Are greased applications causing unexpected downtime in your operation?

by John Geyer

Improper greasing practices can translate into significant financial loss due to downtime coupled with unplanned and expensive maintenance and repair costs. Because of this, it is critical to understand the importance of proper grease-related lubrication and maintenance practices in aggregate operations.

To practice proper grease application and lubrication procedures for equipment reliability, companies should consider three key causes of grease-related problems: improper grease selection (wrong product choice for the application), under-greasing (lack of lubrication), and over-greasing (too much lubrication).

Grease selection
Choosing the right grease and oil viscosity combination is the most important factor in practicing proper grease maintenance. OEM specifications for lubricating oils normally include viscosity at ambient operating temperature, additive requirements, base oil type, and even considerations for different environmental conditions. Grease specifications, however, often lack the necessary details to make a proper selection, leaving it up to the lubrication engineer to make assumptions for the application involved.

Due to the lack of specificity in many of these applications, it is important to learn how to properly select the right grease or combination of greases for individual application in the plant. Consider the following factors when selecting the most effective grease product for your specific needs:

§  Is the application located in an indoor or outdoor environment?