A leading Russian limestone quarry is said to have achieved an annual saving of €7,900 after switching its
The mining company was having to drain its existing hydraulic oil every 4,000 hours but was aware that a better performance might be possible for the excavators, which weighed between 80 and 115 tonnes. It therefore approached ExxonMobil in the hope of extending oil life while maintaining hydraulic pump efficiency.
“Our field engineering services (FES) team worked with the customer to identify the most suitable lubricant. As a result of this, they suggested a switch to Mobil DTE 10 Excel 46 hydraulic oil, which was developed to provide a long oil life and minimise deposit formation, even in hydraulic systems operating in severe conditions,” said Sarp Degirmenci, EAME offer advisor at ExxonMobil. “Our engineers also recommended implementing Mobil Serv Lubricant Analysis to monitor the in-service performance of the oil.”
Regular testing revealed that the optimal drain interval for Mobil DTE 10 Excel 46 hydraulic oil was 5,000 hours, an improvement of 25% on the previous grade. It also revealed enhanced hydraulic pump efficiency, a reduction in deposit formation and reduced filter clogging. There was no unscheduled downtime during the test period, which helped boost productivity and cut maintenance costs. The combined annual saving is claimed to estimate €7,900.
“Mine owners need to ensure the reliable performance of all their equipment as any unscheduled downtime can damage bottom line performance,” said Degirmenci. “Using high performance oils and grease, in partnership with a next generation used oil analysis service, can help guarantee uptime, cut costs and improve equipment performance. This combination can help operators gain a competitive advantage in an increasingly competitive industry.”
