Fluid Analysis Is Greener than You Think


We should all be aware of the impact we as humans have on the environment and want to protect our vital resources for future generations. The world population continues to grow, and for growth to be sustainable we must use less virgin products and capture more what we use for reuse. This is one of the reasons why I’m proud of the impact POLARIS Laboratories® has on the environment.

The fluid analysis industry helps our customers conserve natural resources. We provide customers with information about the remaining useful life of the fluids so they can use their lubricants and antifreeze to the fullest. These extended drain intervals allow the customers to go much farther than the manufactures’ recommendations in some cases. This saves the energy, raw materials and pollutants needed to produce new fluids and reduces millions of gallons of used oil and coolant needed to be disposed of.

In addition, the testing extends the life of the equipment itself. By taking action on the recommendations made by our data analysts, our customers prevent wear and reduce the chances of catastrophic breakdown. They get more miles traveled, hours of productivity and tons moved from their equipment than without our maintenance recommendations. Simply put, engines, transmissions and hydraulic systems last longer. The amount of steel and other metals no longer needed to make replacement equipment is staggering.

While POLARIS Laboratories® helps the environment through our customers; we also do our best to reduce the environmental impact of the testing we perform. We use solvents, plastic, glass and cardboard during the fluid analysis process, as well as the fluids sent in for testing. These items can harm the environment if not handled properly, so we have set up procedures to handle and dispose of these products responsibly. Nearly everything we use can be recycled.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Six Reasons Why Cooling Systems Need More Attention

It’s easy to think that coolant is separate from engines because it has its own system and fluid. But remember, your coolant flows through your engine and is just millimeters from the oil and fuel. For as vital as coolant is to the life of engines, it’s surprising how often it gets overlooked.

Here’s six reasons why coolants get overlooked and why that’s wrong:

          • It isn’t changed as often as oil. Oil usually gets contaminated more quickly and needs to be changed, but coolant can be contaminated just as quickly.
          • I use an extended life coolant. ELCs can be contaminated just as quickly as conventional coolants.
          • I’ll just change the coolant every fall or spring. Conventional coolants can last two years and extended life coolant formulations can potentially last five or six years. In addition, changing the coolant will just mask some problems instead of fixing what caused the problem.
          • All coolants are the same. Cooling systems have changed dramatically in the last 30 years and coolants have transformed with them. OAT, HOAT and NAPS formulas have joined conventional coolants, and mixing them together can make both coolants less effective.
          • If something’s wrong, I’ll just drain and flush the system. Some coolant/engine problems cause corrosion, deposits, pitting and erosion that can’t be fixed by flushing. One-tenth of an inch of scale alone has the same insulating capacity as three to four inches of cast iron.
          • The problem is in the engine, not the cooling system. About 40 percent of preventable engine failures are caused by problems initiated in the cooling system. The damage might show up in the engine or the oil, but the root cause can be traced back to the cooling system or the coolant itself.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of how cooling systems and coolants are misunderstood. Our Practical Cooling System Maintenance Training class dispels the remaining myths while training you to use analysis data to discover what’s happening in your engine. Want to get started today? Watch my short video to start solving your coolant mystery today.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published April 24, 2014

Performing a Program Review


Today I want to get into the nuts and bolts of the review and what to do with the results.

First of all, reserve at least 1 hour of uninterrupted time for the review. Make sure you invite key personnel to attend and everyone is prepared. 

An effective program review will provide answers to the following questions:

        1. What are the goals of the review?
        2. Is your equipment list up to date?
        3. Is your fluid information up to date?
        4. If you test both lubricants and coolants, are you using both sets of data to see if an issue in the cooling system is affecting the lubrication system?
        5. Is the total number of samples increasing or decreasing?
        6. What information did you discover during the review?
        7. What action will you take to resolve problems?
        8. When will you perform the next review?

Make sure everyone leaves the review with a clear expectation of what needs to happen in the future and when it needs to be accomplished. Write down notes from the meeting, assignments and deadlines.

Performance reviews can be a lot of work, but the process can push a fluid analysis program to the next level. If you need assistance setting up a program review, have questions for the Field Services Team or just want to share the results of a successful review, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you!

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Taking Action On Maintenance Problems Pays

Fluid analysis program reviews can identify root causes of common breakdowns in order to help maximize their fluid analysis investment. Usibelli Coal Mine implemented process changes after their program review which produced compelling, business-improving results. The company is taking action on more recommendations, the number of components with severe problems is dropping and more units are being adequately sampled.

Prior to the program review, Usibelli did not consider contamination to be a contributor to their maintenance issues. POLARIS Laboratories® conducted a fluid analysis audit of the company and discovered several system wide problems that allowed contamination into the lubrication, which led to equipment wear.

