The combustion engines powering your industrial machines rely on an ample supply of engine oil in order to maintain proper lubrication and prevent overheating. Paying close attention to the engine oils that you are using in your machines could be a great way to improve the performance of your industrial equipment and expand the life of these valuable machines in the future.
Here are two important things that you need to know about engine oils in order to ensure you are using the best product for your machinery.
1. The viscosity of your engine oil changes with temperature.
In order to fully protect the engines powering your industrial machines, you need to ensure that you are using an engine oil with the right viscosity.
You want the engine oil to be thick enough to coat moving parts as it flows through the machine's engine, but not so thick that it moves too slowly to provide adequate lubrication. Since the viscosity of any engine oil can change with temperature, you should look for an oil product that carries a multi-grade rating.
This rating system features one number followed by the letter W, then a dash followed by a second number. The first number that is attached to the W represents the engine oil's viscosity when cold, while the second number is a warm viscosity rating. Check the manufacturer's recommended viscosity ratings for your machines then look for a multi-grade rated oil that will meet these recommendations, regardless of temperature.
2. You can't always rely on color when determining when to complete an oil change.
The oil flowing through the engines of your industrial machines has a limited lifespan. Many manufacturers mistakenly believe that an oil change must be completed when the engine oil in their machines begins to turn dark. This is not always true.
If the engine oil you are using is a detergent oil (and most engine oils are), then the oil will begin to darken as particles that could contaminate a machine's engine are suspended safely in the oil. As the engine oil darkens, this is merely an indication that it is performing properly.
Rather than relying on the color of the engine oil to determine when an oil change is needed, follow the machine manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule instead.
Taking the time to learn some vital facts about engine oils will help you better protect the engines powering your industrial machines and preserve their performance well into the future. For more information, visit websites like http://www.smallandsonsoil.com.
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