Top tips

Acid number tests are common for gas engine oils but they don’t provide the full picture. You should also look at oxidation, nitration, viscosity, wear metals and base number to best evaluate your lubricant’s performance.

As part of routine maintenance, the “health” of the lubricant and the equipment itself should be regularly checked. By trending oil analysis data it is possible to proactively address undesirable conditions before they result in equipment downtime. ExxonMobil’s new Mobil Serv℠ Lubricant Analysis program is a quick and easy to use system that sends maintenance professionals expert oil analysis assessments to identify potential issues, list possible causes and recommend corrective actions.

To help detect issues before they become problems, look for trends over time in your sample analysis. A single alert might be an anomaly but consistent irregularities over multiple samples would flag the need for further inspection.

Some hydraulic oils, for example, contain zinc-based additives which can trigger misleadingly high metal wear test results. Make sure you check for any variables that might influence test data so you can pinpoint the real cause of the alert.

A scheduled maintenance programme is essential to support the smooth running of your gas engines.

Replacing consumables, such as oil and filters, typically occurs every 1,000 – 2,000 operational hours, depending on engine type and fuel quality. Using a high performance synthetic lubricant, such as Mobil SHC Pegasus™, can help extend oil and filter life, reducing maintenance downtime and used oil disposal costs.

Contact our team to learn more and discover how high performance lubes can form part of your maintenance programme.

A scheduled maintenance programme is essential to support the smooth running of your gas engines.

A common cause of unscheduled maintenance is fuel gas quality – natural gas is cleaner and less challenging than landfill or biogas. It is therefore important to ensure that maintenance periods are more frequent if poor quality gas is being consumed.

Contact our team to learn more and discover how high performance lubes can form part of your maintenance programme.

ExxonMobil’s Mobil Serv℠ Lubricant Analysis (MSLA) service is a fast, intuitive used oil analysis tool designed to save time and money by helping safeguard equipment efficiency. Its findings can help:

• Increase productivity
• Decrease unscheduled downtime
• Improve equipment reliability
• Reduce lubricant consumption

MSLA is backed up by ExxonMobil’s extensive lubricant knowledge, which enables the company to produce precise analysis and deliver detailed, actionable recommendations.

When lubricants aren’t handled and stored properly, they can deteriorate or become contaminated. This can lead to inadequate lubrication or become waste. In contrast, by taking a best practice approach you can optimise engine performance.

Good storage and handling practice includes correct unloading procedures and use of a single, designated storage area. Storage should be away from heaters, cold areas, moisture, dust and areas of varying temperature cycles.

While lubricants may represent a small percentage of operating costs, simply selecting the right oil can have a significant impact on long-term maintenance costs. Operators should take into account OEM recommendations, as well as the gas type being used. ExxonMobil works with major OEMs to test and develop its lubricants, and is continuously developing new products that are tailored to specific gases. For example, Mobil Pegasus™ 605 Ultra is specifically designed to mitigate the contaminants commonly found in gases produced from waste.

Advances in lubricant technology have resulted in breakthroughs in extending engine life, optimising oil drain intervals and improving the overall efficiency of equipment. By switching from conventional mineral oils to high performance lubricants, gas engine operators can help decrease the need for unscheduled maintenance, resulting in safer operations and cost savings.