Read the Full Case Study

 

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Your Fluid Analysis Program


Every day I consult with companies about their fluid analysis programs. The majority of them know they could do more to maximize the benefits, but they don’t know all of the different things they can improve or how much it will help them.

Here are the 10 questions we ask our customers to find out how effective their fluid analysis program is.

          1. Has a complete equipment list been compiled and sent to the lab?
          2. Have you set definable and measurable goals for your program?
          3. Has the proper testing regime been selected for each unit type?
          4. Have your personnel received training on proper sampling techniques?
          5. Are samples taken in a timely manner and at consistent intervals?
          6. When maintenance is recommended by the lab, are work orders issued for maintenance or other diagnostics?
          7. How do you evaluate the effectiveness of your program?
          8. How do you evaluate cost savings attributed to your fluid analysis program?
          9. What are the qualifications of the lab you have selected?
          10. Does your current program have immediate access to your data?

If you don’t have an answer for each of those questions, you are most likely not getting what you could out of your fluid analysis program. Contact us today to set up a full, onsite Fluid Analysis Program Assessment so you can achieve all of the financial benefits of a world class fluid analysis program.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published March 4, 2014

Avoid Catastrophic Failures

Pulling a boat out of the water for repairs is an expensive wake-up call for marine-based businesses, especially when the damage was preventable. A company in Florida lost nearly $100,000 in replacement parts, repair charges and lost productivity to dry dock a boat after a hydraulic motor suffered a catastrophic failure. The company used this expense as a catalyst to improve their fluid analysis program.

Read the Full Case Study

 

Building the Road to Fluid Analysis at CONEXPO/CON-AGG


CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014
, the premier construction equipment, technology and product show in North America commences this week, and POLARIS Laboratories® is ready. As one of the 2,400 exhibitors and 125,000 attendees, we look forward to seeing the newest innovations and bleeding-edge technology that will propel construction companies into the 21st century.

However, fluid analysis isn’t a new concept for most attendees of CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Most industry experts know what it is and how it can help them, but are they taking advantage of everything fluid analysis offers? Or simply, can they afford to continue not taking advantage of the proven results of fluid analysis?

We want our customers’ fluid analysis to be the MVP of their maintenance and reliability program. We know it helps equipment run longer and reduces maintenance costs, things that can make or break construction companies. We’ve seen our customers enjoy a 25-, 30 and even 40-to-1 return on their fluid analysis investment, all with proven and reliable technology.

How can we make this significant return the norm for attendees of CONEXPO-CON/AGG? We’re committed to continue improvements to providing maximum quality, increased speed and greater accessibility to our analysts and certified consultants. At the same time, we’re making sure our customers can leverage our information by taking action on the recommendations. What good is having a star player on your team if they sit on the bench for most of the game?

Presentation at IFPE on Thursday afternoon
Speaking of star players, we’re proud to be able to show one of our own at IFPE, a conference co-located with CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Data Analyst Jawad Khan is presenting on the effects of water contamination and how you can address the problem in the South Hall-Bridge Meeting Complex on Thursday, March 6, 2014, at 2:15 p.m. We’re excited to have our technical expert available at both shows to talk to attendees about water contamination and other fluid analysis concerns.

Stop By to Learn More
To learn more about how you can get the most out of your equipment, remember to stop by Booth #64715 in the South Hall 1-2.  Our team will share how POLARIS Laboratories® can provide the information necessary to improve your maintenance and make your company more profitable. I look forward to seeing you there.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published March 3, 2104

Weathering the Storm: The parallels of Winter and Fluid Analysis


This weekend I’m headed to Tampa Bay, Florida to join our vice president of sales for a presentation to one of our top customers. Naturally, after the cold and snow that gripped most of the country over the past six weeks, I’m looking forward to going someplace warm. Yet, I have to admit winter could have been worse. The weather models provided accurate, reliable and timely predictions, which helped many of us avoid the challenges of delayed shipments, flight delays, stalled traffic and increased probability of car problems.

I’ve been able to draw a timely and compelling parallel between the weather models and the benefits of equipment condition monitoring, when done properly. With the right fluid analysis partner, you also can capture accurate and actionable management information about your equipment, fleet and more.

With more information about what’s going on inside your equipment, you can take your fluid analysis program to the next level and make more informed maintenance decisions. When equipment wear shows up on your radar, you can improve production through fewer unscheduled breakdowns. Finally, when your company takes action on the information you’ve received, you can save time and money by avoiding hidden costs. Our customers have come to recognize the proven impact, proven uptime and proven savings that come from partnering with POLARIS Laboratories®.

Finally, thinking about my trip to a much-appreciated warmer climate reminds me of one reliable success story where a Florida company reaped the benefits from proven impact, proven uptime and proven savings. Can you afford not to know the forecast of your equipment?

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published February 21, 2014