How Important is Oil Level Control in Optimizing Bearing, Gear and Engine Reliability?

Often times in machinery lubrication, we preach precision lubrication. What exactly does that mean?

- Paul Farless

Regarding the act of lubricating, it means utilizing meticulous calculations to determine the most accurate lubricant type, volumes and frequencies needed to reach optimal machine performance and machinery life. The goal of any lubrication program across the board is to decrease downtime and machinery failures. Here is where I would like to point out some of the obvious and not-so-obvious key players in precision lubrication, one of which is proper lubricant level (volume).

What is the proper lubricant level, and why is that specific amount the "proper level?" The proper level is simply the level that allows for optimal performance of the component. What is optimal performance? It is the point where your machine will have the maximum extended lubricant life and component life. There are a couple of key variables used to decide the correct amount of oil:

Size - Whether it is a bearing, gearbox, motor, pump or hydraulic system, size plays a key role in deciding how much lubricant a component should receive. Larger bearing sizes in greased applications will obviously take a larger amount of grease; larger reservoirs in oiled applications require larger volumes of oil. This is the no-brainer of lubricant levels.