One of the first theoretical lessons you learn when you dive into the world of lubrication and lubricant analysis is that temperature generally harms these compounds. This is true, and many trainers in the area have at least a few slides dedicated to this point in...
Lubricants encounter negative influences throughout their working life, including load-induced shear stress, thermal degradation, water contamination, aeration, wear metal catalyzing, and contamination from dirt, chemicals, and incompatible lubricants and fluids....
Lubricants are the lifeblood of machinery, and every decision, from selection, purchase, storage, dispensing, and health management, plays a critical role in ensuring the reliable operation of essential machines. A minor oversight can lead to significant downtime,...
In my experience, flash point is one of the most misunderstood numbers on a product data sheet. Most people ignore it, as it is rare for oil system temperatures to approach the flash point range (typically >200°C). When it does become a concern, there is often...
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...
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...
It is often stated that viscosity is the most important property of a lubricant, and with good reason. Film thickness—the separation between moving machine surfaces—is primarily dictated by the lubricant's viscosity under operating loads, speeds, and temperatures. For...
Fuel economy is a crucial aspect of modern vehicle maintenance and fleet management. With rising fleet fuel costs and ever-tighter environmental regulations, achieving better fuel efficiency has never been so important. The lubricant in use is often an overlooked...
Additives can enhance, suppress, or add new properties to oils. Defoamants, dispersants, and detergents are no exceptions. This trio of additives can be found in most finished lubricants, albeit in varying ratios. Let's discuss the main differences among these three,...
Pour Point Temperature – What Is It? The Pour Point Temperature is the temperature below which an oil loses its flow characteristics. It can be found in most Product Data Sheet (PDS) for an oil and in "Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties" of the Safety Data...
