Scott Howard


Recent posts by Scott Howard

4 min read

Four Ways Outside Contaminants Enter Your System

By Scott Howard on Thu, Apr. 15, 2021

Four Ways Outside Contaminants Enter your System

As an equipment owner or manager, the last thing we want to find in our system is contamination.  After all, contamination means loss of efficiency or even downtime, which ultimately costs time and money.  Contamination somehow always sneaks its way into our systems.  So, how does contamination get in our systems and what are we supposed to do about it?

Topics: contamination oil analysis breathers
5 min read

[Video] Your Lab Reports Are Probably Wrong -- Here's How To Save Them

By Scott Howard on Tue, Aug. 16, 2016

When looking at a lab report, it is assumed the information on the report is accurate. A certified lab will not usually make an error in the report, but if so, it is obvious and easily fixed. Ever hear the saying "By the time the lab gets the report the error has already been made"? For the most part, this is true. Where people are led off course is believing the particle count on the lab report is the gospel. This is natural, but unfortunately not always the case with a bottle sample unless you already employ the techniques listed in the video below.
Topics: contamination ISO 16889 ISO 4406 samples video lab
3 min read

[Video] Water Contamination and Removal Methods

By Scott Howard on Mon, Jun. 02, 2014

 

Do you know what the 3 different types of water contamination are? What about the 4 methods to remove water from your fluid? Watch our short video for a thorough explanation of each.
Topics: hydraulic fluid water vacuum dehydrator coalesce technology headspace dryer video contaminination filter elements
4 min read

[Video] Proper Bottle Sampling Technique

By Scott Howard on Wed, Feb. 05, 2014

Topics: samples reservoir filter cart video
3 min read

Why You Need to Care About Micro-Dieseling

By Scott Howard on Mon, Jan. 27, 2014

Most people are familiar with diesel engines and how they work, which includes a rapid compression of air. When you inject a fuel source, it creates an explosion. Did you know that micro-dieseling is similar? A front-end loader that runs a diesel engine is a macro-level (or big picture) of what it does on the micro (or smaller) level in a hydraulic pump.

Topics: diesel thermal event fuel hydraulic oil contaminination
3 min read

Phosphate Ester Acid Remediation

By Scott Howard on Mon, Jan. 20, 2014

Phosphate ester hydraulic fluid has a tendency to become very acidic. As we’ve discussed previously, this acid can cause damage to seals throughout the system and lead to electrokinetic wear (and failure) in valves.

Topics: hydraulic fluid water Phosphate Ester EHC contaminination ICB acid
6 min read

Real Solutions to Bringing Phosphate Ester Under Control

By Scott Howard on Mon, Oct. 14, 2013

If controlling phosphate ester seems about as elusive as lassoing a bucking bronco, then you've come to the right place. Put on your cowboy hat and let's talk about real solutions to getting it under control.

Topics: water Water Contamination Phosphate Ester EHC contaminination acid
4 min read

What is a Vacuum Dehydrator?

By Scott Howard on Mon, Sep. 30, 2013

If the hydraulic, lubricating, compressor or gear oil you use is not made of a water base in formulation , then water is considered a contaminant and must be recognized and managed. 

There are three types of water in a typical system: free water , emulsified water and dissolved water. The water saturation point of most oil, that point above which water is in a free form, is 200-400ppm, depending on age and condition. 

Using 100ppm for an upper water limit for most systems using mineral base oils, this means all free and emulsified water and a significant portion of dissolved water must be removed.

A vacuum dehydrator is one of the very few methods to remove dissolved water from oil. Let's take a look at these three types of water in your system. It will give you a solid foundation for how the vacuum dehydrator works in the end.

Topics: water Water Contamination vacuum dehydrator contaminination VUD
2 min read

Why You Need Proper Filtration in Front of Your Control Valves

By Scott Howard on Mon, Sep. 23, 2013

Proper filtration keeps control valves from becoming faulty and failing.

Most people have at least heard the term control valve, even if they don't know exactly what it does. For those of you caring for hydraulic systems, you likely work intimately with these parts. Did you know that if you're not using proper filtration in front of said control valves that you're likely doing your operation a disservice? (It's true.)

Topics: contaminination filter elements

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