MLA I Online

Foundations of Lubrication

• The relationship between lubrication and machine reliability.
• Financial benefits of lubrication excellence.
• Four maintenance strategies and when to apply each.
• Six primary functions of lubricating oils and how friction is managed.

Lubricants: Properties and Selection

• Additives, base oils, and grease thickeners: composition, performance, and degradation.
• Seven key base oil properties and API categories.
• Choosing between synthetic and conventional oils.
• Proper selection of greases, base oils, and viscosity grades for various applications.

Application Methods and Challenges

• Best practices for oil and grease application, including centralized systems.
• Avoiding issues like over-greasing, aeration, and contamination.
• Grease and oil application methods for journal and rolling-element bearings, gearboxes, and motor bearings.

Lubrication for Specialized Equipment

• Selecting and maintaining lubricants for compressors, turbines, and hydraulic systems.
• Fire-resistant hydraulic fluids and synthetic lubricant applications.
• Guidelines for mobile and automotive equipment drive-line lubricants.

Contamination Control and Reliability Strategies

• Identifying and managing destructive contaminants like water, dirt, and varnish.
• Setting cleanliness standards and best practices for lubricant storage and handling.
• Techniques for effective oil sampling, analysis, and trend monitoring.

Oil Drains, Reservoir Management, and Storage

• Optimizing oil change intervals and implementing condition-based monitoring.
• Proper flushing and refilling procedures.
• Creating and maintaining a world-class lubricant storage system.

Lubrication Failure and Used Oil Analysis

• Recognizing signs of lubricant failure and degradation.
• Interpreting oil analysis data to set alarms and optimize equipment performance.
• Effective sampling techniques for hard-to-reach and pressurized systems.

Essential Field Inspections

• Simple, impactful visual and sensory inspections.
• Using filters, debris, and wear patterns as diagnostic tools.