The Secrets For Implementing A Clean lubricant Program

If you could find an investment that guaranteed a return 40 times greater than your initial investment, you probably wouldn't pass it up.

According to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, that's exactly the return organizations can expect when they invest in quality lubricants and best-in-class lubrication practices.

For every $1,000 those organizations invest in the right lubricant and the right handling, they can expect cost reductions of $40,000 in the form of increased reliability.

A proper lubrication program begins with meeting all three of the lubricant specifications for your organization's equipment:

1. Viscosity

2. Performance

3. Cleanliness 

Achieving the first two depends primarily on selecting the right lubricant. It's important to choose the lubricant that has the correct viscosity and the right blend of base oil and additives to provide the performance you need.

You Control Lubricant Cleanliness

The third specification - lubricant cleanliness – is almost entirely up to you. While choosing a lubricant with the right cleanliness specifications is an important start, actual cleanliness depends largely on how your organization stores and handles the lubricant.

Interestingly, cleanliness is a factor many organizations overlook in the lubricants they buy and use. Many sites have failed to establish new lube cleanliness specs and overlook cleanliness when managing lubricants. But without addressing cleanliness, you cannot achieve an optimal lubrication and reliability program.

Contamination is a Significant Problem

Lubricant contamination is widely recognized as the leading cause of lubricant related equipment failure. According to Noria, 82% of mechanical wear is caused by particle contamination in lubricants. In addition, dirt and contaminants are the leading cause of hydraulic system failures.