In This Issue:

• Up Front: Unidentified Objects in Oil Revealed

• Book Bits: Tips on Outdoor Oil Storage

• Today's Tip: Leave Your Mark - With a Soldering Iron?

• Q & A: Rightsizing Patches for Onsite Oil Testing
  

Up Front

Unidentified Objects in Oil Revealed

Our oil analysis lab was detecting small round-shaped particles during microscopic wear debris analysis of gearbox oil.

After elaborate investigation it turned out to be glass beads! What was, it occured in all our gearboxes. This seemed impossible - glass inside plant gearboxes! No matter how long the discussions and investigations - the cause could not be determined until some time later when one of the lab personnel witnessed the topping-up of a plant gearbox. The funnel used to add the oil was cleaned with a rag that had been lying on the seat of a van of which the rear window was smashed!

Although not visible to the eye, glass was transferred into the gearboxes with each topping-up. It again underlines the importance of training personnel in contamination control!

(Submitted by K.W. Heese, Iscor Steel. Thanks K.W.!)

Each Up Front story published will earn the sender $50. To submit a case study, experience or lesson learned click here or e-mail info@noria.com. Let us hear from you.

Book Bits

Tips on Outdoor Oil Storage

From "Lubrication Fundamentals":

As a general rule, lubricants in containers smaller than drums (550-, 390-, and 16-gallon oil drums and 400-, and 120-pound grease drums) should never be stored out-of-doors. When drums must be stored outside, a temporary shelter, leanto or a water proof tarp, will protect them from rain or snow. Drums should be laid on their sides with the bungs approximately horizontal. In this position, the bungs are below the level of the contents so that breathing of water or moisture is greatly reduced, and water cannot collect inside the chime. For maximum protection, the drums should be stood on end with the bung ends down on a well-drained surface.

Click here for more information about "Lubrication Fundamentals".

Today's Tip

• As a technician and tradesman who has been using the modern plastic-type oil top-up containers, I have tried many methods of labeling the containers. Through trial-and-error, I have tried the stickers provided, coloring with paint, writing with marker pens, attaching aluminum labels, etc.

  As each of these labeling methods usually fails after subsequent cleaning of the containers, I finally hit upon the following idea. I took a soldering iron with a pointed tip, and using caution, I wrote the lubricant type on the side panel in large lettering.

  This method has proved to be the most infallible of all attempts to successfully label these containers. Another tip for those with lousy penmanship, get a professional engraver to do the job. (Submitted by Adam Harffey, Fluid Technician, Shell Services Australia. Thanks Adam!)

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

Q & A

Rightsizing Patches for Onsite Oil Testing

"What size micropatch filter should be used to microscopically analyze wear debris with an onsite oil analysis rig?" - Ron Gilbert, Schwan's University

It is important to select a patch with the appropriate pore size focus. Let's consider some rules of thumb:

1. For clean systems that utilize high-quality filtration, a two-micron patch is preferred so you can view the smaller particles that might be generated during the early stages of failure. The small particle size focus also enables you to generally assess the system's overall cleanliness.

2. Also, for clean systems - particularly hydraulics systems - periodically inspect the oil using a 0.8-micron patch to determine if silt is accumulating at high levels.

3. For other systems, like engines and gearboxes, a five-micron patch is preferred. The larger particle size focus enables you to clearly view abnormal wear particles free from the clutter of accumulated small particles.

Detailed procedure for using the patch test.

Drew Troyer, Noria Corporation

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