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Everything you need to know about lubricants in winter

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As the coldest season arrives, equipment users are faced with the critical task of getting their machinery prepared for the unique challenges that winter weather, like snow and ice, can bring.

Perhaps the most important step in winter preparation is choosing the right type of lubricants and knowing how to use them.

Winter poses considerable maintenance challenges to both machinery and lubricants. For example, engines are likelier to incur wear in cold starts, because standard lubricants become too thick to circulate swiftly.

Low temperatures can also increase friction between engine components, leading to wear, damage and poorer performance. Moreover, the contaminants, moisture and salt in the cooler air can hasten corrosion in key mechanical systems like engines, when there is inadequate lubrication.

Do cold temperatures affect lubricant performance?

Lubricants are directly impacted by changes in temperature. As temperatures drop, lubricants become more viscous, and as a result, flow slower – which means it takes longer for them to circulate where they are needed, leading to wear and other issues.

Lubricants can also separate at lower temperatures. Blended base oils detach into their different phases (stratification), lessening their performance characteristics.

Many lubricants contain additives that enhance or suppress characters in their base oils – however, under colder conditions, these inclusions become insoluble. Instead of flowing with the oil, they drop out of the lubricating solution to form a sludge in the sump where they have no use.

Fortunately, winter-ready industrial lubricants are available from dependable manufacturers like Fuchs and Kluber, among others, that can retain their key characteristics – even at extremely low temperatures.

Key features of winter-ready industrial lubricants

Winter-ready lubricants are often identifiable by the addition of a letter “W” in their product title. For instance, 5W and 0W are two engine oils designed for winter use.

Low temperature industrial lubricants can deliver optimum performance under colder temperatures and maintain their sought-after attributes. For instance, winter-ready lubricants can retain the desired viscosity levels for successful and swift pumping, even at exceptionally low temperatures. Typically using a synthetic base oil, they do not separate when temperatures drop so that they keep their efficacy – and the additives they are infused with stay soluble, so machinery can benefit from them.

What is the best lubricant for cold weather?

Polyalphaolefin (PAO) synthetic oils are recognised as the optimal base oil selection for cold weather lubricants that must operate effectively ay -20°C or lower. Unlike standard mineral oil, PAO oils contain no wax, empowering them to flow efficiently at extremely low temperatures. There are PAO-based oils that supply pour points as low as -50°C.

A key property of lubricants with a PAO base oil that lets them work in cold weather is their high viscosity index (VI), which extends the useful viscosity range across a far wider temperature distribution.

Is it fine to do an oil change in the cold?

While it is possible to perform oil changes under cold conditions, experts agree that engines and other systems should be warmed up first as a rule. This will heat the oil entering the system, ensuring it flows freely to lubricate, protect parts and remove unwanted debris and contaminants to filters.

As stated, lower temperatures can impact the quality of the lubricant, so performing changes under room temperature or higher conditions is advisable.

Does lubricating oil freeze?

Most lubricating oils won’t freeze completely, but will become thicker and flow slower – however, there are some solutions that can.

Emulsion-type products that are composed of a mix of water and oil are at risk of freezing, as are some lubricants designed for use in exceptionally high temperatures.

Synthetic oils are recognised for their superior resistance to freezing.

How do I store lubricants in cold weather?

In winter, it’s important to keep lubricants inside if possible. If they must be housed outside, products should be kept sheltered and their containers insulated against the cold. Ideally, lubricants should be stored at temperatures of 0°C and 25°C in an area that is cool, dry and not in direct sunlight or near heat sources.

Lubricant should always be stored so that older stock is used first, and no risk of the wrong product being used is possible. An effective labelling system is the best way to achieve this with the type of oil, its usage and expiry date clearly visible.

The better care you take of your lubricants in winter, the better they can serve your equipment and operation. Always switch to winter-friendly solutions before the cold comes, and observe best practices.

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