Hoping to increase profit with an oil condition sensor?
The Hidden Costs of Oil Changes
The practice of time-based oil changes is a widely adopted norm to maintain clean oil. However, doubts have lingered in my mind about its true economic sense. Yet, I never took action to verify this notion until I stumbled upon an enlightening article by Ken Brown, originally published in 1999. Despite its age, the insights in “The Hidden Cost of Oil Changes” remain invaluable. Brown’s analysis revealed shocking findings: when factoring in all hidden costs, the true expense of an oil change in a small oil system can amount to up to 40 times the cost of the new oil. I highly recommend taking the time to read this article.
Utilizing Oil Condition Sensors to Monitor Oil Health
Is there a solution to this dilemma? Absolutely! Enter oil condition sensors, capable of monitoring various properties of oil. These properties change due to factors such as general degradation through use, equipment wear, or external and internal contamination. External contaminants like fuel, acid, or water, and internal factors such as early-stage mechanical failure, which are typically characterized by the presence of microscopic metallic elements in the oil, or even earlier chemical changes, can all be detected and analyzed by an oil condition sensor. This provides a reliable and highly accurate insight into the actual health and status of the equipment.
Challenging the Conservative Nature of OEM Recommendations
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) recommendations are inherently conservative, considering the broad application of their components worldwide that are subjected to various operating conditions. Consequently, OEM recommendations for oil changes tend to err on the side of caution, leading to premature disposal of still-usable oil.
Extending Oil Change Intervals
With an oil condition sensor e.g. Tan Delta sensor, operators gain real-time insight into the oil’s condition, allowing them to determine the optimal timing for a change. This means oil changes are based on condition rather than blindly following a preset schedule. Through experience, many have successfully extended oil change intervals by up to 30%. By reducing the frequency of oil changes and their associated hidden costs, significant savings can be achieved. Additionally, the sensor alerts operators to any anomalies in the oil, indicating potential issues before they lead to unexpected breakdowns or catastrophic failures.
It’s Time to Make a Change!
