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Lubricant Management Guide

Monitor the lubricants, oils and greases within your business

Managing your lubricants is a crucial part of operating equipment and maximising performance, but many organisations overlook the importance of looking after oils and the benefits it can bring.

Lubricant management includes ensuring your business’ supply is consistent and correctly stored, as this will impact vehicles and machinery that need lubricating regularly. Proper lubricant management will ensure these vehicles can perform to the best of their abilities without breaking down.

Beesley Fuels is proud to supply a range of lubricants, oils and greases that will keep your business running smoothly all year round. To speak to one of our lubricant experts, call us today on 0330 123 1144.

What are lubricants?

We use lubricants within our homes and businesses to reduce the friction between two surfaces that are in contact with each other. A lubricant will ensure these two surfaces can move, preventing wear and tear and allowing the machine or vehicle to work to the best of its ability. There are many different types of lubricants, including:

Oils – Often used in vehicles and within industrial machinery

Greases – A thicker lubricant when compared to oil

Speciality lubricants – Designed to be used within specific applications and operating conditions, this can include applications required in extreme temperatures

What oils, lubricants and greases do Beesley Fuels supply?

All of our oils, greases and lubricants are either off-the-shelf or speciality lubricants, which we do to ensure only the highest-quality products are manufactured. We can also provide you with recommendations to suit your specific needs to ensure the lubricants supplied work to their fullest potential on your vehicle or machinery. A full list of our lubricants is below:

• Agricultural lubricants
• Vehicle engine oils and lubricants
• Food-grade lubricants
• Biodegradable lubricants
• Hydraulic oils
• Gear oil lubricants
• Metalworking fluids
• Automatic transmission fluids
• Rubber process oils
• Transformer oils
• Multipurpose greases

Oils, Greases and Speciality lubricants – what are the differences?

Oils, greases, and speciality lubricants can assist vehicles and machinery in keeping them lubricated and working to the best of their abilities. There are several distinct differences between the three, which are broken down into the following categories:

Consistency

Oils are liquid in consistency, whereas greases have a semi-solid consistency. Speciality lubricants will vary in texture and lubricity depending on the specific type of formulation and application. Despite the differences, both in look and texture, all three offer a similar type of product which is designed to lubricate a piece of machinery or a vehicle to keep it moving.

Applications

Oils are more suitable for lubricating engines, transmissions and hydraulic systems and greases are more likely to be used in places such as gears and bearings as well as heavy machinery. Speciality blends are tailored to specific requirements based on properties needed for the equipment or intended application.

Advantages

Oils are beneficial in providing reliable lubrication as well as cooling properties, making them an ideal choice for high-friction machinery that tends to overheat. Greases adhere to surfaces well, which means reapplication isn’t as frequent. Machinery with greases applied will also be less susceptible to contaminants due to the protective properties of grease. Speciality lubricants have a huge advantage over greases and oils as they provide specific needs depending on their demands.

Disadvantages

Oils have a much bigger disadvantage to greases and speciality lubricants as they require more frequent application which means more power, and more oil. Greases, though requiring less frequent application, do harden in some cases and can even become less effective over time. Speciality lubricants can typically be more expensive than general lubricants and oils as they are designed for a specific purpose rather than as a standard-use product.

Why is lubrication important?

Lubrication is massively important to businesses and homes across the world to ensure your equipment and vehicles are working properly. A structured lubrication management system is a huge benefit for a business because it helps to keep your business running smoothly. Lubricants will reduce downtime of your equipment, preventing breakdowns and improving productivity. Regular use of lubricants will also improve the overall lifespan of the machinery or vehicle it is being added to, which in turn will ensure your costs are reduced over time.

Not only does lubrication management ensure your business is more productive and cost-effective, it’ll also provide safety for you and your employees, preventing accidents and reducing the risk of machinery failure.

7 steps needed to manage your lubricants

Now you understand the impact that lubrication management will have on your business, let’s look at how to get your business on board with our simple steps below.

Select the correct lubricant

Finding the correct product isn’t as easy as finding one-size-fits-all as there are different specifications for different equipment and machinery. With Beesley Fuels, we work with you to find the best product to suit your needs, whether that’s an off-the-shelf product from a globally recognised brand or a custom-blended lubricant, oil or grease blended at our in-house lab.

If you’re unsure about which lubricant to select, don’t hesitate to get in touch, our technicians can provide expert advice with all the information you need to make an informed choice.

Select the correct supplier

Now that you’re certain you’re using the correct lubricant for your business, it’s now time to find the right supplier for you and your business needs. It’s important to purchase a product from a lubricant supplier that is OEM-approved, and luckily, you’re in the right place as Beesley Fuels can offer you training, tools and expertise so you can correctly manage and maintain your business’ lubricant needs.

Select the correct quantity

The quantity you order will have an impact on the production of your business. When you order your lubricants you’ll need to know the amount needed to keep your business running. It also makes sense to order more than required so you don’t lose out on business should your supply run low.

Storing your lubricants

You may be unaware, but the main reason your lubricants can expire or become unusable is due to improper storage. A strong lubricant management system isn’t just about applying lubricants on your vehicle or machinery at the right time but also the way in which you store your lubricants.

Tips on storing your lubricants:

• Must be stored in a cool, dry space where contact with debris or dust is minimal
• Keep stored from potential environmental issues that will cause them to degrade
• Regularly check your storage containers to ensure they’re fully covered
• Clean away dirt to avoid contamination

Lubricant check

Protect your business operations with a lubricant health check which is essential for the smooth running of your operations and the efficiency of your business. With the amount of money you invest into your business running smoothly, its just as important to invest in the testing of your lubrication.

Schedule your lubricants

Regularly adding lubricants to your equipment will help prevent wear and tear over time, keeping your business running smoothly. Being proactive with your scheduling also means running your machinery more efficiently. Your lubricant schedule doesn’t just mean scheduling when you apply lubes or oils to your equipment; you’ll also need to schedule their purchase. Keep in mind the amount you’ll need and use, and make sure you always have more lubrication than needed to avoid unnecessary delays.

Monitoring of your lubricants

Within the oils business, lubricants are often overlooked and forgotten about, which means regular analysis and monitoring are required to keep track of your usage. Monitoring your lubricants isn’t just about managing the amount of lubricant you have supplied but also the amount you use on your equipment.

Take your time and routinely check your lubricants to ensure you have a maximum return on your investment. Look for signs of wear on your equipment to avoid significant financial impact on your business.

Beesley Fuels are able to offer support to all of our customers to help improve their business’s fuel and lubricant management. To find the right lubricant for your business needs give us a call on 0330 123 1144.