Investing in new equipment is a great way to increase productivity and efficiency, but only if the equipment is maintained correctly. As a fuel and lubricant supplier, we want to help our customers make the best lubrication decisions for their business. In this blog, we will share two case studies from Chevron that showcase the importance of adopting lubricant cleanliness standards to maintain equipment.
Case Study #1- Trinity River Lumber Co.
First, let’s explore the Trinity River Lumber Co. in Weaverville, CA. For 75 years, the mill has processed fir and white fir logs into lumber, but a decade ago, the mill needed to rebuild after a devastating fire. As a result, the owners invested in new equipment, including 20 electro-hydraulic servo values that helped keep the logs flowing into the mill. The mill began implementing lubricant cleanliness standards to protect these valves and the new equipment.
They started by switching to Chevron ISOCLEAN® lubricants. Making the switch to ISOCCLEAN® lubricants was a no-brainer for the company. They began using Chevron’s Rando® HD 68 Hydraulic fluid for their hydraulic needs. They also implemented the ISOCLEAN® SmartFill label program to improve oil storage. The lead lubrication technician, Jeffery Evans, says, “We adopted the ISOCLEAN® product about four years ago. [We found] that the oil in our system lasted longer, and we saw a higher level of reliability.”
Make the switch to ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants
The first lesson that this case study shows us is the importance of switching to Chevron ISOCLEAN® Certified lubricants. We can’t say enough about how great this program is and why it’s so valuable for our customers. Here is a quick overview of the program and why it works.
The ISOCLEAN® certified lubricants are cleaner than typical lubricants. Chevron’s higher testing and production standards help reduce particle contamination and improve cleanliness. Suppliers and customers know that even brand-new lubricant products straight from the supplier can become contaminated with particles that will damage your equipment over time. All this contamination often occurs during processing, transportation, or storage. Typically, new lubricant products can contain 32x more particle containments than is recommended for equipment use. Chevron’s ISOCLEAN® lubricants are lab-tested using Chevron’s state-of-the-art processes to meet OEM cleanliness standards. The increased cleanliness of ISOCLEAN® lubricants means that they increase component life, improve reliability, and help reduce the need for equipment maintenance and onsite filtering. Chevron has even created a calculator that you can use to save how much your company will save by switching to ISOCLEAN® lubricants.
Try Chevron’s SmartFill® labeling system
The other tactic that helped to improve lubricant cleanliness and performance for Trinity River Lumber Co. was implementing Chevron’s SmartFill® labeling system. Proper lubricant storage and labeling are essential to maintain cleanliness and avoid lubricant waste. However, many businesses struggle to implement such programs. It takes time and effort to organize a dedicated lube room and labeling program. Chevron saw that many business owners were struggling with this and decided to create the SmartFill® program.
The SmartFill® program makes it easier to maintain lubricant integrity with proper storage and labeling practices. This system utilizes strong visuals and process flow maps to improve productivity and sustain lubricant cleanliness. The SmartFill® program provides operators with labels for different lubricants and storage materials with charts to track everything. These tools make it easier for operators to categorize supplies by product name, ISO grade, shelf life, and other standards. It’s a ready-to-go program that simplifies lubricant storage, so you don’t have to create a whole system from scratch. At Trinity Lumber Co., they used the system to create a dedicated bulk storage area with Des-Case breathers and direct couplers to maintain cleanliness.
Case Study #2- Full-Service Waste Provider in Georgia
Communities depend on waste collection providers to keep their streets and homes clean, but waste providers’ machinery and equipment go through a lot of wear and tear. The local waste service provider in the Central Savannah River Area of Georgia knows this too well. The locally owned company has 26 waste collection trucks with different engines and lubricant needs. From 2011 to 2012, the company began struggling. Their lubricant supplies were not doing the job, and several of their trucks were experiencing hydraulic issues. The hydraulic fluids and engine oil weren’t performing, which caused excessive heat leading to seal failures in the valve bodies and cylinders. Unfortunately, the extra heat was also causing engine oil breakdowns. The only way to deal with that issue was to change the oil every 250 hours!
After an audit and lab analysis of their equipment and oil samples, they realized that lubricant cleanliness was the problem. The oils they were using didn’t meet OEM ISO Cleanliness requirements. However, the company was determined to fix the problem, so they switched to Chevron ISOCLEAN® certified lubricants and engine oils. Like Trinity River Lumber Co., they started using Chevron Rando® HD 68- ISOCLEAN hydraulic oil and saved an estimated $400 a truck! In addition, they found that “sticking valves and leaking seals were costing us over $12,000 each year in pump cylinder and valve body cost. [When we switched] to ISOCLEAN Certified Rando HD 68 in midstream, one pump’s life was almost doubled.”
Making the switch to ISOCLEAN® is worth it!
As a certified Chevron supplier, we know the value of their ISOCLEAN® certified lubricants and engine oils. Just like these case studies show, it makes a difference. We’ve seen our customers’ results when they make the switch and implement lubricant cleanliness standards in their business. If you want to protect your equipment, you need to invest in clean lubricants to reduce equipment downtime and maintenance. From our point of view, your best bet is Chevron ISOCLEAN® certified lubricants. So, if you’re ready to make the switch, contact your Greg’s Petroleum Service representative to start today!