TFL JUL
14
FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS
FUELS AND FILTERS
ALTHOUGH EURO SPEC ENGINES
with more sophisticated fluid designs, higher operating
pressures, and tighter clearances have made modern day diesel equipment more efficient, it
has also made it far more susceptible to fluid contamination.
These factors greatly increase the need for cleaner fluid systems throughout the lifecycle
of the product. Solid contaminants known as ‘fines’ are found in counts of 10-million and
higher per litre of diesel, or unused oils. These are measured in the four-micron range, a
range of contaminant sizes, generally not addressed with standard in-line filtration. A modern
diesel engine is a reliable workhorse; however contamination in any form is detrimental to
performance and profit-generating capacity.
Filter Focus Chief Operating Officer, Craig FitzGerald, points out that contaminants and
particles as small as two to five micron can result in premature wear and efficiency loss.
“Contamination directly impacts on the lifespan of oil, as well as that of the component in
which it is operating. The goal is to implement contamination control systems and practices
that maximise machine and lubricant life, while minimising capital and operating expenses, to
provide the greatest overall value.”
According to him, all oil is contaminated to some extent when purchased. “The storage and
handling practices will then determine the actual cleanliness of the oil, before it is placed into
operation. Particulate contamination measuring in the millions will be present in new oil, even
before starting operation and, during operation, each contaminant has the ability to create
up to four metal wear particles, thereby creating a cycle that continues to grow exponentially.
Standard original equipment (OE) filters are generally capable of only addressing solid
contamination above 10-micron, thereby being largely inefficient.”
In 2006, Filter Focus demonstrated to a large cellular operator, that in as little as one hour
of operation after an engine oil service, the oil was unfit for further use. Considering that as
much as 20% of the dirtiest oil remains in the engine compartment after draining, better
measures need to be put into place that will ensure fluid systems are protected.
He does however note, that continuous offline filtration will successfully remove the majority
of contaminants, not addressed by standard OE filters. “The successful removal of all solids,
semi-solids, free water, dissolved water, depleted additives, varnish and sludge, will result
Dramatically improve
operating lifespan of
diesel equipment
As excessive levels of
fluid contamination
in machinery results
in unnecessarily high
operational costs
and unscheduled
downtime periods
in the South African
industrial sector, wear
control specialist,
Filter Focus, offers
comprehensive advice
to combat this trend.
