Oil Change Frequency ???

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Dear All,
Greetings to you.

I have a few tribology curiosities and sincerely hope that some wizards from you could give me a better answer.Please help me.

1. What’s the most optimum Oil change frequency / change interval for centrifugal pumps with rolling element bearings, as a best practice?
2. Is there any specific thumb rule for demarcating ANSI / ISO type pumps, in considering oil change interval?
3. What’s the oil change strategy for Durco (various marks – presently under the label of Flowserve), which come with the new Inpro VBXX type seals?
4. What is your experience with Synthetic oil to Mineral? Can oil change frequency arbitrarily be extended infinitely till next repair OR to a fixed period of say 3 OR 4 years?
5. Can I suggest ISO VG 68 oil to an oil ring lubricated bearing which is OEM specified for 46, considering the higher amb temp in the gulf region?
6. What is the consequential effect of the above, as the amb temp which varies from 2-55 deg.C between seasons in this region?
Although quantity of oil in these pumps individually are small,but when considering the application to more than 1000 pumps make a good volume, besides the associated costs like labor, planning etc..
Hence please consider this querry as an attempt to cost reduction and enhance the availability of these machines.
Your valuable responses awaited.
Thanks and kind regards. Sajeev

11/30/082:32 AM

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renewaMember

Most Durco pumps I've come across in australia (gets pretty hot - summers upto 40-42C)use an ISO VG 68 oil which is a turbine mineral oil type. The change out period varies in the different mine sites from annually to when it can be done.

If you have high temp variations from night time to day time - check with the manufacturer if you can use a hydraulic oil with a high viscosity index (around 150 plus)either an ISO VG 46 or 68 which may provide better start ups and less viscosity variation over the temp range - given possibly better volumetric efficiency.

11/30/086:34 PM

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cristianschmidMember

Dear Sajeev

Your questions are very interesting.

You should consider the following issues:

1- Temperature could be an important factor for using Synthetic Oils.

2- As the oil is cleaner, cooler and dryer, the MTBF of the pumps will increase. You should find the oil change frequency, in order to maintain the oil free of contaminants. Also, daily task of purge, and refill, must be done.

3- You should consider Oil Mist Lubrication for your pumps. We are applying it here in Spain, and we have noted very good results in Refineries and Petrochemical Plantas (Ethylene Plants).

I hope my comments help to you,

Regards,

12/1/0812:19 AM

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lbdMember

Hi Sajeev

I will not comment on type or grades of oil for your application, others are more experienced than I in that field.

But regarding oil change intervals, because you are runnng 1000 or so pumps, you are well placed to sample and analize different oils and determine optimum oil change intervals your self.

What I would do, is select a few pumps all using the same lubricant and sample the oils say every 250 hours or so (without changing the oil)and graph the wear metal counts.

If the rate of increase is linier, the wear rate is linier and not accelerating due to deteriorating oil condition.

When the wear rates begin to accelerate away from linier, you have passed the optimum life of the oil inservice. Pick a interval in hours just slightly less than where the accelerated wear begins and use that as your maximum interval for that particular oil.

If you repeat the process for the different oils you may want to try, you will soon find the best oil/ change interval to suit your economic goals

Cheers

LBD

1/20/092:52 AM

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