Oil contamination causes failure

Experts at Bosch Rexroth believe that only 20% of all unplanned downtime can be identified through component monitoring, with oil analysis a more reliable option.

Rexroth has identified three types of oil contamination that cause machinery problems: solid particles such as dirt and dust; liquid contamination, such as water and other fluid mixture; and gaseous contamination, such as air.

"Focused monitoring of oil cleanliness and conducting oil analysis provides information on the condition of the operating medium at an early stage and thus contributes to preventing expensive repairs, downtimes and unnecessary oil changes,” says Chris Gray, an expert in oil contamination at Bosch Rexroth.