Effects of Improper Lubrication on Machinery

  • Editorial Team
  • Heavy Construction Equipment
  • 25 November 2022

In order to maintain machinery, proper lubrication is necessary. Lubricants are used by industries frequently to keep their equipment in good working condition. For ensuring that the rolling elements and bearing systems of the machine stay in good shape it is important to reduce friction. If the equipment is not sufficiently lubricated it is going to have a negative impact on the machine.

Consequences of Insufficient Lubrication

Proper lubrication is an important part of heavy equipment maintenance. Failing to properly grease your machinery can lead to the following consequences.

Contamination

If particles of dirt and debris come into contact with the lubricating solution it ends up contaminating it. If foreign particles start accumulating inside the bearings, different parts of the equipment will start deteriorating.

Leakages

If different types of lubricant get mixed together it frequently results in leaks. This happens even more so if synthetic and mineral based lubricants get mixed together. This is because the possibility of the seal shrinking and failing increases when synthetic and mineral based lubricants are mixed.

Component Failure

The biggest reason of equipment component failure is insufficient lubrication. In order to prevent metal on metal contact friction, proper lubrication is essential. You can extend the service life of your construction equipment simply by ensuring that it is lubricated properly before and after bring used.

Increase in Maintenance Costs

Insufficient lubrication eventually leads to an increase in maintenance expenses. If you fail to lubricate your equipment properly it will end up breaking down more often and require costly repairs.

There are many factors that contribute to all these lubrication issues such as a lack of adequate procedures, over greasing or a bad labelling system. In the absence of the right professionals for the job, ensuring proper lubrication of machinery is hard. Even a small mistake can break a lubrication program so it is important to be cautious. For instance, labelling eliminates questions about which lubricants to use and lowers the possibility of cross-contamination, so make sure your labelling system is effective.