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Oil sampling: Benefits for preventative maintenance
10 October 2019
While it is important to understand the benefits of fresh oil, Miller Oils explains that it is also important to understand how it interacts with the machinery it lubricates, and what the oil looks like days, weeks, months and even years down the line.
As an oil blender, Millers Oils formulates, blends and supplies products for many different applications across all sectors. Each batch of oil is QC tested to ensure it meets or exceeds requirements, allowing the company to guarantee that its oil is the high quality needed to support and enhance customers’ processes.
In many industrial applications, oil sumps are often filled then left to run without an oil change taking place during a significant period of time. As a result, components such as bearings, gears, actuators and valves can start to stick or wear. This wear is not noticeable to the maintenance department until it becomes a major issue – causing significant downtime during the repair process.
If oil isn’t sampled regularly, it’s impossible to know whether everything is running smoothly, or if a machine is on the verge of a costly break down. Taking oil samples regularly for analysis keeps the maintenance department informed of the machine’s condition, and maintenance can be planned around operations, saving both time and money.
A good oil sample report should include analysis of the following:
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Viscosity |
Viscosity is crucial for optimum lubrication, and can change due to contamination or oxidation. |
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Additive level |
Additives such as anti-wear, anti-corrosion etc. become depleted over time as they fulfil their purpose in the oil. |
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Contamination |
Oil can become contaminated by environmental factors such as water, dust and debris, as well as by other oils. |
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Wear metals |
Wear metals in the oil offer an insight into not just the health of the oil but the health of the machine components. High levels of a certain metal can indicate that a particular component may need replacing soon. |
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