What do you think of considering these parameters for lube oil change for big machineries?

1) Goal based limits
Parameter: Caution to Critical
Cleanliness 14/11 16/13
Wtr content 0.3% 0.5%
TAN 0.2 0.4
Fuel 1.5% 5%
Glycol 200ppm 400ppm
Soot 2% 5%
Flash point Drop of 30o Drop of 50o

2) Ageing limits
Parameter: Caution to Critical
Viscosity +/- 5% +/- 10%
RBOT -30% -60%
FTIR-Ox 0.3 1.0
Zinc -15% -20%
Calcium -10% -20%
TBN -50% -75%

Josh -

Those seems more like benchmarks or goals.

What is the strategy to manage the program to get there?

What are the issues?

Lube storage
Lube supplier consolidation
ISO Cleanliness standards
Filtering
Used Oil Sampling
Lube dispensing
Lube Tech training
Lube management training
New lube delivery inspection
Lubrication specifications
Operator training
Documented Lube Procedures

How did you get there Josh?

Terry O

Another topic for the Lube Program:

Lubricant selection
* Equivalent lube to minimize number of different lubricants stored at site.

Actually I read those parameters in a paper. I would like to hear others' experience in real applications. Somebody has commented to follow manufacturer's recommendations or to change the lub oil when one or more parameters have been exceeded.

Josh, the parameters cited are for engine oil

Soot is a combustion product that is washed away from cilinders (the detergent effect of the "engine oil") I prefer engine oil, because gearoil is also a lubricant. Long time ago a lubricant vendor told me that if an engine oil is still clean after two months: "sue the vendor" because it is leaving carbon in the combustion chamber

Fuel: presence of fuel in the oil can be a sign of faulty injectors or problems with the fuel system.

Glycol: is normally found in cooling water (a sign of internal leaks, faulty gaskets

Water: see glycol or in tropical climates with a high humidity - check your air intake

Flash point drop: fuel diluted in the oil - possible source is a faulty fuel system

Zinc, calcium(water), silicium (sand) are contaminants.

Iron and copper are definitely signs of wear. Probably zinc is also provenient from a galvaized part. The chemical guys out there: correct me if I am wrong.

Oxidation, TAN, TBN are related to aging, just like viscosity.

Steven