Is your business facing rising operating expenses, supply chain unpredictability, and other pressures? You’re not alone. Between potential tariff pressures, supply chain disruptions, and global conflicts that are affecting the volatility of oil and lubricant prices, small businesses are facing significant pressure. These pressures are forcing companies to navigate fluctuating fuel prices, manage aging equipment, all while trying to stay competitive without compromising reliability. It’s a lot to handle, and in these trying times, finding sustainable ways to reduce costs has never been more critical.
But where can you find the savings you need? We have a suggestion that you may have overlooked – your lubrication program.
Your lubricant program is a critical part of your company’s infrastructure and has a far bigger impact on your bottom line than you might think. Every equipment operator knows that lubricants are essential to keeping machines running. But what many don’t realize is that poor lubrication practices can quietly drain your budget. If your oils aren’t clean or handled correctly, they accelerate wear, increase the risk of unplanned downtime, and lead to costly repairs—all of which hit your bottom line.
Let us help you find lubrication savings
We frequently encounter companies that are unaware of the significant impact their lubrication practices have on their bottom line. Many are using the right lubricants, but in the wrong way. Others are working with outdated processes that lead to avoidable wear and costly downtime.
That’s where we come in. We help businesses select the right lubricants for their specific applications, implement proactive, data-driven maintenance strategies through our oil analysis program, and optimize equipment performance in the long term. From power generation and industrial facilities to transportation fleets and construction operations, we’ve seen how the right lubrication program can drive real savings and reliability.
Do you have a strategic lubrication program?
A strategic lubrication program is far more than just keeping track of oil change intervals. It’s a comprehensive approach that covers every stage of lubricant use, from product selection to storage, handling, and condition monitoring.
A well-designed program typically includes:
- Choosing lubricants that meet OEM cleanliness specifications: Using products that match or exceed manufacturer standards helps protect critical components and extend equipment life.
- Implementing proper storage and transfer procedures: Clean oil can become contaminated fast if it’s not handled correctly. Sealed containers, filtration systems, and controlled environments make a big difference.
- Reducing the number of lubricant types in use: Consolidating products minimizes the risk of cross-contamination and simplifies inventory management.
- Labeling and color-coding all containers and fill points: Clear identification prevents mix-ups, ensures the right product goes in the right place, and helps maintain consistency across your operation.
- Using regular oil analysis to monitor equipment health: Oil analysis provides valuable insights into wear, contamination, and lubricant condition, helping you catch problems before they escalate into failures.
- Training your team on best practices: Even the best products can’t perform if they’re not used properly. Educating your team ensures everyone is aligned and working toward the same reliability goals.
When all these components are in place, your lubrication program becomes a powerful tool, not just for protecting equipment but also for improving efficiency, reducing costs, and fostering a stronger maintenance culture.
Choose Chevron ISOCLEAN® Lubricants
Did you know that even premium lubricants can arrive at your facility with contamination levels well above what OEMs recommend? During manufacturing, packaging, and transportation, oils can pick up dust, moisture, metal particles, and other tiny contaminants. These invisible intruders start causing damage the moment the oil enters your equipment, often going unnoticed until a component fails or unexpected downtime occurs.
That’s why we strongly recommend Chevron ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants as part of your strategic lubrication program. These lubricants are carefully filtered, tested, and certified to meet rigorous ISO cleanliness standards before being shipped from the factory. They’re then packaged and delivered by Chevron partners, like us, to minimize contamination. When they arrive at your site, ready to enter your program, you can trust that they will protect your equipment and keep it running smoothly.
Real world impact: A power facility gets results
Let’s take a look at how this works in the real world with this example from Chevron. They began working with a California-based electric generation company. The company was dealing with increasing maintenance costs and unexpected shutdowns due to gearbox failures and hydraulic issues across its combined cycle, hydro, and peaking units. Historically, lubrication wasn’t a significant focus for them, and they lacked a strategic program in place. They began to realize that all the equipment and maintenance downtime was becoming a big budget concern.
That’s when they brought in a reliability engineer, who immediately reached out to a Chevron ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricant Marketer for help. Together with Chevron’s Industrial Solutions Team, they conducted a Best-in-Class Site Assessment to evaluate:
- The types and cleanliness of lubricants in use
- Storage and transfer practices
- Equipment-specific lubrication requirements
- Fluid handling and sampling procedures
Upon completion of the inspection, the team found that most of the company’s lubricants were failing to meet the OEM cleanliness specifications. Some were 16 times dirtier than recommended. Their failure to optimize their lubrication practices was the primary cause of their maintenance issues.
With the help of the Chevron team, the facility made a full conversion to Chevron ISOCLEAN Certified Turbine and Hydraulic Oils, cleaned to ISO 16/14/11 standards, and set a site-wide standard of 17/15/12 for all other lubricants. Key steps included:
- Consolidating lubricants from 11 to 6 and greases from 14 to 3
- Implementing color-coded top-off containers and Chevron SmartFill™ labels
- Installing Lube Room charts in storage areas
- Launching a more robust oil sampling and monitoring program for critical assets
Just months after implementing their strategic program and switching to ISOCLEAN® lubricants, the facility saw a remarkable increase in fluid cleanliness, improved reliability, and a significant reduction in unplanned downtime. The equipment was running more efficiently, and the team had a clear plan for their lubricant program, along with an effective way to reduce maintenance costs.
Ready to make the switch to Chevron ISOCLEAN®?
Transitioning to a new lubrication strategy might feel daunting, but the benefits are well worth the effort, and you don’t have to do it alone. At Greg’s Petroleum Service, we guide you through every step of the process. We follow Chevron’s proven 10-Step Clean Oil Transition Plan to ensure a smooth and successful implementation.
Here’s how it works:
- Set Your Transition Plan — Define clear goals, timelines, and assign responsibilities.
- Select Your Lubricants — Choose ISOCLEAN® products perfectly suited for your equipment.
- Communicate Delivery Info — Coordinate logistics and on-site protocols to avoid surprises.
- Confirm Safety and Handling — Share Safety Data Sheets and ensure proper PPE compliance.
- Prepare Storage Equipment — Clean, label, and organize your lube room for optimal handling.
- Assess Needed Services — Evaluate filtration, flushing, and oil analysis options.
- Update Your Maintenance Program — Adjust preventive maintenance schedules and analysis targets.
- Train Your Team — Conduct comprehensive product and system orientation sessions.
- Update Procurement Systems — Ensure your ordering system reflects new products and packaging.
- Celebrate the Win — Recognize your success in boosting reliability and efficiency!
So if you’re ready to reduce your company’s maintenance costs and improve equipment reliability, let us show you how. At Greg’s Petroleum Service, we specialize in helping businesses implement strategic lubrication programs tailored to your unique equipment and budget. Combined with the trusted performance of Chevron ISOCLEAN® lubricants, we’ll help you unlock real savings and longer-lasting machinery.