Fluid Analysis: A Safe Bet

Unexpected Equipment Repairs

Equipment failing unexpectedly results in downtime, repairs and unsafe work conditions can occur. With sudden downtime comes the need for rushed repairs in order to get the equipment back up and running. When machine or equipment operators or maintenance technicians perform unexpected equipment repairs quickly and often times, in an unsafe manner, the risk of a serious injury increases.

So, choose predictive maintenance over corrective maintenance. 

Fluid Analysis: A Safe Bet

When you can predict equipment failure through oil, coolant or diesel fuel analysis, the risk of your operators and maintenance technicians injuring themselves decreases significantly. Downtime can be scheduled in advance, eliminating the need to rush to repair the equipment.

Your maintenance team keeps your equipment up and running so you can stay on schedule and keep your business on the road to success. So, keep your operators, maintenance technicians and other team members safe by eliminating the need for rushed repairs and participating in a fluid analysis program.

 

 

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

Published February 6, 2018

4 Tips for Shipping Success

Whether you’re submitting oil, coolant or diesel fuel samples for testing, mailing the samples can be tricky, especially if the sample jar lid is not tightened securely onto the sample jar. Loose lids can cause leakage and delay the processing of your sample. Here are some helpful tips to not only ensure your samples arrive at our laboratories in a timely manner, but improve your testing experience too.

1. Secure Sample Jars

Make sure the sample jar lids are closed tightly. Fluid pulled from equipment will likely be hot, and this may cause the lid to loosen after the fluid cools down. Also, too much fluid in the neck of the bottle will also cause the lid to loosen as well. Be sure to only fill the sample bottle to the designated Fill Line and make sure the jar is closed tightly by re-tightening the lid by hand until snug. You may also use a strip of silicone tape to secure the lid, but it is not required.

2. Shipping Container

If a hard or soft plastic mailer was provided with the sample jar, place the sample jar inside it and close it securely. The sample can be shipped in that container or protected further by placing it inside a box. Insert packing material to make sure the samples do not shift during the shipping process.

             

3. Commercial Invoice

International shipments to the United States require a commercial invoice to categorize the items being shipped. Oil and coolant samples should be categorized as Non-hazardous lubrication oil/coolant samples. Tested to destruction. Not Restricted by I.A.T.A. No commercial value. Flash Point >200°C. It is recommended to declare the value of the entire shipment as $10.00. Below is a sample of a commercial invoice.

 4. Shipment Services

Listed below are some of the more common shipping carriers that deliver packages to our testing laboratories. In order to receive your results back in a timely manner, we recommend using services that can track the location of your package so you are able to track down your sample if shipping errors occur.

  • Canada: Canada Post, Loomis, FedEx, UPS and independent couriers
  • Guatemala: DHL, FedEx, Guatemalan Post, UPS and independent couriers
  • Poland: DHL, FedEx, Polish Post, UPS, and independent couriers
  • United States: DHL, FedEx, UPS, United States Postal Service (USPS) and independent couriers

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

Published January 30, 2018

Compliance is Key

Being compliant is not only important to properly manage your PM’s, but also to uncover issues within the equipment before it becomes catastrophic. Compliance is key when it comes to managing an effective fluid analysis program.

Not taking a timely sample from each actively-used equipment will lead to performance issues and potentially downtime, which will result in more expensive repair costs and lost revenue.

Samples should be taken on time and while the equipment is in use to get the most accurate assessment of the overall health of the equipment. This will lead to extended equipment lifespans and more uptime and savings, increasing your overall ROI.

One way to ensure your program is compliant and you’re getting the most out of your ROI is by participating in a Program Review. We take your existing data and compare it to our recommendations and industry averages to give you a clear look at the compliance of your program.

The Program Review looks at:

  • Component Compliance – How many components do you have on file and, of those, how many are you actively sampling?
  • Frequency Compliance – How frequently are you submitting samples?
  • Sample Severity – How many of your samples fall into a high-severity ranking?
  • Shipping Time – What is the average time it takes for us to receive your samples?
  • Goals, Tools and Training – Are you getting the most out of the available trainings and technology?

For more information, check out our Blog on Program Reviews.

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

Published November 28, 2017

 

Battle of Base Number Testing: D2896 vs. D4739

We have two ASTM Base Number analysis testing methods: D2896 and D4739. D2896 measures the Total Base and includes all sources of Base Number including detergent, dispersant, antiwear and antioxidant additives. On the other hand, D4739 measures the ‘hard base’ such as that from over-based detergents.

What’s the difference?

In addition to ASTM D2896, the Total Base Number of a lubricant can be tested by the procedure detailed in ASTM D4739. There are subtle, yet important differences to consider when looking at Total Base Number data from each. 

