Minimise Machinery Wear and Downtime
Downtime caused by machinery component failure represents a major cost for the mining industry, however attention to some basic, good lubrication practices is a simple approach to minimising these costs.
Using the best available quality oils, in conjunction with sub-micron bypass filtration and quality oil sampling, can substantially extend machine reliability of expensive equipment.
Enginecare Systems’ Laurie Hyland said some lubricants can produce contaminants from heat, causing carbonising oxidation, nitration and polymerisation of the oil.
“This process can reach the stage where oil filters start to block, bypassing contaminated and unfiltered oil through the engine. This debris laden oil causes rapid wear and hastens filter blocking in a vicious snowballing circle,” he said.
“By using premium quality 100 percent synthetic hydraulic oils such as AMSOIL, enables valve banks, pumps and hoses to last much longer than with using standard lubricants. An investment in premium grade synthetic oils and fine, low-micron bypass filtration in
gearboxes, crushers, conveyors, mills, drive boxes and mobile plant can save significant annual maintenance costs.
“Apart from boosting mechanical reliability, major savings can be achieved by using AMSOIL 100 percent synthetic oils that reduce wear on the fastest moving components exposed to the thinnest oil film. There are also environmental benefits that
include a reduction in the disposal of used oil and filters. Just doubling an oil and filter change interval reduces that waste disposal by 50 percent.
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