Back to Lube-Tips™ Back Issues.

Machinery Lubrication Magazine Reliable Plant Magazine Motor Oil Selection Guide Synthetic Oil Resources

In This Issue:

• Readers Challenge: Flash Point Takes a Dive

• Book Bits: Particles Mean Bearing Wear

• Today's Tip: Reservoir Sampling Tip

• Q & A: Quality Standards Lead to Reliability

Readers Challenge

Flash Point Takes a Dive

This winter you sent a sample of a 220 cSt EP gear oil to your lab for routine analysis. The oil was used in an outdoor gearbox for about two years in Canada.

Most of the analysis results appear normal - viscosity is 217 cSt @ 40°C, only 100 ppm water, and acid number is 0.65. However, the flash point is 76°C which is well below the new oil level of 190°C.

A second sample sent to the lab confirms the results of the first test. What could have caused the flash point to drop so dramatically, while the viscosity and acid number are at near normal levels? What inspections of the gearbox could have confirmed your suspicion? What risks could this condition present? How could the root cause be corrected?

Submit your answer at http://www.noria.com/challenge.asp before Monday, February 17, 2003. Lube-Tips editors will choose the best answer and the $50 recipient will be announced next week.

CONGRATULATIONS to John Pavlovic, Rental Fleet Service, Finning Canada - the winner of last week's Readers Challenge. See the winning response, as well as other responses.

Book Bits

Particles Mean Bearing Wear

From "The Practical Handbook of Machinery Lubrication"

In general, the important parameters influencing bearing wear are contaminant particle size, concentration, hardness and lubricant film thickness. Increases in all of these parameters except film thickness will increase bearing wear.

Increasing lubricant viscosity will reduce bearing wear for a given contamination level.

Bearings operating in a contaminated lubricant exhibit a higher initial rate of wear than those not running in a contaminated lubricant. But with no further contaminant ingress, this wear rate quickly diminishes as the contamination particles are reduced in size as they pass through the bearing contact area during normal operation.

More information about the book "The Practical Handbook of Machinery Lubrication"

Today's Tip

• When reservoir bottle sampling using a vampire-type oil puller, coil wrap thin wire around the flexible plastic hose, so it remains straight and vertical at the desired depth in the oil, and does not touch the sides of the reservoir, to avoid contaminating the sample. (Submitted by Tim Monk, regional filtration specialist, Wyko Fluid Power Services. Thanks Tim!)

Each tip published will earn the sender $25. Submit your tip.

Q & A

Quality Standards Lead to Reliability

"Are the ISO 14001 and other local/national environmental regulations just another paper chase in order to comply, or will these benefit my company in some way?"

First, as with the improved quality we now enjoy from the quality standards that evolved from the implementation of ISO 9000, the new regulations force companies to assess their 'ecological footprint' as a result of their business activity.

With respect to lubrication issues, it strives to achieve longer service life of lubricants and a reduction in wasted lubricants.

To achieve these goals, companies need to implement best practice policies for correct lubrication selection and consolidation, improve the contamination control, and reduce power consumption.

As a result, improved reliability will follow. This leads to reduced maintenance and operating costs, and an increase in available production capacity through root cause assessment of each issue.

So apart from the obvious public perception of your business, yes, undertaking a lubricant-focused review of your company's environmental policy will benefit you, your business, your clients and your neighbors.

Martin Williamson, Noria UK Ltd.

Submit your question here.