Is air harmful to lubricants?
author: Ann
2025-02-19
Is air harmful to lubricating oil? The lubrication system is a key part of various machines, equipment and automobiles. One of the key points of maintenance is that impurities cannot be brought in. We usually pay attention to pollutants such as dust, particulate impurities, and moisture, but often ignore air. Air does affect the performance of lubricating oil. Although lubricating oil will inevitably come into contact with air, air mixed in lubricating oil, such as foam on the oil surface and bubbles that cannot be released inside the oil, will have a negative impact on lubrication. Generally speaking, lubricating oil will slowly oxidize (contact with oxygen) after contact with air, but this process is relatively slow, inevitable and normal, but if air enters the lubricating oil, the problem will be serious.
There are three main types of air mixed in lubricating oil: air dissolved in the oil (invisible to the naked eye), bubbles suspended and retained in the oil that cannot be released, and foam on the oil surface. Among them, the most harmful to machines and lubricating oil are bubbles suspended and retained in the oil.
There are three main types of air mixed in lubricating oil: air dissolved in the oil (invisible to the naked eye), bubbles suspended and retained in the oil that cannot be released, and foam on the oil surface. Among them, the most harmful to machines and lubricating oil are bubbles suspended and retained in the oil.
Foam will gather and float on the oil surface, and the volume is relatively large. If foam appears, generally beware that bubbles have already formed inside the oil. Bubbles are suspended and retained in the oil. They are small in size but very harmful. Bubbles can cause the oil to become turbid. If the oil is turbid, take some oil samples. If stratification occurs, the turbidity of the lubricating oil is caused by water or other liquid contamination. If the oil sample becomes clear after standing for a period of time, bubbles are mixed in the oil.
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