Preliminary Idling or Mothballing Industrial Assets Action Steps:
For a more in-depth explanation of how to idle lubricated equipment, check out our article here
The Action Steps:
1) Develop an idling procedure; this should include safety procedures by equipment type
2) Get an equipment list from your CMMS
3) Create idling tags, color-coded or barcoded with the current oil from the equipment list - here is a template you can use
4) Consider using UV dye on your equipment to identify potential leak points - you can learn about the procedure here
5) Drain a portion of the sump into a clean container and stop when the flow of fluid is free of water and highly viscous sediment
Tips:
- Use a bottom sentiment and water sight with a drain valve
- For drains equipped with Checkfluid’s AD Drain Mount, you can use clear PVC drain hose and female quick coupling to drain your sump
6) Use a clean low rise oil drain pan to recognize any visible wear debris
7) Measure the drain fluid and top up the sump with the correct fluid in the correct quantity
Tip:
- Use a top a pump [PUMP-02] for smaller quantities up to 4 L
- For larger quantities use a dedicated oil transfer container up to 10 L
- Avoid funnels
8) Use a dedicated filter cart and CORE Solution [Checkfluid’s AD, AB Mounts] to filter the machine
9) Replace the desiccant breather with an L16N to vacuum seal the sump [light vacuum -2 psi using a LF-GVAC]
10) Place the desiccant breather in a sealed zip bag taped next to the vent port or replace the desiccant breather; adjusted the valves at the bottom of the breather with a minimum number of open ports to extend breather life