Lubrication Best Practices

How Can Lubrication Best Practices Reduce Your Environmental Footprint?

Many companies don't connect their lubrication programs to their impact on the environment, but most are becoming aware, at least, of the effects of lubricant disposal.

For starters, many lubricants are derivatives of crude oil and by law need to be disposed of properly. Given the trend toward greater use of synthetics - a popular "pro-environment" strategy - it is important to note that making good environmental choices regarding lubricants won't compromise the operation of your machinery.

The first step is to develop an understanding within your organization of lubrication best practices. The philosophy should be that a company is responsible for the lubricants it uses and stores from cradle to grave. The evaluation and use of quality lubricants will go a long way in keeping equipment running smoother, longer and with greater efficiency.

A proactive stance on equipment maintenance is one key step in helping your organization focus on lubricants. Studies have shown that well-oiled machinery consumes less electrical power, up to 5 percent less in some cases, and this savings can help finance proactive maintenance. Also, good lubrication keeps equipment from ageing prematurely.

Lowering Consumption is "Green" for both the Planet - and Your Wallet
Ultimately, the effect of lubricants on the environment is proportional to the amount used, so minimizing consumption is a major component to conserving natural resources. Therefore, anything that can be done to minimize consumption is worthwhile to your lube management program.

The first consideration is to make sure that oil is changed only at the end of its useful life. In many shops, oil is changed at arbitrary "calendar" intervals, wasting some of the useful life of the oil and increasing material, labor and downtime costs. In many cases, these hidden costs far exceed the value of the oil being changed.

Also relevant to the amount of spent lubricant is the use of extended-life synthetic lubricants. These are more costly, and their use highlights the need for good record-keeping to determine their cost effectiveness relative to conventional lubricants.

Another factor to consider in minimizing lubricant consumption is system leaks, which should be fixed promptly. A system dripping oil is costing money not only in lubricant, but in machine wear. Finally, nobody wants to release lubricant to the environment, but for an application in which such a release is possible, choose a biodegradable synthetic lubricant.

The Advantages of Oil Analysis
A progressive lubricant management program cannot exist without oil analysis, a diagnostic tool that checks your oil's acidity, viscosity, contamination with other fluids, degradation and particulate content. An analysis can also help you optimize the efficiency of your oil change frequency, minimize lubricant usage, and uncover product solutions that offer lower total cost, better performance metrics - or both.

From the perspective of environmental impact, managing your lubricant consumption can be a challenge, and not one most companies want to navigate solo. That's an excellent reason to call Acculube.

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We have the lubricants and other fluids you need, when you need them, and can help with lubrication best practices that are best for your facility and budget.
Contact Us: 1.800.404.2570 or email us at sales@acculube.com

Accurate Lubricants & Metalworking Fluids, Inc.• 403 Homestead Avenue; Dayton, Ohio 45417 USA • Phone: 937-461-9906 Fax: 937-461-9917
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