Why Should You Incorporate Visual Oil Inspections?
Why not - it's almost free - it's quick- and it's easy.
Visual oil inspections can be done by the operator at the equipment with a little or no training. Use a simple checklist approach to incorporate key visual inspection points into a shift change, equipment startup or daily walk around procedure:
- Check if there is enough oil in the equipment with a level gauge
- Levels drop with leakage or over consumption of fluid
- Did you know? Hydraulic equipment can lose 5 to 10% of the total volume annually
- Check if the oil is changing color over time
- Color changes may occur when the wrong fluid/viscosity is added
- Airborne particles might start to become visible
- Higher than normal operating temperatures will discolor or varnish the oil
- Check if there is free water collecting at the bottom with a bottom sight gauge
- Bottom water may collect during aggressive wash-down, with water entering breather, vent ports or leaky connections
- Moisture held in the hot oil and headspace during operation will condense and drop out on cooldown. Humidity and seasonal temperature changes will accelerate free-water accumulation. Removing this water is key to preventing it from getting back into the oil
Visual inspection is more than just inspecting the oil, here are some other key inspection points:
- Check if the desiccant breather has changed color and is functioning properly with a vacuum gauge. A color-coded filter minder or vacuum gauge will indicate the filter is breathing freely
- Bottom water will collect when the color change indicates spent desiccant
- If there is no color change, the presence of free water could suggest a clogged breather
- Is a reddish brown oil mist showing at the top of the breather
- Check if there is leakage or weepage on the equipment or in the area
- Oil weepage is a magnet for dirt and debris
- Do connections need to be tightened?
- See if there is extra dirt/product debris build up around coolers, shafts or actuators
- Just listen - does the equipment sound right to you?
- Is any component showing excess heat? Check - without touching, areas around the motor or pump
All of these visual oil inspection points are great opportunities to avoid poor equipment performance or simply to move towards eliminating all unnecessary maintenance. Remember a change in any of these checkpoints could (or should) trigger the need for a quick, low cost oil sample or at minimum a further investigation by the techs.
Here are Some Suggestions for Incorporating Visual Inspection Tools Into Your Equipment:
Checkfluid’s AD Drain Mount with a brass level, and bottom oil sight glass will allow you to inspect the oil level and detect water alongside oil sampling and draining (click here to see options). You can also add a vent line to connect to Checkfluid’s AB Breather Mount for a closed fluid management system. See below for sight options to incorporate with the AD Mount, please note Acrylic Level Gauges are available just not displayed.
Checkfluid’s AB Breather Mount with Filter Minder TM allows you to mount a desiccant breather, a fill port, a filter minder, and a return vent line (if needed) while maintaining a closed system. It can be combined with the AD Mount for a complete fluid maintenance system
AB Breather Mount Visual Inspection Points
The AB and AD adapters join together as the CORE to condition monitor oil levels, free water and sediment levels, changes in coloration, desiccant breather performance. Moreover the CORE is ready to provide a fast offline filtration to a level needed to extend equipment life and optimize performance. The condition monitoring process is not complete without precision Checkfluid sampling providing the steady representative repeatable fluid sample data you need to make those important management decisions, quickly and confidently.
Checkfluid’s AC Mount is installed at the mid-level port. It is designed to allow you to check oil levels, colour, and clarity using either a brass or acrylic level gauge. You can also add bottom sediment glass to look for water. The AC Mount allows you to combine visual inspections with best-in-class oil sampling.
AC Mount with Brass Level Gauge
AC Mount with Acrylic Level Gauge
Precision valve oil sampling away from the variability of drain or drop tube sampling provides amazing fluid and equipment insights at a low cost. Easily installed, the LTJ Sight sampling tube reaches down into the active oil while still providing vital oil level information. Available for most port sizes.
LTJ Sight Sampling Tube Features
The 3D Bullseye can be mounted alone on motors and individual components to offer the best visibility from any angle than the traditional sight windows.
3D Bullseye
Checkfluid offers a variety of these components and configurations to meet your individual needs. Contact us at info@checkfluid.com
