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In This Issue:

• Today's Tip: Is Your Oil a Breeding Ground for Microbial Growth?

• Book Bits: The Difference Between Thermal Failure and Oxidation

• Lube-Trivia: Do You Know Your Viscosity Grades?

• Q & A: An Easier Way to Sample Gearboxes

Today's Tip

Is Your Oil a Breeding Ground for Microbial Growth?

• Temperatures below 20 degrees C (68 degrees F) and above 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) will slow down microbial growth in lubricants. Rapid growth can occur between these temperatures when water is present.

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Book Bits

The Difference Between Thermal Failure and Oxidation

From "Lubrication Excellence 2003 Conference Proceedings"

Thermal failure and oxidation are similar lubricant destructive mechanisms involving free-radical chain proliferation. Thermal failure occurs in the absence of oxygen, where the process of oxidation uses an oxygen molecule as a catalyst to the reaction.

Both degradation processes generate similar by-products. Following are some of the differences between thermal failure and oxidation:

• Thermal failure can occur in a lubricant prior to the depletion of antioxidants.

• Thermal failure can happen before elevations in acid number.

• Thermal failure can result in new products from improper storage practices.

More information about the "Lubrication Excellence 2003 Conference Proceedings"

Lube-Trivia

Do You Know Your Viscosity Grades?

Test your knowledge and prepare for ICML lubrication and oil analysis certification with Lube-Trivia.

QUESTION: Identify the two ISO viscosity grades that fall between ISO VG 22 and ISO VG 68.

For the answer, visit: http://www.lube-tips.com/trivia/20030903.asp

Q & A

An Easier Way to Sample Gearboxes

"Is there a faster method of drawing oil samples from splash-fed gearboxes? I currently use the vacuum pump sampling method, and find this time-consuming when sampling many gearboxes."

Vacuum pump sampling is always a labor-intensive and time- consuming task. One of the best ways to speed the process of sampling gearboxes is to install a permanent sampling valve in the drainport of the gearboxes you wish to sample.

The sampling valve should have a tube extension on the gearbox side of the valve that will extend into the sump, off the sump bottom and away from the sump walls and gears. Vendors of this type of product can be found in the Noria Buyers Guide at http://www.noria.com/buyersguide/vendor1.asp

You will need to continue using your vacuum pump, but these valves will reduce the time it takes to open the box, insert the tube, draw the sample, etc. This style valve also promotes industry best practice and will reduce the amount of "noise" in your samples. Data from the tested samples will be more accurate and valuable to your program.

Although drawing samples may take longer than most people would like, it is an important part of your program. Poor samples equate to poor data. Oil sampling needs to follow a documented procedure to ensure consistency and repeatability. Remember, drawing a good sample once takes less time than drawing a poor sample twice.

Jason Kopschinsky, Technical Consultant, Noria Corporation

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