Oil Cleanliness And Analysis – What You Should Know

April 28, 2022

Oil cleanliness is an undeniably important aspect of our lives. From the clothes we wear, the food we eat, and even the air we inhale, everything needs to be perfectly clean. If it isn’t, the results become apparent in the shape of deteriorating health conditions and ultimate failure to live life normally. A similar situation faces your industrial machinery and plant as well. It needs to be fed with a clean lubricant or fuel. Otherwise, the machinery and plant will not function properly and ultimately lead to downtimes and increased overheads.

In this regard, you often hear us emphasizing the importance of constant contamination control, the need for hydraulic filters, and how Hydraulic filtration systems can help you out. Surely, you know that it all boils down to keeping the lubricant or oil contamination-free.

But did you ever wonder why hydraulic contamination is such a huge problem? How can a tiny dust particle of merely a few microns disrupt the operations of an intimidatingly large plant? Or how can a seemingly harmless drop of water cause a machine to malfunction?

A renowned American author, Darren Hardy, once raised quite an insightful question:

“Have you ever been bitten by an elephant? How about a mosquito? It’s the little things in life that will bite you.”

Similarly, it is always the seemingly small and harmless things that cause major problems in your machines. For this reason, we offer this blog to systematically educate you regarding a few fundamental aspects of industrial fluid cleanliness and analysis.

Why Is Oil Contamination Such A Big Problem?

Consider your own body and the air you inhale as an example. Indeed, you know the cruciality of clean air for your health. Despite the many efforts, you can not rid the air of things like dust. What will happen if these dust particles and germs find their way into your respiratory system? You will fall sick. So how do you ensure that only clean air reaches your lungs? Well, your body has a natural inbuilt filtration system in the form of a nose. It filters the air of dust and traps it so that it does not reach your system.

Likewise, hydraulic oil is like breathing air for your machines. It needs to be void of any contaminants (for reasons emphasized earlier). This is where the importance of industrial oil filtration systems manifests itself. It is like a nose for your machine. It cleans the oil that reaches its components to reduce damage and downtime.

Thus, ensuring oil cleanliness is absolutely essential. In this regard, the first step is oil analysis.

Fluid Analysis

Before getting rid of the contaminants, you must understand which type is most apparent in your oil and the system as a whole. For this, you need to carry out a thorough examination. This will be the first step in setting up a proper filtration system for your machines.

Besides cleansing the oil, fluid analysis also acts as one of the most reliable preventative maintenance methods for industrialists. This evaluation will help you understand, identify, and respond to the problem accordingly. As a result, unnecessary and costly future repairs can successfully be prevented beforehand.

What Does This Analysis Reveal?

Performing timely and regular oil analysis reveals the following information:

Prevalent contaminants: Primarily, this is the reason why an evaluation is carried out in the first place. The main aim is to discover the major contaminants causing system malfunction. These foreign particles are the biggest culprit behind accelerated machine wear and are often responsible for downtimes and labor idle times. Hence, detecting oil contamination is very important.

Suitability and condition of the lubricant: While detecting contamination, fluid analysis also seeks to ascertain the suitability of the fluid for the intended purpose. This analysis will help you understand whether the extent of contamination in the fluid and whether the fluid is still good enough to be used or needs a replacement.

The health of the whole system: It is imperative to understand that contamination does not only come from external sources such as the environment or the hydraulic fluid itself. It could also be from within the system. Often, a malfunctioning system undergoes immense abnormal wear. This is often seen in the form of metal particles.

About Harvard Filtration

When it comes to industrial oil filtration systems and related services, we leave no aspect untouched. From off-line filtration systems to portable filter carts, we offer the widest variety of filtration products to ensure contamination-free and smooth machine operations. Learn more about Harvard Filtration and its exquisite services.

FAQs

1. Why is oil cleanliness important for machinery performance?
Oil cleanliness is crucial to minimize wear, reduce downtime, and extend the life of both the lubricant and the machinery. Contaminants like dirt, water, and metal particles can damage components, reduce lubrication efficiency, and lead to costly repairs or failures.

2. What is oil analysis, and how does it help?
Oil analysis is the process of testing lubricants to assess their condition and detect contaminants or wear particles. It helps identify potential issues early, ensuring proactive maintenance, improved equipment reliability, and optimal oil performance.

3. How is oil cleanliness measured?
Oil cleanliness is typically measured using ISO cleanliness codes (e.g., ISO 4406), which quantify the number of particles of specific sizes (e.g., >4µm, >6µm, and >14µm) in the oil. These codes provide a standard reference to determine whether the oil meets cleanliness requirements for specific machinery.

4. What are the best practices to maintain oil cleanliness?

• Use High-Quality Filters: Regularly inspect and replace filters as needed.
• Implement Proper Storage: Store oil in clean, sealed containers in a controlled environment.
• Prevent Contamination During Handling: Use clean transfer equipment and avoid exposing oil to air, moisture, or dust.
• Monitor Oil Regularly: Schedule routine oil analysis to track contamination levels and oil condition.

Contact us now for more information.