Up Time Magazine - December 2008/January 2009 - (Page 31) A good practice is to use separate containers for different lubricant types, as mixing lubricants with different additive packages is not recommended. Normally each lubricant supplier color codes their tags by lubricant types. In Figure 6, all of their hydraulic oils would be red tags, but with different ISO numbers such as ISO 46 and 68. Containers should also be properly tagged, along with the drums or totes where the oil is transferred to the container. This will minimize the possibility of adding the wrong oil. The following is a summary of best practices for the addition of lubricant at the right place: • Become acquainted with lubrication points on new equipment through the OEM manual • Train personnel on correctly adding lubricants to equipment • Label all equipment lube points with color coded lube tags, which contain ISO viscosity, obtainable from lubricant supplier. Type of lubricant based on color • Lube containers should be used for only one type of lubricant and should have a color coded tag for lubricant type. Ideally use only one container per lube type and ISO viscosity • Apply label to lube containers • Apply tags to totes and drums Small reservoirs ( 50 gallons) should be established with oil analysis condition monitoring tests. Two major failure mechanisms for lubricants are contamination (particles/water) and oxidation. Routine visual monitoring of the oil is important. Oils that are getting darker indicate possible oxidation and should be further evaluated. Oils appearing hazy or having suspended solids indicate excessive contamination and should also be further evaluated. Oxidation is one of the primary reasons lubricants fail, and it’s temperature dependent. For every 18°F increase in temperature the oxidation rate doubles which cuts the oil life in half. This is noticeable over 140°F. When oils oxidize they produce sludge, varnish, and acids all, of which can cause equipment damage. A very useful test is to monitor the increase in the acid number of a lubricant through oil analysis and to set condemning limits for the oil. Excessive water contamination can be determined with a Karl Fisher test, and particle counting can measure the cleanliness of oil. Both of these tests can be included in an oil analysis testing program. The following is a summary of best practices for oil change frequency: • Utilize OEM recommendations for change frequency • Set frequencies for small systems based Tough boots to fill. Right Time Grease – Once we have established our program with the right type, quality, amount, and place, we need to establish proper lubrication intervals. Grease frequencies can be determined by using charts, but the following easy calculation is also is used: As maintenance and reliability professionals retire, they often take the knowledge they possess with them. This loss comes at a cost to companies. That’s where Trico comes in. We can capture that knowledge. Trico can help you integrate proactive practices into your lubrication management program. Our approach–including assessments, audits, consulting, and training–will enable you to benchmark current practices, train employees and improve overall operations. If you have tough boots to fill, give us a call. We’ve got the answers today, for today’s problems. t=K ( 14,000,000 n√d ) - 4d t = relubrication interval in hours d = bearing bore diameter, mm n= speed, rpm K = 1 for spherical or tapered roller bearings K = 5 for cylindrical or needle bearings K = 10 for radial ball bearings Oil – The frequency of changing lubricants depends upon the type of system and size of the reservoir. Initial guidance is provided by the OEM and should be adjusted based upon the environmental conditions. www.tricocorp.com 800-558-7008 31 www.uptimemagazine.com http://www.tricocorp.com http://www.uptimemagazine.com
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