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In This Issue:

• Today's Tip: Every Drop Counts

• Book Bits: Lubricants Role in Contamination Control

• Q & A: Keeping Up With Coolants

Today's Tip

Every Drop Counts

• Up to 5 gallons of oil could remain in a drum of oil that is sitting on its side while being drained through a bung. Consider tipping the drum to get the remaining oil out. If you figure that the oil costs $4.00 a gallon, a waste of 5 gallons per drum on one drum each month will end up costing you $240.00 a year. The dollars can really add up if your company uses multiple drums each month. (Submitted by Brian Raygor, Warehouse and Lube Products Manager, Tyree Oil. Thanks Brian!)

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Book Bits

Lubricants Role in Contamination Control

From "Fluid Contamination Control"

Lubricants play a valuable role in reducing adhesive wear because they can effectively reduce the coefficients of static and kinetic friction. A thick grease will fill up the space between asperities, increasing the initial area of contact, decreasing the pressure, and reducing the degree of cold welding and hence adhesive wear. A thin lubricant not only carries away broken-off fragments so that they do not become lodged, but also serves as a coolant to prevent asperities from sticking together and causing surface melting and transfer.

More information about the "Fluid Contamination Control"

Q & A

Keeping Up With Coolants

"Our service laboratory advised that we need to change our engine antifreeze. How should I change out and dispose of the old coolant?"

Drain the radiator and engine block into a container of sufficient volume. Close the drain valves and thoroughly flush the system with clean water and drain again, retaining, if possible, this flush quantity too. Then add a premixed solution of new antifreeze in the ratio recommended by the engine builder.

In some cases the cooling system will require more than a water flush to remove accumulated debris. Only if close inspection reveals this to be the case should a cooling system cleaner be used. But be careful, these cleaners are aggressive to cooling system metals. It is essential to drain and flush thoroughly to avoid damage from residual cleaner. Many OEMs recommend using cooling system cleaners in their engines.

Antifreeze is a solution of ethylene glycol (sometimes propylene glycol), water and additives. Used antifreeze will become contaminated with heavy metals, especially lead or organic compounds such as benzene. Disposal will therefore depend on your local regulatory requirements.

Ethylene glycol is toxic, propylene glycol is slightly less toxic, and used coolant may be considered hazardous by waste disposal agencies, therefore, these products will likely require special disposal procedures. Confirm disposal methods with your local waste treatment works or water treatment operators.

In many areas, used antifreeze can be recycled. This disposal method is the most economical and environmentally safe option.

Hugh Lundin, Senior Technical Consultant, Noria UK Limited

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