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Know the best practices for oil sample analysis

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  Know the best practices for oil sample analysis Getting a data-rich sample is crucial for successful oil analysis. An incorrectly taken fluid sample can skew outcomes, generating either false negatives or missing possible disastrous failure. Sometimes it can also result in a false positive leading to unnecessary maintenance. The truth is a world-class oil analysis program starts with good practices and procedures to extract the most representative oil sample. Here are some of them:  Always remember that a small 2 oz (60 mL) sample needs to represent the full tank. On a 150-gallon (600 liters) reservoir, that 2 oz sample is a ratio of 10,000:1. Without the benefit of trendable samples, it is difficult to detect hidden wear patterns or conditions. Keep in mind that sampling location and method do matter. It has been observed that a sample coming straight from the drain port due to various concentrations of stagnant bottom sediment, debris, and particles cannot effectively repr...
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Six Tips for Choosing Hydraulic Oil of Optimal Quality

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  Six Tips for Choosing Hydraulic Oil of Optimal Quality Prioritize a quality lubricant with a significant in-service lifespan and the ability to protect equipment from contamination and total system failure.   Best-performing hydraulic oils are of paramount importance for industrial plants and organizations of all kinds to ensure maximum machine efficiency and reduce the total cost of ownership for their assets. And these organizations are on the lookout for quality lubricants, but most often they tend to be clueless. A checklist would be useful. Among the many features they must look for, they must prioritize a quality lubricant with a substantial in-service lifespan and the ability to protect equipment from contamination and total system failure.    Here are six tips to help you choose hydraulic oil of optimal quality:   Use a Turbine Oil Oxidation Stability Test (TOST) to evaluate the potential service life of hydraulic oils but refrain from only using the T...
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Are you relying on your equipment filters to clean up your oil?

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  Are you relying on your equipment filters to clean up your oil? We’ve posted quite a few articles in this space on the importance of oil cleanliness in reducing the risk of damage to equipment components. Yet we still hear numerous questions. Like, “Why do I need to start with a certified clean oil if my equipment filters will protect my equipment?”   To help answer these questions, Chevron’s Research Scientist, Dr. Nathan Knotts, completed a study utilizing an industry standard hydraulic system developed for measuring hydraulic fluid performance. We showcased the results in a webinar , The Ultimate Guide to Oil Contamination , hosted by our friends at Polaris Laboratories.   Equipment filters can help reduce the level of contaminants over time, however during this time damage can occur to equipment parts. As you can see from the chart below, the equipment filter gradually reduced the contamination level of the typical hydraulic oil AW 32 over the 50-hour operating...
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