Calculating a lubricant's Viscosity Index (VI) requires understanding how the viscosity changes with temperature. The VI is a numerical value that indicates how stable a lubricant's viscosity is with temperature changes. A higher VI means the lubricant maintains its...
Articles
How to Calculate the Beta Ratio of Your Oil Filter
Calculating the beta rating for an oil filter involves understanding how effective the filter is at removing particles of a certain size from a fluid. The beta rating is a standard measure used in filtration to quantify the filter's efficiency, specifically its...
Why Bearings Fail: Lubrication Mistakes Cause 70% of Breakdowns
It's very much a lubrication issue. To prevent two metal surfaces from welding due to excess friction, keep them apart when expected to interact. A suitable film of lubricating oil accomplishes that. Some 50 years ago, MIT Mechanical Engineering Professor Emeritus...
Justifying Your Oil Analysis Program: A Financial Perspective
Have you ever wondered how a launched-from-scratch vibration program can require investment ranging into the mid-six figures, pull the most talented and skilled repairmen, and disrupt other condition-based agendas? I used to wonder. The answer boils down to the most...
The Case for a Detailed and Structured Lubrication Plan
Proper lubrication of equipment, machinery, and devices is essential to ensure mechanical systems' smooth operation and longevity. This process must be based on rigorous procedures, precise calculations, and various crucial factors to determine the correct amount of...
Contract Lubrication Services: Pros and Cons
Lubrication Management – A Necessary Evil? Lubrication tasks are essential to maintaining assets within any facility, regardless of industry. That means personnel are required to undertake these tasks. Traditionally, companies employed an individual or even a team of...
Optimizing Alarm Limits to Combat Alarm Fatigue in Oil Analysis Programs
Examining oil analysis programs – both off-site and onsite programs across various industries- it is observed frequently that oil analysis abnormal alarm observations and recommendations are not being acted upon promptly. The ability of reliability teams to ignore the...
Viscosity Index Improvers Explained
What are Viscosity Index Improvers? Viscosity Index Improvers (VIIs) are additives that help maintain the viscosity of lubricating oils across a wide temperature range, ensuring consistent performance. This article will explore the nature of viscosity index improvers...
Ensuring Reliable Motor Performance: A Guide to Precision Maintenance
In the most basic of terms, an electric motor is a simple device that converts electrical energy into rotary motion that, when transmitted to a driven load, will perform mechanical work. If applied correctly, the motor will run effortlessly. If set up correctly, the...
From Grease Guns to Hydraulics: Understanding Pressurized Fluid Hazards
Safety in the workplace is paramount. Few people would disagree with this statement, especially working professionals in the maintenance and lubrication fields, who are primarily well-trained in this area. When it comes to handling and transferring chemicals and...