Several years ago, I published an article titled, “How to Get Started with Onsite Oil Analysis: A Step-by-Step Guide”. In that article, I outline 7 steps to developing a successful onsite program: Developing an equipment criticality profile Determining sampling...
Oils are composed of base oils and additives. Typically, additives are sacrificial; they deplete first before the base oil is affected. As such, by trending their quantities over time, we can gain insight into a few of the conditions to which the oil is subjected. By...
Oil analysis is widely recognized as one of the most potent tools in precision lubrication and reliability engineering. Yet, despite decades of industry experience, many organizations unknowingly undermine their effectiveness before the first sample is even taken. A...
The reliability and availability of industrial assets are critical factors for the competitiveness of modern organizations. In this context, maintenance has evolved from a predominantly corrective model to preventive, predictive, and more recently, proactive...
In industrial and manufacturing facilities, lubrication and condition-monitoring programs focus on equipment that runs every day, such as compressors, gearboxes, pumps, turbines, and hydraulic systems that keep production moving. These critical assets are often...
Sometimes we can spend hours poring over technical data sheets, comparing oil performances, and finally selecting the “right” oil which aligns with the needs of our equipment. Then, within 2 months, the oil degrades, our machines shut down, and we have a bunch of...
What's the Right Number of Lubricants for Your Plant? Over the years, I have been to sites with either too many or too few lubricant types. Both scenarios are potentially costly. On the one hand, too many types of lubricant are costly in terms of purchase price and...
It is very likely that you have encountered the RPVOT (Rotating Pressure Vessel Oxidation Test), a laboratory test developed in the 1960s and later standardized by ASTM D2272. It measures the antioxidant stability of lubricating oils by accelerating oxidation in a...
The International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML) today announced the election of three new members to its Board of Directors: Kelley Evans, Matthew G. Collins, and Mike Ramsey. Their appointments became effective January 23, 2026. The election of Evans,...
Maintenance teams are entering a new era, one where data-driven insights enable automation and transform how equipment health is monitored and maintained. For years, the industry has been moving from preventive maintenance to predictive maintenance, but what’s next?...
