In a fleet-maintenance facility or other industrial setting, there may well be multiple lubricants in use, presenting the opportunity for expensive mix-ups, especially when employees are working under pressure. Oil industry professionals have now spoken out on avoiding this mistake.
For example, a commercial vehicle lubrication applications engineer with Mobil, Paul Cigala, said he has observed engines being filled with used coolant as:
“Someone put used coolant in that empty drum. You have to make sure everything is labelled correctly.”
Lubricant distributor Catalys’s Jean-Francois Leroux reinforced the point by saying that not knowing what is within any given container is actually one of the most common mistakes. Shell Lubricants’ Brad Jordan also recommends labelling equipment reservoirs with the correct fluid to give a final safeguard against incorrect filling, especially when it may need topping up in the field.
A senior technical advisor at HF Sinclair, Darryl Purificati, also suggested keeping similar but distinct lubricants apart – such as storing Shell Rimula heavy-duty engines oils away from the light-duty Shell Helix ones – so a busy operative will not inadvertently pick up the wrong one. He also pointed to the benefits of training and colour coding:
“Colour coding is the easiest thing you can do. Good separation, good labelling, and operator training. Anyone who comes into the shop should have training of some sort.”
In addition to procuring fluids, at TrAchem, we also supply ancillary items to ensure lubricants are handled correctly. We can also potentially help you to reduce the chances of mixing up fluids and greases by consolidating them into a smaller range of products. Get in touch today.
