Oil should be stored in airtight containers, properly covered drums and in a clean facility. It’s best stored indoors in a cool, dry location with little temperature variation.
When oil is stored improperly, the consequences can be severe for you as well as for your customers.
Mark Betner, heavy-duty lubricant manager, CITGO Petroleum Corp., said that you may face possible fines if there is a spill that could impact the environment. You also may lose money if component failure occurs because of contaminated oil that was used in the vehicle. He said that “it can be declared as lack of maintenance, which would result in a loss of equipment warranty.”
When contaminated lubricant is used in the vehicle, “it can damage vehicle components and result in higher parts, labor and overall maintenance costs,” Betner explained.
Lubricant storage should be user friendly, functional and convenient in terms of access to equipment, he said.
Bulk dispensing equipment should be specified properly for distance from the storage container to the actual application. “Inadequate dispensing capability of pumps and hoses can result in poor dispensing capability in wide temperature range situations.
“Storing lubricant in cold storage areas also can make dispensing much slower. Many technicians may become impatient with a slow dispensing product and may not take care to fill the compartment properly or to relube in the case of grease applications,” Betner said.
