Asset integrity guide
Lubrication Condition
Viscosity, contamination, water, oxidation and cleanliness as machinery health factors.
Integrity note: standards, acceptance criteria and inspection requirements vary by asset type, industry and jurisdiction. Real decisions require competent professionals and current requirements.
What this topic covers
Viscosity, contamination, water, oxidation and cleanliness as machinery health factors.
Core ideas
Lubricants separate surfaces, carry heat and contaminants, and protect against wear or corrosion.
Contamination can accelerate wear even when lubricant quantity appears adequate.
Condition programs combine lubricant data with operating and maintenance history.
Program tradeoffs
Load, speed and operating state can change signals even when machine condition is unchanged.
What good evidence looks like
Diagnosis should combine vibration, temperature, lubrication, process and maintenance history where appropriate.
Lifecycle perspective
Monitoring should produce actionable work or engineering review rather than accumulating alarms without response.