Click here to learn more.

 

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

Published November 21, 2017

Improve Turbine Reliability

For turbines, unexpected downtime is not an option. The importance of this component makes reliability essential. Partnering with the right fluid analysis program, you can not only reduce downtime but also extend your turbine’s drain intervals.

Improve Your Equipment Reliability:

Turbine reliability is critical for any energy generating unit. The importance of the component to your business makes unexpected downtime unacceptable. Many plant managers move to scheduling turbine maintenance to ensure reliability.

Increase Your Savings:

There’s no way around it – turbine failure is always expensive. Planning your maintenance with a POLARIS Laboratories® program gives you the chance to extend drain intervals and perform maintenance before failures occur.

Extend the Life of Your Equipment:

The best way for you to analyze the health of your turbines is through fluid analysis. By monitoring turbine fluids, you can ensure lubrication meets the standards for the extreme working conditions of your components.

The key to improving the health of your turbines is by building a partnership with a strong fluid analysis laboratory capable of addressing common pain points. At POLARIS Laboratories®, we work every day to be that laboratory. We want to do more than provide you with a service. We want to provide you with the tools you need to succeed. Contact us at getstarted@polarislabs.com to start the partnership.

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

Published November 7, 2017

Need a little more uptime in your life?

Having a strong reactive maintenance program is great if you’re ok with constantly being one step behind your machines. No matter what– equipment will eventually break down, but it is possible to predict those breakdowns and plan maintenance around your own schedule. A healthy oil analysis program can help you easily address the maintenance challenges you experience every day.

To learn about the difference between an effective and an ineffective maintenance program, download this help sheet.

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

Published October 17, 2017

Ensure Your Compressors are Operational

While compressors may not be the most costly piece of equipment, they are critical to production. Building a strong partnership with a reputable fluid analysis laboratory is a good way of ensuring continued uptime.

Read this solution sheet to learn how you can protect your industrial components, improve equipment reliability, increase savings and extend equipment life.

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

Published October 3, 2017

The Underwater Test: Why You Should Test Your Equipment After a Flood

Sometimes it’s hard to plan for destructive natural disasters – such as Hurricane Harvey along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast and the subsequent flooding. So, what do you do if your equipment is exposed to the disaster’s effects and flooding?

Based on years of experience in helping companies save their equipment and extend the equipment’s lifecycle, quite simply we recommend taking action.

Flooding can result in water contamination and can cause corrosion and oxidation which can be extremely harmful for your equipment and, in turn, can cause holds in production and loss of business. How will you know if you need to test your equipment’s fluids to see if any damage was caused and determine if potential maintenance is needed?

First, check for signs of water ingression or leaking. Search for answers to key common challenges, such as:

  • Is the high-water mark above the containers?
  • Is dried mud crusted on the container?
  • Are caps, lids and vents still in place?
  • Are desiccant filters saturated?

After you check for signs of water ingression, the next steps for testing depend on the type of fluid:

Oils and Lubricants

Check the fluid itself for signs of water contamination. A milky appearance indicates the oil additives have emulsified as much water as they could, and there is likely more dissolved in the fluid. An oil analysis test from POLARIS Laboratories® includes a water test, and elemental analysis can identify dirt contamination from mud or salt from sea water.

Coolants

Pressure caps on coolant containers typically prevent floodwaters from entering cooling systems. However, it is still worth the time to perform a field test using a refractometer or paper test strip to determine if the glycol/water ratio is still in balance. If you suspect contamination, a coolant analysis test from POLARIS Laboratories® will determine if the external water and dirt requires the cooling system to be drained and/or flushed.

Bulk Tanks

Bulk tanks typically have water drain-off ports to remove free water that settles to the bottom of the tank, but the fluids should be checked for water as well as using the techniques above. A “thief bomb” or “bacon bomb” may be needed to collect the sample. Diesel fuel and new lubricant testing from POLARIS Laboratories® will determine if the fluid quality is adequate for future use.

It’s crucial for any contaminated oils, coolants or diesel fuel to go through analysis testing when flooding occurs. Testing can prevent future issues from arising and can help determine what equipment maintenance is needed to resume work.

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

Published September 6, 2017

Protect Your Gear Systems

There’s no avoiding dirt and water contamination in your gear systems. If you’re not careful, wear will occur and damage the overall health of your equipment. Partnering with a strong fluid analysis program, you can prevent undesired downtime and cut your costs.

To learn more about how routine fluid analysis can help protect your gear systems, check out this technical document or contact us directly at custserv@eoilreports.com.

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

Published August 8, 2017

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