Introduction to Texaco’s LubeWatch Oil Analysis Programme: Part one

As an operator of fleets, a power plant or a manufacturing plant, your business may be constantly striving to increase productivity and optimise the performance of your equipment, be it your fleets or your stationary engines. The Texaco LubeWatch Oil Analysis Programme could be just what you’re looking for. LubeWatch Oil Analysis enables you to track the performance of the equipment that is the lifeblood of your business. By analysing oil samples on a regular basis, you can help optimise equipment life and oil replacement intervals, identify lubricant-related needs, and understand the changing environment within a piece of equipment.

This knowledge comes in handy when it comes to the precise scheduling of maintenance work that can reduce downtime or even eliminate the risk of catastrophic failure.

So, how does the LubeWatch Oil Analysis Programme raise the bar? It provides accurate results on basic test packages and a wide variety of specialised testing procedures, while offering reliable interpretation of test results and actionable recommendations based on the data, which is accessible online or via the Texaco LubeWatch app. What’s more, its advanced technical services include component failure and wear particle analysis.

Users of the programme have the added assurance of oil and system integrity when running on an extended oil drain interval programme. Its seamless import of sampling data into your existing CMMS or ERP Systems via DataConnect (API) provides a more integrated overview of your operational efficiency, and it even offers expert training and in-field advice and support.

Many businesses practice ‘preventative maintenance’, scheduling regular service intervals to help identify any problems before they become too costly or lead to prolonged equipment downtime. However, preventative maintenance schedules, based on generic timescales or usage figures by equipment type, can lead to oil drain intervals that are shorter than necessary and parts being changed or replaced before they need to be.

As a result, the industry is moving to become more ‘predictive’ on the condition of the equipment. Through regular testing, Texaco’s LubeWatch Oil Analysis can help you track the performance of your vehicles or equipment and identify when a service is required.

General guidelines for the sampling of propulsion machinery and auxiliary equipment are given in the tables below, unless specified differently by the OEM.

LubeWatch simplifies the process of testing by creating standard test packages for frequent, typical applications.

The LubeWatch process

Submitting oil or other lubricants for LubeWatch Oil Analysis is straightforward. Analysis kits are available to make sampling convenient and simple, and include cap, tubing, sample bottles and paperwork with pre-addressed shipping labels.

Sample information can be submitted online or via the Texaco LubeWatch app. Pre-registering samples is the most efficient way to get samples logged and tested, reducing paperwork and minimising errors.

Since LubeWatch Oil Analysis requires relatively small quantities of oil (or other lubricant), it is important that samples are of the best quality possible. Always make sure the sample bottle is clean and free of contaminants before starting. Close the sample bottle tightly after sampling and wipe off any excess oil or coolant from the outside to avoid any contamination from other items during delivery to the laboratory. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to utilise the programme:

Set up an online account to send sample information directly to the LubeWatch laboratory
Order sampling kits directly through Chevron Business Point (CBP)
Take the sample and submit sample information online, via the app or by completing a Sample Label form
Send the sample back to the lab in the pre-addressed LubeWatch envelope supplied
Receive results via email or access online