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...
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Standby Generators Need Proactive Fluid Analysis to Stay Reliable
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...
When “Right Oil, Wrong Practice” Still Fails Assets
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...
How to Interpret RPVOT Regions for Better Lubricant Decisions
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...
Oil Consolidation Reimagined: The 5S Method for Smarter Lubrication Practices
When we walk into a pharmacy, there are thousands of items. Some of them do the same job but have different names and price points, while others are specialty items designed to solve a particular problem at a slightly elevated price point. Some of these may not be...
Lubrication’s Hall of Fame: Meet the Top 10 Pioneers
In 1966, at the height of the "swinging sixties" movement, the world of lubrication, friction, and wear finally received worldwide recognition as a scientific entity responsible for continued machine health and asset longevity. In retrospect, such recognition was long...
When Bearings Fail: A Fire Pump’s Hard Lesson in Reliability
In a Middle Eastern refinery, a newly commissioned fire water pump, crucial for emergency services, experienced repeated high temperatures at the non-drive end (NDE) bearing during periodic test runs. Over time, these temperature spikes eventually led to a premature...
How to Select Oil Analysis Tools That Align with High-Value KPIs
Oil analysis is critical to any reliability program, serving as an effective predictive tool for potential equipment failures. When properly deployed, oil analysis has the power to enhance maintenance practices within industrial and fleet settings. This article will...











