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Machine oil – levels, viscosity and why both matter
MSC Priority Club is all about helping you to get more out of your machines for less.
In this exclusive blog, we’ll cover why machine oil levels and viscosity are so important.
Why care about machine oil levels?
Not enough oil = not enough lubrication.
Not enough lubrication within a machine can lead to parts rusting and wear and tear caused by friction between moving components, such as gears and spindles. This means higher costs due to replacing worn parts.
A machine that is struggling to move due to a lack of lubrication will also use more energy to perform the same tasks. Yes, you guessed it – higher costs again!
Unbalanced tooling leading to ‘wobble’ when running at high speeds will create natural wear - and whilst we’d never advise a tool setup of this nature – even the effects of this can be reduced slightly by efficient lubrication.
Why machine oil viscosity matters
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's resistance to flow, one of the most important factors in lubricants.
Oil thins (viscosity decreases) with increasing temperature and thickens (viscosity increases) with decreased temperature.
Every machine will have a manufacturer's recommendation for the oil viscosity to be used with it. These recommendations align machine capability with the appropriate oil.
Not following these recommendations will create issues with machine performance. For example…
· An oil that is too thick will risk clogging up the machine
· An oil that is too thin won’t provide enough lubrication
As a guide, viscosity is higher within heavier-duty oils…
· Heavier duty, higher pressure oils are required when machining larger
components and components with a requirement for more strength or durability
· Viscosity affects heat generation in bearings, cylinders and gear sets related to an oil's internal friction
· Viscosity governs the sealing effect of oils and the rate of oil usage, plus the ease with which machines may be started or operated under varying temperature conditions, particularly in colder climates
This explains why oil will flow much more easily in summer at a temperature of +25 degrees C than it will flow in winter at a temperature such as -25 degrees C.
However, not all oils respond in the same way and many oils contain an ability to resist changes in viscosity due to a temperature change.
This is referred to as the oil's viscosity index or VI…
· The higher the VI of an oil, the less its viscosity is altered by temperature changes
· The benefits of oils with a higher VI include a general increase in viscosity at higher temperatures, which results in lower oil consumption, less wear and a reduced viscosity at lower temperatures
Shop MSC’s wide range of machine oils
MSC’s comprehensive range of high-quality lubrication products includes Gear oils, Hydraulic oils, Slideway oils and more. From lubricants and grease to oils and lubrication equipment, we have everything you need to keep your machinery running smoothly - from leading brands such as...
