipe. This will find its way into the system in short order, causing accelerated wear.

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Q & A

"We are in a position that we have to store our lubricants outdoors. This isn't ideal, but we have to live with it. Do you have any tips for protecting these drums from the environment?"

While indoor storage of lubricants is recommended, this is not always possible due to environmental, financial or space constraints. If lubricants must be stored outdoors, track lubricant consumption carefully and replenish inventories "just-in-time" to minimize exposure to adverse conditions. If possible, shelter them from rain, snow and other elements. Lay drums on their sides with the bungs in a horizontal (3 and 9 o'clock) position below the lubricant level. This will greatly reduce the risk of the seals drying out and the ingestion of moisture caused by breathing. If the drums must be placed upright in outdoor storage, employ drum covers or tilt drums to drain the moisture that gathers on the top around the bungs. Avoid outdoor storage of water-based fluids where extreme temperatures can have an even more damaging effect through freezing and evaporation.

For more useful tips on lubricant storage, read the article "Best Practices for Lubricant Storage and Handling".

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