Pro tip: Think twice before swapping to eco-oils in hoist motors

I mean, I get why everyone's all about those biodegradable oils now. But in my shop, we tried them on a few traction jobs and had issues. They thin out too much in summer heat, leading to early wear on bearings. That means more parts getting replaced, which isn't exactly green if you think about it. A small leak of regular oil is bad, but if you keep up with seals, leaks shouldn't happen. Idk, maybe it's just me, but I think keeping a system running longer with trusted oil is better for the planet overall.

3 comments

3 Comments

parkera6127d ago

Ask about the thickness rating of the eco-oils you tried. Not all biodegradable oils handle heat well. Your bearing wear might come from using a product not suited for the job.

henry60427d ago

Read a piece last week about how some eco-oils thin out too much when hot. That could explain the bearing issues if the wrong grade was used.

laurajenkins25d ago

Honestly, parkera61 has a good point about the thickness rating. Did you check if the eco-oil you read about had the right heat grade for bearings?