Before taking a large number of oil samples using prelabeled bottles, mark the bottle caps with enough information to enable quick recognition of which bottle you need to pull out for sample points. This procedure enables you to go directly to the correct sample bottle without having to search through the entire box looking at labels to find the right one. This saves a lot of time and helps eliminate using the wrong bottle. (Robert Gelow, Equipment Condition Specialist, Colorado Springs Utilities)

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Readers Challenge: Recommendations for Gearbox Reliability

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Question: Is purge mist lubrication a wet sump or dry sump configuration?

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"The reservoir is the accepted place to record oil temperature. What reasons would dictate recorded temperatures at another location?"

Pump Efficiency: Check the oil close to the pump for the purpose of checking pump efficiency. As the temperature changes the mechanical and volumetric efficiency also change. The performance of hydraulic pumps and motors is a critical factor in overall hydraulic system reliability.

There are two elements of hydraulic efficiency: volumetric efficiency and hydromechanical efficiency. Hydromechanical efficiency relates to the frictional losses within a hydraulic component and the amount of energy required to generate fluid flow. Volumetric efficiency relates to the flow losses within a hydraulic component and the degree to which internal leakage occurs. Both of these properties are highly dependent on viscosity.

Hydromechanical efficiency decreases as fluid viscosity increases due to higher resistance to flow. Conversely, volumetric efficiency increases as fluid viscosity increases because of the reduction of the internal leakage. The overall efficiency of a hydraulic pump is the product of mechanical and volumetric efficiencies and both factors must be considered together.

Hot Spots and Localized Varnishing: Hot spots in a system will cause varnish to form, and in some cases the additives to plate to the hot surface. Inspect hot surfaces periodically to identify any degradation.

Mike Johnson, Noria Corporation

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