What do you do if your industrial lubricants are not performing optimally in your plant engineering projects?

1 Identify the problem

The first step is to identify the problem that is affecting your lubricant performance. Some common problems include contamination, degradation, oxidation, evaporation, leakage, and improper selection or application. You can use various methods to diagnose the problem, such as visual inspection, oil analysis, vibration analysis, temperature measurement, and performance testing. Depending on the problem, you may need to take corrective actions, such as cleaning, filtering, replacing, or topping up the lubricant, or adjusting the operating conditions or parameters.

2 Choose the right lubricant

The second step is to choose the right lubricant for your plant engineering project. There are different types of lubricants, such as oils, greases, fluids, and additives, and each one has its own properties, specifications, and applications. You need to consider several factors when choosing a lubricant, such as the type, size, speed, load, temperature, and environment of the machinery or equipment, the compatibility with the existing lubricant and the materials, the regulatory and safety requirements, and the cost and availability. You can consult the manufacturer's recommendations, industry standards, or lubricant experts to help you select the best lubricant for your project.

3 Apply the lubricant correctly

The third step is to apply the lubricant correctly to your plant engineering project. This means using the right amount, frequency, method, and location of lubrication. Too much or too little lubricant can cause problems, such as overheating, leakage, contamination, or inefficiency. You need to follow the manufacturer's instructions, industry best practices, or lubricant specifications to determine the optimal lubrication schedule and quantity. You also need to use the appropriate tools, techniques, and procedures to deliver the lubricant to the right place, such as pumps, injectors, brushes, or automatic systems.

4 Monitor the lubricant performance

The fourth step is to monitor the lubricant performance in your plant engineering project. This means checking the condition, quality, and effectiveness of the lubricant regularly and systematically. You can use various indicators, such as color, clarity, viscosity, acidity, water content, or metal particles, to assess the lubricant performance. You can also use various instruments, such as sensors, meters, gauges, or analyzers, to measure the lubricant performance. You need to record, compare, and analyze the data to identify any changes, trends, or anomalies that may affect the lubricant performance.

5 Maintain the lubricant system

The fifth step is to maintain the lubricant system in your plant engineering project. This means keeping the lubricant system clean, sealed, protected, and updated. You need to prevent or remove any contamination, such as dirt, dust, water, or chemicals, that may damage the lubricant or the machinery or equipment. You need to ensure that the lubricant system is properly sealed, to prevent any leakage, evaporation, or ingress of foreign substances. You need to protect the lubricant system from any external factors, such as heat, light, or moisture, that may degrade the lubricant quality. You also need to update the lubricant system, such as changing the filters, seals, or hoses, or upgrading the technology, to improve the lubricant performance and efficiency.

6 Review the lubricant strategy

The sixth step is to review the lubricant strategy in your plant engineering project. This means evaluating the results, benefits, and costs of your lubricant performance and system. You need to measure the impact of your lubricant performance on your plant engineering project goals, such as productivity, quality, safety, or sustainability. You need to calculate the return on investment (ROI) of your lubricant system, such as the savings, profits, or losses, from your lubricant selection, application, monitoring, and maintenance. You also need to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of your lubricant strategy, and make any necessary adjustments, improvements, or innovations to optimize your lubricant performance and system.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?