Preventive maintenance involves a series of visual inspections and hands on procedures designed to discover if anything on your equipment is broken, missing or requires attention. A simple way to take the process to the next level is by adding fluid sampling to your regular routine. Properly collected and analyzed, the fluids in your engine and hydraulic system can provide a detailed picture of a piece of equipment’s health and reveal early warning signs to avoid downtime and costly repairs.
Check out the following video providing easy-to-follow fluid sampling tips from a certified Cat® technician.
Video Transcript
Hi, this is Dave with today’s Quick Tip.
We’re often asked how to take a good fluid sample without getting any contamination and today I’m going to show you how.
For this example, we are going to take a hydraulic oil sample.
First, you pop the cap off and wipe off the valve.
Before we take our sample we need to prep our two sample bottles.
Keep the final cap in the bag until you are ready to seal your clean sample so you don’t contaminate it.
Go ahead and start the machine up.
Insert the tube into the valve and take your clean out sample.
You don’t need to fill the bottle here. Just a little bit will do the trick.
Next, use the other bottle to take your sample that will be sent to the fluid analysis lab.
We want to fill this sample all the way up.
Place your clean cap on the bottle.
Label with your machine number and machine hours and send it off to the fluid analysis lab.
Regular fluid sampling is so important as it can help prevent unplanned downtime and extend the life of your machine.
That’s been today’s Quick Tip, thanks for watching.
Taking a Clean Fluid Sample
Using advanced fluid analysis to keep your fleet running stronger for longer sounds complex. However, virtually all that’s required before analysis is collecting a contamination-free sample.
As the video demonstrates, it only takes a few easy steps:
- Remove the cap to the fluid you are sampling.
- Clean the valve removing any dirt and debris.
- Prep two sample bottles to send for analysis.
- Fire up the equipment and let it run.
- Insert a tube and collect the fluid.
- Repeat Step 5 collecting the analysis sample.
- Seal and label bottles and send to the lab.
Trust Michigan CAT for Fluid Sample Analysis
Whether you’re a small fleet owner or manage construction projects across the region, we’re fully equipped to handle your fluid analysis services. As an authorized Cat dealer, we offer scheduled oil sampling (SOS) of engine oil, hydraulic fluids and radiator coolants for clients throughout Michigan and beyond. For your convenience, fluid samples can be dropped off at one of our many area locations.
At Michigan CAT, we’re your partners in preventative maintenance to help lower long-term operating costs and increase productivity. Our experienced team will assist in analyzing your requirements to recommend the most efficient solutions. Visit us online to learn more about our SOS Fluid Analysis services, and contact us to request assistance from a representative.