Basic rules when switching to a physiologically harmless lubricant
- Compare the technical data of the previous lubricant with the new one. Is it suitable for the application at all based on the application description?
- Does the NSF-H1 product comply with the machine manufacturer's specifications in terms of viscosity and additive level?
- Does it meet the cited or required standards (DIN, ASTM)? But: The requirements of the DIN standards are often lower than necessary for practical use.
- Can experience from comparable applications be provided? (Check doubtful references by a control call).
- Is it really certified according to NSF-H1 and published there or does it "comply" with these guidelines (according to a self-assessment by the supplier)?
- Do some research at www.nsf.com. Click on "Search Listings" and enter the oil manufacturer and product name in the search box.
Check technical specifics additionally:
- Is the new lubricant compatible with seals, paints, hoses?
- Do the filters or filter inserts (e.g. no galvanized parts on filter cartridges for synthetic oils containing esters) have to be changed?
- Are the miscibility and also the compatibility, which is especially important for re-oiling and leakages, guaranteed?
Keep in mind when changing the oil:
- It is relatively easy to re-oil from mineral oils to PAO or ester oils, but from mineral oils to glycols and vice versa actually never or only after repeated flushing.
- If a PAO-, polyglycol- or ester-based lubricant was previously used, a similar physiologically harmless lubricant should preferably also be used.
- When changing the base oil type to a synthetic oil, it should be checked whether flushing the system with the same H1 oil is feasible, as synthetic oils often have better cleaning and dirt dissolving properties.
- Before the complete fill of a new synthetic oil has become unusable due to detached residues and old additives, a flush with a smaller quantity of the same oil can extend the service life.
Carry out regular checks:
- Use oil analyses to check the effectiveness of the products.
- Use grease and oil analyses to check that oil life and relubrication intervals are actually being achieved.
- Carry out more visual inspections of the lubrication points.
