Mobil lubricant switch pays off for Russia limestone quarry

Posted by Daniel Gleeson on 8th May 2019

A Russia limestone quarry has achieved an annual saving of €7,900 ($8,764) after switching its Hitachi excavators to Mobil DTE 10 Excel™ 46 hydraulic oil, according to ExxonMobil.

The use of this hydraulic oil, which, the company says, is specifically formulated for use in modern mobile equipment, extended oil drain intervals by 25% and also reduced filter replacements.

ExxonMobil said: “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 t and 115 t. It therefore approached ExxonMobil in the hope of extending oil life while maintaining hydraulic pump efficiency.”

Sarp Degirmenci, EAME Offer Advisor at ExxonMobil, said the company’s 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.

“Our engineers also recommended implementing Mobil Serv Lubricant Analysis to monitor the in-service performance of the oil.”

Regular testing revealed the optimal drain interval for Mobil DTE 10 Excel 46 hydraulic oil was 5,000 hours, an improvement of 25% on the previous grade, according to ExxonMobile. “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, according to the company, which helped boost productivity and cut maintenance costs. The combined annual saving was estimated at €7,900.

Degirmenci said: “Mine owners need to ensure the reliable performance of all their equipment as any unscheduled downtime can damage bottom line performance. 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.”