Extend Machine and Lubricant Life
   Through Contamination Control
January 27, 2005

In This Issue:

Keeping Contaminants Out is Better Than Taking Them Out

How Particle Contamination Affects Oil

Elevation Assists in Contamination Control

A Guideline for Machine Cleanliness Levels

Most Commonly Found Contaminants in Industrial Lubricants

 

Keeping Contaminants Out is Better Than Taking Them Out

When improving fluid cleanliness, it is easier (and cheaper) to exclude contaminants by ensuring seals, vents and breathers are in good shape rather than to filter out contaminants when they are already inside a component. Consider using a full-flow spin-on filter (with an appropriate beta rating) as an air filter. Because the differential pressure across an air filter is lower than across a full-flow oil filter, oil filters are typically more efficient at removing particles from the air than they are from oil.


How Particle Contamination Affects Oil

From the book: Oil Analysis Basics

Particles, especially catalytic metal particles like copper, iron and lead increase the rate at which oxidation occurs. Particles also strip the oil of its polar additives, including antiwear additives, extreme pressure additives, rust inhibitors and dispersants. Also, numerous very small particles in stable suspension can cause the oil's viscosity to increase.

More about the book Oil Analysis Basics


Elevation Assists in Contamination Control

The higher a machine is located above ground level, the lower the ingression of particles into the oil.


A Guideline for Machine Cleanliness Levels

As a general guideline, the cleanliness of an oil in a machine before starting operation should be two ISO classes below warning levels (targets) for that machine.


Most Commonly Found Contaminants in Industrial Lubricants

Some of the most common industrial contaminants found in lubricating oil systems are solid particles such as dirt and dust, water, oxidation products and air.

Resources


Replace your drain plugs and monitor oil for dirt, water and discoloration.
Esco Oil Sight Glasses
E-mail | 800.966.5514

 


In-line Measurement of Moisture in Oil
Vaisala HUMICAP®
Hand-held MM70
Measurement independent of oil type, age, temperature
E-mail
1-888-VAISALA (824-7252)

 


On-Site high speed purification and drying of contaminated lube systems.
Flow rates up to 5,000 gallons/hr. No downtime – we clean while you run!

 

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Training Calendar

FEBRUARY 2005

Machinery Lubrication I
14-15 Gaborone, Botswana
22-24 Point Lisas, Trinidad

Machinery Lubrication II
16-17 Gaborone, Botswana
24-25 Gdansk, Poland

Oil Analysis I
8-10 San Diego, CA
15-16 Sunninghill, Johannesburg, South Africa
23-24 San Juan, Puerto Rico
22-24 Daegu, Korea
23-24 Valencia, Venezuela

Oil Analysis II
17-18 Sunninghill, Johannesburg, South Africa

Oil Analysis – The Complete Course
8-10 Gdansk, Poland

Effective Mobile Equipment Lubrication
22-24 Reno, NV

Técnicas de Lubricación
17 Cartagena, Colombia
22 San Juan, Puerto Rico
22 Valencia, Venezuela
24 Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Análisis de Aceite para Equipo Móvil
15-16 Cartagena, Colombia

MARCH 2005

Machinery Lubrication I
1-3 Nashville, TN
1-4 Sydney, Australia
14-15 Santiago, Chile
17-18 Guayaquil, Ecuador

Machinery Lubrication II
16-17 Santiago, Chile
17-18 Gdansk, Poland

Oil Analysis – The Complete Course
16-18 Bangkok, Thailand

Oil Analysis I
1-2 Oslo, Norway
7-8 Galicia, Spain
7-8 Jwaneng, Botswana
15-17 Point Lisas, Trinidad

Oil Analysis II
1-3 Nashville, TN
3-4 Oslo, Norway
9-10 Galicia, Spain
9-10 Jwaneng, Botswana

 

Filtration Tips is published twice a month by:
Noria Corporation, 1328 E. 43rd Court, Tulsa, OK 74105 USA. (918) 749-1400

Because results will vary widely based on a number of factors, Noria Corporation cannot warrant the results of any material within this e-mail.

© 2005 Noria Corporation

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