Five tips for storing lubricants
author: Leila
2024-07-31
Lubricants and greases will slowly oxidize after being exposed to air, and oxidation is the main reason for lubricant deterioration. If the lubricant has deteriorated before use, or is severely oxidized, its life will be shortened during use, and it will deteriorate before the normal oil change period, resulting in poor lubrication and wear of the machine.
In many cases, lubricants cannot be used up at once, especially industrial lubricants purchased in large quantities. How to store lubricants reasonably to ensure the performance of lubricants in use? Here are five tips for storing lubricants and greases:
In many cases, lubricants cannot be used up at once, especially industrial lubricants purchased in large quantities. How to store lubricants reasonably to ensure the performance of lubricants in use? Here are five tips for storing lubricants and greases:
1. Establish an oil storage room:
Establish a clean and dry lubricant storage room specifically for storing lubricants, greases and lubrication tools. Oils should be classified during storage to avoid mixing. Containers and tools used for different oils should be distinguished to avoid mixing. The following tools are needed to store oil products:
Oil barrels should be equipped with gate valves or faucets
Oil pumps for conveying and dispensing lubricating oil and grease
Oil filter vehicles, waste oil recovery devices, grease guns and other portable filtering and cleaning tools
Oil barrel storage racks
Items used in lubrication maintenance, such as spare filters, breathing caps, oil pipes, grease nozzles, rags, oil pots, cleaning oil, solvent oil special containers, etc., must be kept clean and dry
Lubricating oil purification devices. If the lubricating oil in use is contaminated, it needs to be purified, such as oil-water separators, vacuum oil filters, etc.
Establish a clean and dry lubricant storage room specifically for storing lubricants, greases and lubrication tools. Oils should be classified during storage to avoid mixing. Containers and tools used for different oils should be distinguished to avoid mixing. The following tools are needed to store oil products:
Oil barrels should be equipped with gate valves or faucets
Oil pumps for conveying and dispensing lubricating oil and grease
Oil filter vehicles, waste oil recovery devices, grease guns and other portable filtering and cleaning tools
Oil barrel storage racks
Items used in lubrication maintenance, such as spare filters, breathing caps, oil pipes, grease nozzles, rags, oil pots, cleaning oil, solvent oil special containers, etc., must be kept clean and dry
Lubricating oil purification devices. If the lubricating oil in use is contaminated, it needs to be purified, such as oil-water separators, vacuum oil filters, etc.
2. Avoid outdoor storage:
If conditions permit, try to choose indoor storage for oil products. Because the temperature difference between outdoor and indoor is large, lubricating oil is easy to absorb moisture in the air, causing oil products to be contaminated. In addition, outdoor is easy to be exposed to rain, sunlight and dust, all of which will cause the lubricating oil to oxidize, deteriorate and be contaminated. In addition, oil barrels should be placed horizontally or tilted to avoid moisture and impurities from invading from the top of the container.
If conditions permit, try to choose indoor storage for oil products. Because the temperature difference between outdoor and indoor is large, lubricating oil is easy to absorb moisture in the air, causing oil products to be contaminated. In addition, outdoor is easy to be exposed to rain, sunlight and dust, all of which will cause the lubricating oil to oxidize, deteriorate and be contaminated. In addition, oil barrels should be placed horizontally or tilted to avoid moisture and impurities from invading from the top of the container.
3. Do a good job in oil quality control:
The deterioration of lubricating oil mainly includes the failure of additives and the oxidation of base oil. The following aspects must be paid attention to during storage:
The oil itself and the container must be clean.
Avoid contact with substances that make the additives in the oil ineffective, such as water, various harmful metals, etc. For some oils with strong additive activity, the storage time should be minimized.
Appropriate storage temperature. Too high temperature will accelerate the oxidation reaction rate. Avoid sunlight.
Keep the oil sealed and try to avoid contact with air.
