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In This Issue:

• Up Front: Don't Forget to Celebrate the Non-Event

• Book Bits: Putting Synthetics to Work

• Today's Tip: Important Tips for Gas Engine Lubrication

• Q&A: Wire Rope Lubrication

Up Front

Don't Forget to Celebrate the Non-Event

Last week I saw something I'd never seen before. Hundreds of lubrication professionals sharing cool drinks, eating hot dogs and downing ice cream bars. Needless to say, the "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" and the "Jumbo Shrimp" receptions at Practicing Oil Analysis 2002 were well-deserved celebrations.

Remembering to take the time to celebrate is one of the most important aspects of a maintenance program. Celebration should reward employees for great accomplishments. At the same time, it helps communicate the importance of proper lubrication to your team and others in your organization.

Because good lubrication and proactive maintenance go hand-in-hand, the most successful programs don't celebrate and reward employees for what happens, but rather what doesn't happen. These non-events include such things as machine repairs that aren't required, lubricant shipments that aren't needed, and production outages that don't occur.

What lubrication reliability events and non-events do you celebrate? How do you celebrate? Send me a quick e-mail to let me know what you're doing.

Mike Ramsey
mramsey@noria.com

Book Bits

From "The Practical Handbook of Machinery Lubrication":

Putting Synthetics to Work

A construction equipment contractor was experiencing premature turbocharger failures when certain engines were operated under full load conditions and used around the clock. Investigation through oil analysis and diagnosis of the failed components, revealed that the failures were caused by coking of the petroleum base oil within the turbocharger oil passages, thus restricting oil flow and resulting in bearing failure.

The initial cause of the oil coking condition was excessive temperatures within the turbocharger housing. A fully synthetic diesel engine oil was selected of the same viscosity as the original petroleum base mineral oil and installed. Premature turbocharger failures did not reoccur and oil temperatures dropped by about 8°F.

Click here for more information about "The Practical Handbook of Machinery Lubrication".

Today's Tip

• The oil sumps of modern gas engines are getting smaller while the power outputs are increasing. This puts increased stress on the oil in circulation. Many sump levels are controlled automatically by makeup valves. Check the setting of these valves as they can often be set low, which means you do not get the full charge of oil in the sump and face shorter drain periods. Also make sure you drain the oil cooler as well as the sump at oil change as there is often a considerable amount of old oil (could be up to 10 percent) held up in the pipework just ready to contaminate your fresh oil. (Tip submitted by Sandy Reid-Peters, ExxonMobil)

Each tip published will earn the sender $25. Click here to submit your tip.

Q & A

Wire Rope Lubrication

"Do wire ropes require relubrication?"

Wire ropes used in industrial and mining applications wear from the inside out. The individual wires that make up the cable bundles slide and rub against one another as the cable turns around the shiv and drum.

Cables are generally lubricated during the manufacturing process. However, the 'initial fill' lubricant injected between the wire fibers during manufacturing is quickly squeezed out once the cable is placed under load.

The lubricant should be replenished promptly after first use to assure that the exterior and interior surfaces remain coated with an oil film. Pressurized lubrication collars can be most helpful in accomplishing complete coverage while minimizing waste.

Mike Johnson, Senior Consultant, Noria Corporation

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