{"id":1049,"date":"2021-09-04T20:56:47","date_gmt":"2021-09-04T20:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/northamericanmining.com\/?p=1049"},"modified":"2021-09-04T20:56:47","modified_gmt":"2021-09-04T20:56:47","slug":"the-complex-but-rewarding-world-of-lubricants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northamericanmining.com\/index.php\/2021\/09\/04\/the-complex-but-rewarding-world-of-lubricants\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complex but Rewarding World of Lubricants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lubricant Choice And Management May Not Be The Subject Of Much Discussion At Mines. It Should Be.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

By Jonathan Rowland<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to selecting a lubricant, the decision is often based on price. This is understandable in an industry facing operating cost inflation; it is, however, often a false economy. As any lubrication specialist is quick to point out (and North American Mining<\/em> talked to four in the writing of this article), a mine may actually end up increasing expenditure if the lubricant selected does not perform as required.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lubrication selection should instead be considered a part of a mine\u2019s overall reliability equation. As Shell & Whitmore Reliability Solution noted, while lubricants themselves account for only about 1% to 3% of a mine\u2019s budget, they can affect up to 50% of the same budget. By selecting the right lubricant for the application, components operate with less friction, less heat, less wear and longer lifecycles \u2013 with significant reductions in costs possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLubricant selection affects operating costs in a variety of ways, particularly if the mine is spending a lot of money on equipment maintenance or replacement \u2013 or losing revenue to downtime,\u201d explained Shawn Whitacre, senior staff engineer – engine oil technology at Chevron.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>