Take it from Mid-West Instrument–an oil analysis is a relatively simple procedure that’s instrumental in confirming the condition of a lubricant. Moreover, oil analyses are a big help when it comes to developing a plan for oil treatment and replacement, ensuring maximum output and protection for the machines on your production floor.
What are the Benefits of an Oil Analysis?
An oil analysis offers several benefits, including:
- Enhances equipment life and reliability by ensuring proper lubrication and detecting problems such as excessive wear and contamination.
- Extends oil life via effective monitoring, treatment, and cleaning, which translates into longer intervals between oil replacement.
- Reduces equipment downtime by spotting and correcting potential oil issues before they become serious problems.
What Are Some Keys to a Successful Oil Analysis?
Just as there are important steps to follow for getting the most out of your filters, pipes, and oil industry pressure sensors, so too are there several keys to successful oil analysis. These keys include:
- Identify the equipment critical to your operational productivity and make it a priority to analyze the lubricants used in these components.
- Use proper sampling procedures. Improper sampling may produce incorrect test results, leading to undiagnosed problems and costly repairs. Improper sampling procedures can also result in a misdiagnosis and a lot of wasted money and time taken to correct a nonexistent issue.
- Before submitting samples for testing at the lab, make sure to provide complete and accurate information for each sample. Missing or inaccurate information could result in a misdiagnosis. Remember to note the type of oil being submitted for testing, the component it services, and how long it has been in use. And of course, write legibly so there’s no risk of misinterpretation by the lab.
- Submit samples promptly to the laboratory. Delaying the submission process won’t affect the sample, but it will increase the potential for contamination. Also, bear in mind that the condition of the oil in use in the equipment will change over time. This means that the more time that passes between when the sample is taken and when it is analyzed, the less similar the sample will be to the oil still flowing in the machine. This decreases the relevance of the analysis.
- Use oil analysis regularly, not just when you suspect a problem. Ideally, oil analysis will become part of a comprehensive preventive maintenance program for your business in the Midwest. Much like routine medical checkups, the consistent collection of analysis data will help your company identify trends and spot potential complications early on, with plenty of time to correct them before a problem develops.
When an important piece of machinery fails, production is stalled until the failure is rectified, resulting in lost revenues, compromised productivity, and a drop in customer satisfaction. But with regular oil analysis and the use of proper instrumentation in the Midwest, all of these problems are easily avoidable.
Mid-West Instrument
Since 1958, Mid-West Instrument has been a leading global manufacturer of differential pressure gauges, transmitters, and switches. Our company is family owned and operated from our facility located in Sterling Heights, MI.
Our state of the art factory is equipped the latest CNC machine tool technology, test equipment, calibrations standards, and oxygen clean room. This allows us to maintain precise tolerances and product quality with the shortest lead times in the industry.
Contact our experienced professionals to learn which differential pressure instrument best fits your application.