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Book Bits

From "Proactive Maintenance for Mechanical Systems":

The oxidation rate and the degradation products increase not only with increasing temperature, but also with increases in agitation (turbulence) and contamination - air, water, metallic particles, dirt and dust. The oxidation stability varies not only with the viscosity grade of the oil, but the actual base stock from which the hydraulic fluid was derived and refined also affects the rate of oxidation.

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Today's Tip

• Oil mist is effective in protecting your stored machines. The Caltex Thailand Refinery added a new dimension to the capabilities of oil mist lubrication by using it to preserve its rotating machines while they were sitting in the construction storage yards. The machine manufacturers connected tubing from the oil mist connections on the machines to connecters on the sides of the shipping crates. A temporary system was connected to the crates upon their arrival to the yard. Typically upon startup, there are numerous bearing failures. In this case, there were virtually none. (Tip submitted by Douglas Branham, Lubrication Systems Company. Thanks Douglas!)

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Q & A

"After seeing the same bearing fail several times, we had an oil analysis done. The results appeared normal, but there was a small amount of water content. The oil doesn't appear to have water in it. Could this be the problem?"

Moisture in lubricating oils can have a devastating impact on component lifecycles. According to a major bearing supplier, it is possible to shorten the life of rolling element bearings by as much as 75 percent without ever knowing that moisture is in the oil based on visual observation.

Water causes oxidation, acid formation, varnishing, sludging, foaming, viscosity problems (water first thickens and then thins the oil) and can cause an oil to become conductive. Water also creates conditions for corrosion to dramatically increase.

Water can be driven off oil by maintaining the right temperature, and through the use of absorbent media filters and vacuum dehydration. Industrial equipment that is frequently turned on and off is most susceptible to moisture from the atmosphere, particularly during the summer months when atmospheric moisture is at its peak.

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