By Jim Fitch
Machinery Lubrication Magazine
Lubricant users are increasingly inquiring about the cleanliness and lubricant quality of new oil deliveries.
This trend is logical and probably unending as the maintenance field becomes more aware of the linkage between contamination and machine reliability. Yet there has been legitimate concerns raised by some lubricant suppliers regarding this trend.
These concerns center on the common disregard for proper storage and handling by distributors, transport companies and, in particular, the end user.
After all, how practical is it to go to the extra expense to deliver a clean, high-quality lubricant when this integrity is subsequently adulterated by careless handling and storage practices. Yet it is also not logical to be less vigilant in delivering clean lubricants of dependable high quality.
From my experience, the answer to this dilemma lies in managing the chain of custody from the lubricant supplier to the end user.