Data from lubricant maker Mobil reveals that some operators may be unnecessarily changing the oil in the engines of their high-speed marine vessels, which in turn increases their costs for lubricant supplies, routine maintenance and oil disposal.
Mobil gathered data from its Mobil Serv oil analysis service, which guides operators in when best to time oil drains based on the actual condition of the oil. As many as three-quarters of operators are thought to follow guidance from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) on drain intervals, but Mobil’s data suggests that this is mostly resulting in unnecessarily premature oil changes.
ExxonMobil’s Director of Global Field Engineering Services, Yannis Chatzakis, said that operators are losing out on various benefits if they do not enhance their timings for oil draining, adding:
“In order to help address this problem, we have developed the Mobil Serv Oil Drain Optimization Program, a bespoke offer designed to meet the individual needs of vessel operators. It includes oil monitoring, which has the potential to improve engine reliability and a related reduction in avoidable maintenance.”
Operators are also supported in selecting the most appropriate lubricant for their needs. When the Sindo Ferry operator of Singapore participated in the programme, it managed to more than double its typical oil drain interval and drastically cut engine operating costs without compromising on reliability.
The Mobil Serv lubricant analysis service is also available to industrial customers, thus helping operators to optimise reliability and productivity by monitoring oil quality without the need for expensive in-house analysis equipment.
