In This Issue:

• Up Front: Are You On the List?

• Book Bits: Why Filters Fail

• Today's Tip: Timing Diesel Engine Oil Changes
  

• Q & A: Filtering Gearbox Lubes
  

Up Front

Are You On the List?

Last month I participated in a meeting of individuals with job titles like "Worldwide Reliability Manager" and "Corporate Maintenance Director". One of the hottest topics turned out to be corporate-wide certification for lubrication professionals. Many of them decided to make certification a requirement for several lubrication and oil analysis job functions.

It's exciting to hear talk like this. Certification is radically changing the lubrication community for the better. Not only does it raise the profile of our professionals, it boosts credibility of lubrication and maintenance programs.

Who's getting certified? Take a look at this impressive list of ICML Certified Professionals. The International Council for Machinery Lubrication has certified hundreds in the last year.

With exams now offered around the world in both Spanish and English, it's easy to see why many multi-national companies are making certification a global requirement.

Drew Troyer and Mark Barnes wrote some great information about these types of initiatives. Their article is definitely worth reading - click here to read it.

Mike Ramsey
mramsey@noria.com

Book Bits

Why Filters Fail

From "Handbook of Hydraulic Fluid Technology":

Fluid can bypass a filter element for many reasons. Improperly sealed side seams and end caps on the filter element itself is one very real possibility. In addition, the element can rupture during operation or be damaged before installation, and the result will be high bypass flow. However, the two causes which are probably primary are a poor fit between the element and the housing, and a bypass valve which is poorly designed or stuck open due to silting.

Click here for more information about the "Handbook of Hydraulic Fluid Technology".

Today's Tip

• Users of large diesel engines should consider changing oil and oil sampling based on the gallons of fuel burned versus calendar or work hours of the driver. The driver may not actually drive all the hours for which he is paid. Likewise, some days using the calendar method will be weekends and holidays. (Tip submitted by Jerry Proctor, Maintenance Manager, Washington Post)

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

Q & A

Filtering Gearbox Lubes

"I notice that the ISO cleanliness level doesn’t change much after changing the oil in my gearboxes. Shouldn’t the oil be cleaner after the change?"

Most gearboxes are drained on a quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis - usually to eliminate contaminants. Typically, five percent or more of the old lube is left in the gearbox. If the oil is not drained shortly after shutdown, the sludge and contaminants will accumulate in the bottom of the sump and remain with the residual oil. When the box is refilled with lubricant and restarted, the contaminant is re-suspended, and the oil change fails to achieve its objectives. Also, the new oil may not be clean if it is not prefiltered.

Consider the following alternatives:

1. Drain the oil within 15 minutes of shutdown and pre-filter the new oil.

2. Instead of draining the oil, periodically filter the oil with a portable filtration cart while the machine is operating. Sample and analyze the oil periodically to determine if it needs to be changed. This strategy will reduce your overall cost of maintenance and extend the life of the gearbox, and requires little upfront investment.

3. Install full-time filtration on the gearbox and sample and analyze the oil periodically to determine if it needs to be changed. This strategy will also reduce your overall cost of maintenance and extend the life of the gearbox, but requires some upfront investment.

Alternative 1 helps, but alternatives 2 and 3 are real winners. Most scheduled oil changes can be eliminated with the one-two punch of filtration and oil analysis. This strategy reduces lubricant and labor costs – and the fact that your gearboxes will last longer is a major bonus. Plus, the maintenance of the fluid can typically be performed during run-time, shrinking the task list during scheduled outages.

Drew Troyer, Noria Corporation

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