During storage, if conditions permit, it is recommended to control the quality of lubricating oil through oil testing. Oil testing can accurately understand the oil quality, predict the remaining service life of the oil, and understand whether the oil is contaminated.
The deterioration of lubricating oil mainly includes the failure of additives and the oxidation of base oil. The following aspects must be paid attention to during storage:
The oil itself and the container must be clean.
Avoid contact with substances that make the additives in the oil ineffective, such as water, various harmful metals, etc. For some oils with strong additive activity, the storage time should be minimized.
Appropriate storage temperature. Too high temperature will accelerate the oxidation reaction rate. Avoid sunlight.
Keep the oil sealed and try to avoid contact with air.
During storage, if conditions permit, it is recommended to control the quality of lubricating oil through oil testing. Oil testing can accurately understand the oil quality, predict the remaining service life of the oil, and understand whether the oil is contaminated.
4. Avoid long-term storage:
Oil will gradually oxidize during storage. Therefore, when purchasing lubricating oil, you should choose the packaging reasonably according to the actual usage and oil change time. On the premise of ensuring the supply of oil, try to choose small packages of oil and try to use it up at one time. The remaining oil should avoid long-term storage, avoid high temperature during storage, and store in a cool, dry and sealed place. During storage, the oil supplier should be consulted to understand the storage period of the oil. The remaining oil should follow the "first in, first out" principle to avoid long-term backlog.
Oil will gradually oxidize during storage. Therefore, when purchasing lubricating oil, you should choose the packaging reasonably according to the actual usage and oil change time. On the premise of ensuring the supply of oil, try to choose small packages of oil and try to use it up at one time. The remaining oil should avoid long-term storage, avoid high temperature during storage, and store in a cool, dry and sealed place. During storage, the oil supplier should be consulted to understand the storage period of the oil. The remaining oil should follow the "first in, first out" principle to avoid long-term backlog.
5. Avoid oil contamination:
The containers for holding and storing lubricating oil must be clean, airtight, and not in contact with metals that are easy to promote the oxidation and deterioration of lubricating oil.
During transportation and storage, special attention should be paid to prevent the mixing of water and impurities.
The oil tanks storing lubricating oil should be cleaned regularly and drained in time.
An air filter respirator is installed on the oil tank or oil tank, a filter and a dust cap are installed at the refueling port, and a drain valve is installed at the bottom.
The warehouse should be kept dry, ventilated and clean.
In addition to oil analysis, some simple methods can also roughly judge the changes in oil quality, mainly in the following aspects:
Color change: Oxidation can make some lubricating oils darker; water pollution can cause lubricating oils to become turbid, white or obviously emulsified.
Whether there is precipitation: The failure of additives may cause the precipitation of certain substances, and dust and various solid particles will also form precipitation.
Stratification: Insoluble liquid sediments, such as severe water pollution, mixing with other liquids, or liquid additives that deteriorate and precipitate.
The containers for holding and storing lubricating oil must be clean, airtight, and not in contact with metals that are easy to promote the oxidation and deterioration of lubricating oil.
During transportation and storage, special attention should be paid to prevent the mixing of water and impurities.
The oil tanks storing lubricating oil should be cleaned regularly and drained in time.
An air filter respirator is installed on the oil tank or oil tank, a filter and a dust cap are installed at the refueling port, and a drain valve is installed at the bottom.
The warehouse should be kept dry, ventilated and clean.
In addition to oil analysis, some simple methods can also roughly judge the changes in oil quality, mainly in the following aspects:
Color change: Oxidation can make some lubricating oils darker; water pollution can cause lubricating oils to become turbid, white or obviously emulsified.
Whether there is precipitation: The failure of additives may cause the precipitation of certain substances, and dust and various solid particles will also form precipitation.
Stratification: Insoluble liquid sediments, such as severe water pollution, mixing with other liquids, or liquid additives that deteriorate and precipitate.
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