The little things can have the most significant impact in the maintenance world, and as most mechanics will tell you, one such thing is contaminants in lubricants, which are a huge source of maintenance issues. But preventing lubricant contamination isn’t easy. It can happen anytime, from transportation to storage and even during the application to machinery. So, what can your organization do to prevent lubricant contamination? Develop a precision lubrication plan!
A precision lubrication plan focuses on every aspect of the lubrication experience in your organization. From the type of lubricant you order to how you store and use them, an effective plan considers the processes and methods your team uses for lubricating equipment and looks at ways to improve things.
Creating a new precision lubrication plan for your system isn’t easy. Depending on your organization’s current lubrication practices, it may require overhauling your lubrication process. You must update your processes and application equipment and get your whole team willing to adapt to the new standards. That’s no easy task. So, what can you do to make the process easier? We have some ideas.
- Involve the whole team in the planning process. One of the most complex parts of implementing new ways of doing things in the field or the shop is that the method may not work for the people doing it. So, make sure to include your technicians in the planning process. Ask them what techniques they are using. Is what they are doing the best practice? Then, together, look for ways to make improvements. For example, you could switch out dipstick tests for upgraded sight glasses for checking oil levels. Using these tools, technicians can easily see where the oil level is without having to remove and insert a dipstick, which could introduce contaminants into the oil.
- Identify containment weakness. Before creating a plan to eliminate contamination issues, you must identify potential ways your lubricant supply is getting contaminated. So, take a survey of your equipment. Is it old or rusty? Are there open water or humidity issues in the service area? Look for ways to reduce containment exposure, even if it means upgrading your equipment. For example, when adding lubricants to equipment, you could install advanced desiccant breathers and quick-connect fittings to reduce containment exposure.
- Improve your documentation process. The key to a successful lubrication program isn’t just the lubricants you use. It’s the documentation you keep on how you lubricate your equipment, what processes you use, and who did the work. Precise documentation makes it easier to identify potential mistakes, helps your team perform better, and enables you to track your lubricant needs more efficiently.
These are the three steps we always recommend for organizations looking to implement a more precise lubrication plan. Before making any significant changes, implementing these three processes can get your organization started on improving its lubricant process. So what comes next? That’s where we can also help!
Switch to Chevron ISOCLEAN® lubricants
The next step we recommend companies take is to switch to Chevron ISOCLEAN® lubricants. The ISOCLEAN® certification is more than just corporate branding. To be certified to meet the ISOCLEAN® standard, our lubricants must:
- Meet OEM cleanliness requirements
- Have been tested to increase equipment life
- Have been tested to optimize oil life
- Have been tested to improve equipment reliability and reduce the need for on-site filtering
- Have been tested to reduce overall maintenance and costs
As you can see, this is a pretty lofty standard. But the Chevron ISOCLEAN® standard is a new standard of lubricant cleanliness. They are tested in the Chevron lab using state-of-the-art processes, so you can trust that they will arrive clean and ready to use. This higher standard of cleanliness improves the lubricant’s effectiveness and helps better protect your equipment.
Sign up for our oil analysis program
The next best step for a successful precision lubrication program is to sign up for the Chevron LubeWatch Oil Analysis program. Using this program, you’ll get complex data on your lubricant needs based on samples from your equipment. You’ll get reliable insight into your equipment needs and lubricant readiness with six different test packages and specialized testing procedures. With this data, you can establish lubricant readiness and implement preventive maintenance standards based on the lab’s recommendations and test findings.
Oil analysis is a highly effective tool that can help improve your lubrication program. But it is only part of the precision lubrication program. In an article from Machinery Lubrication, highlighting the Gear Watch podcast, the host shared an exciting story about oil analysis that illustrates this point. We’d like to share it with you.
The host was tasked with helping a client improve the quality of his oil samples for a plant. He suggested to the plant manager that a precision lubricant survey would be more effective because it would consider the whole plant’s machinery lubrication needs and contamination control issues. Unfortunately, the offer was turned down, and only a basic oil analysis survey was conducted.
Going into the oil analysis survey, the plant manager knew that previous oil samples had all been labeled critical, with high particle ISO counts. The plant manager felt that the sampling practices were the issue, so he hoped the survey would help improve overall equipment sampling and the results. The host dutifully prepared sampling procedures for all components and helped them improve the sampling process to get more accurate results. But even with better sampling practices, the results from the lab continued to be the same. The plant manager was baffled.
The host explains that even though the oil analysis sampling procedure was off in this case, the lubrication program was not precise. They weren’t monitoring contamination weaknesses, they didn’t have proper documentation, and their lubrication practices were poor. Because of this, their lubricants continued to get tainted, which led to equipment breakdowns and increased maintenance.
As you can see from this real-world example, oil analysis is a tool for an effective lubrication program and not the golden ticket to improving lubrication. Yes, the recommendations from the lab are beneficial in enhancing your lubrication practices. However, you must still meet the three crucial steps we shared to implement a precision lubrication program. Without a top-to-bottom overhaul of your program to be more precise and eliminate contamination sources, your program will be ineffective.
Implementing a precision lubrication program is hard, but it’s a step that can help your business reduce costs, improve lubrication processes, and extend the life of your equipment. The steps and tips we shared today can help you get started. Contact your Greg’s Petroleum representative today for expert advice on our oil analysis program based on your organization’s specific needs!