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IPP & Renewables

THREE MYTHS OF LUBRICATION THAT NEED BUSTING

As specialists in lubrication reliability
solutions, the team at Lubrication
Engineers (LE) South Africa frequently
comes up against myths relating to
lubricants. “People believe things
or are taught things about oils and
greases that are not necessarily
true, and by implementing this bad
advice or outdated practices, they
risk compromising their equipment,”
says Callum Ford, National Marketing
Manager at LE South Africa. “We try
to educate the market about best
practice to help raise the bar and fight
misinformation.”

These are the three most common myths the
company comes up against:

1. The colour of a lubricant affects its
efficacy
“We often have people phoning us up and
saying things like, ‘I want the red lubricant
because it’s the best.’ In truth, the colour of a
lubricant is normally something that is added
as a marketing tactic or to differentiate it into machinery in optimal quantities at set
from other products – it has no bearing intervals.”
on the effectiveness of the lubricant itself,” 3. A grease is a grease
says Ford. “The most important aspect of Not all greases are created equal. Some are
lubrication choice is selecting a product that the consistency of honey; others of peanut
is best suited for your particular application.” butter; still others of toffee. Naturally, these
greases will behave differently.
Ford explains that LE South Africa uses colour About Lubrication Engineers
in its products to differentiate between “When it comes to grease viscosity, there’s Lubrication Engineers (LE) South Africa
product types. Edible lubricants are white; a scale created by the National Grease represents the LE brand in South Africa,
lithium-based lubricants are yellow; open- Lubricating Institute (NLGI) ranging from Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe
gear lubricants are purple and lubricants for 000 to 6, representing very low to very high and Zambia. LE hold the rights to Southern
cars and trucks (especially oils) are red. Some viscosity greases,” says Ford. “Equipment Africa on the LE brand, recognised
companies, on the other hand, will colour manufacturers will specify the NLGI grade internationally as a specialist in lubrication.
lubricants to match their brand colours. required on the equipment. If it specifies
NLGI 002 and you’re using NLGI 3, you’re Through LE Incorporated, they are a member
2. Grease it until it leaks going to run into problems, because the of a worldwide network of companies
Ford says that this line of thinking holds that grease penetration is different.” spanning Europe, South America, Asia and
greasing machinery with more lubricant Africa, while LE Incorporated operates in the
means you will have to re-apply the product Furthermore, even greases with the same USA and covers North America including
less often. However, overlubricating can NLGI rating will behave differently depending Canada, Mexico and the USA.
create problems instead of resolving them. on the base and additives with which they
are made. “For example, I use a test machine LE provides high performance, heavy-duty,
“Overgreasing equipment will mean the we call a ‘rat trap’ to show clients how two quality lubricants for virtually every industry
lubricant begins to work against itself, lubricants with the same NLGI grade react and application, as well as expert technical
causing internal friction,” he explains. “This to the same force or pressure over time. back-up and support.
can lead to temperatures rising in the The one lubricant disperses from the joint
machine, seals collapsing, and even eventual where it’s been applied much quicker than For more information:
equipment failure. For optimal performance, the other, loses its tackiness and heats up far www.lubricationengineers.co.za
you need the right lubricant applied at the more quickly. This is why we take the time
right frequency and in the right dosage. to understand what the specific lubrication Contact:
This is why lubrication schedules are application is, and what a customer needs Callum Ford
important, and why many companies are before we recommend a product. Each of National Marketing Manager, LE
moving to single-point lubrication systems, our unique, proprietary additives has been Tel: 011 464 1735
which automatically dispense lubrication designed to yield specific benefits.” Email: callum@lubricationengineers.co.za
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