Cleanliness a vital aspect of prolonging engine life
However, it is a story that the OEMs don’t want you to hear
There is no question that having clean oil and lubricants will keep engines and equipment running better for longer, but vital information regarding lube cleanliness and prolonging engine life is not always passed on to users, according to independent fluid management provider Techenomics.
“Cleanliness is next to Godliness, or so the saying goes, and it is certainly the case for lubes,” said Techenomics CEO Chris Adsett.
A recent article from Noria Corporation titled ‘Maintaining oil cleanliness standards for better contamination control’ stresses the importance of clean lubes and also espouses a conspiracy theory when it comes to this issue.
The article states that cleanliness can represent a conflict of interest for those that benefit from the sale of lubes, equipment and spare parts, therefore they keep it quiet.
It says many OEMs and lube suppliers are quick to pass on generic recommendations regarding lubricant recommendations for individual components, but when it comes to the importance of clean oil and lubes, the recommendations are either understated or missing altogether.
In referring to the recommendations, Noria asks ‘why is there no mention of required fluid cleanliness provided in the specification given by the OEM?’ or ‘Why are there no imposed industry standards for new oil cleanliness like there are for viscosity?’
“The answer is simple: competition. In such a globally competitive market where products can potentially be manufactured and shipped from overseas at a lower cost than can be manufactured from here at home, maintaining a precise level of reliability and uptime is necessary to keep costs at a manageable level.
“Contaminant-free lubricants and components will extend the lifetime of both, and in turn increase the overall reliability of the equipment train.”
In the article, Noria says: “If equipment reliability can be greatly improved simply by maintaining clean operation of the components and lubricants, why are there no standards setting requirements?
“The motives of the lubricant and component manufacturers are unknown, but we do know that big business is motivated by shareholder value.
“Lubricant manufacturers sell lubricants and component manufacturers sell components. Both must continue to do so in order to survive. That suggests some degree of planned obsolescence.”
Noria espouses that some theories indicate that big businesses conspire to produce products that are designed to operate only long enough to satisfy the warranty period. This is similar to what often happens to the average person who has a problem with their car or truck just after the warranty ends.
Chris Adsett says other pertinent questions posed by Noria are ‘Could it be that the OEMs know something their customers don’t?’ and ‘Are users missing something about cleanliness that the OEMs don’t want to share?’
“Techenomics focuses on ALL aspects of lubricant condition, including cleanliness, and our services and value-added products are aimed at ensuring clients get the best possible performance from oil and lubricants,” he adds.
“Our clients also benefits from routine analysis of unused oil and from audits of lubricant management to improve lubricant cleanliness.”
For more information about Techenomics contact: Chris Adsett, c.adsett@techenomics.com; in Indonesia Teguh, teguh@techenomics.com; in Singapore Siti, siti@techenomics.com, in Mongolia Tumee, tumee@techenomics.com, or in Australia Michael Noncic, michael@techenomics.com