Efficiency is a prime focus for mining sites, with Operation Managers seeking out ways to reduce equipment downtime and mitigate any risks to the site’s productivity. Improper maintenance of mining equipment can lead to increased downtime, heavy wear and tear and even complete equipment failure, often resulting in increased repair costs and reduced capacity to keep up with production demands. However, these risks can be minimized by the simple, proactive measures of regular used oil analysis and oil monitoring.

Oil monitoring and used oil analysis enable mining operations to monitor the condition of their equipment and provide insight into any contamination within the lubricant that could cause significant damage. Such contaminants can reveal how and why machinery is wearing, as well as identify the underlying reasons for wear, saving the equipment from heavy repair or replacement costs.

Oil monitoring and used oil analysis are vital to the smooth running of a mining site. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions on how and why mining operations should be implementing used oil analysis.