By Jim Fitch
Practicing Oil Analysis Magazine and Maintenance Technology Magazine
This past year Practicing Oil Analysis featured many end-user case studies documenting cost savings from oil analysis. Surprisingly, the majority of these studies describe the partnering of oil analysis with contamination control*. In this issue is yet another case study, by Weyerhaeuser, deploying this same strategic combination. It is unlikely that these are random events but rather a well-defined pattern. If so, exactly what is this lesson and what is its meaning to machine reliability?
To some it might seem a little like an old tune. After all, hasn’t filtration been around nearly as long as lubrication? And, what’s new that hasn’t already been thoroughly explored and widely applied? For one, when it comes to cleanliness, knowing is definitely not doing. Many maintenance professionals know oil should be clean but the use of filtration and contamination control lacks rigor and discipline. Why?