Oil analysis protects profits and equipment. An important part of predictive maintenance, oil analysis helps manufacturing plants and heavy-duty construction companies to extend the machinery’s life and guarantee performance.
.png)
Industry estimates demonstrate that 75% of repair costs and equipment downtime are traceable to the use of polluted lubricants and fuels. Companies can detect contamination and prevent their machines from failing by conducting periodic oil analysis.
For instance, a heavy-duty construction company can perform oil analysis to examine the condition of lubricating oils in its haul truck engines. A test like this shows the wear and tear of the engine and can alert the need for replacing the engine oil.
A car manufacturer can trace the amount of water in the oil used in the drives of its industrial robots. While the presence of a little water is not dangerous, higher amounts can result in the formation of corroding acids and ultimately damage the industrial robot.
Moreover, oil analysis is useful for detecting the leakage of antifreeze liquids or fuel dilution.
How to Run Oil Analysis?
For accurate oil analysis, it is important to pay attention to sample size and have an understanding of the operating temperate of the machine using the analyzed lubricant.
Modern predictive analytics depend on automated instruments to analyze oil in order to eliminate human error and the risk of inaccurate results. The leading analyzers available in the market can be used by field workers without any prior training in chemical analysis. They are also portable and make on-site and real-time monitoring feasible.
Grabner Instruments MINISCAN IR LOG is an example of such modern analyzers. Weighing roughly 7 kg, the MINISCAN IR LOG is an advanced FTIR-analyzer; that is, the device employs an infrared spectrum to measure the properties of oils, additives, and contaminants. Its special dial-path sampling system ensures accurate measurements even with just a single drop of oil.
So, Should You Run Oil Analysis?
When you decide to run periodical oil analysis using an automated FTIR-analyzer, you can reduce equipment downtime by up to 15%.
On-site oil analysis results are an important source for informed decision-making for field engineers. Eventually, informed decisions guarantee equipment performance for prolonged periods, thereby decreasing the total cost of ownership (TCO) of industrial machinery.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Grabner Instruments.
For more information on this source, please visit Grabner Instruments.