Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/431954
2 | November - December 2014 | www.machinerylubrication.com Jim Fi t ch | Nori a Corpor at ioN AS I SEE IT L u b r i c a t i o n P r o g r a m s L Ways to REDUCE Lubricant SPENDING ubricant procurement is not the largest expenditure in a typical maintenance budget. However, it is viewed as a real, tangible expense that is frequently targeted for cost reduction. When it comes to lubricants, it is unwise to pretend to save money by "buying cheap." Lubricants are the lifeblood of your machiner y. Your machines' life expectancy depends largely on the quality and state of these lubricants to bathe heavily loaded frictional surfaces. Optimum reliability and lubrication must go hand in hand. Now that you are aware of the perils of poor-quality lubricants and lubrication, let's take a look at the many opportunities to reduce lubricant spending without compromising reliability. Start by writing a simple lubricant specification for each machine. Don't rely solely on the recommendations of the equipment supplier or service manual. Instead, be bold and challenge generic or general- ized statements relating to viscosity and lubricant formulation. Once again, there is a need for caution. I'm not suggesting willy- nilly lubricant changes in an effort to enhance reliability by trial and error. There is always risk associated with changing lubricants. Smart practices, though, can quickly overcome these dangers. Risk should be respected but not feared. The lubricant specification should be aligned with the optimum reference state for machine reliability. In constructing this specifi- cation, you should understand machine failure modes and overall machine criticality as a foundation to defining a machine's precise lubricant needs. There is a vast number of lubricant types available from both major and independent suppliers. Navigating the maze of options can be daunting but often very worth the effort. Find help if needed. Reducing lubricant spending requires change and initiative. For many organizations, the low-hanging fruit is obvious. Below are five effective strategies for reducing your annual lubricant spending. 1. Precision Optimum-life Lubricant Selection Optimum means optimum. Don't overspend and most definitely don't underspend. Resist the lure of cheap oil. Attempting to save money by buying economy-formulated lubricants for the wrong application is hazardous. Likewise, don't be trapped by the false promise of forgiveness. It is equally hazardous to attempt to remedy bad lubrication practices by buying expensive premium lubricants. Beware of small differences. Selecting an optimum lubricant for a machine application is an engineering process. Small differences in lubricant performance can translate into huge differences in machine reliability and lubricant cost. Don't choose any lubricant; seek the optimum. Be conservative with the number of lubricants in your plant, though. Reduce the number of lubricants in your store- room to a comfortable and efficient few. The number and range of lubricants you need will depend heavily on the types of machines and their operating environment. Long-life lubricants in the right application make a lot of sense. They extend drain intervals and lower the cost and risk of prema- 5