You need to take note of the disadvantages of biodegradable lubricants.

Why’s it important for industry to consider the disadvantages of biodegradable lubricants? Even though there’s a very strong case to made in favour of biodegradable lubricants in several industry segments, they can only come into their own if the disadvantages of biodegradable lubricants and oils are fully understood.

What happens if you use the wrong oil for an oil change?

With the plethora of oils available it’s not uncommon to use the wrong oil for an oil change. But the consequences may be found in unexplained equipment failure you’ve had: Has the question “I wonder if this is the right oil” ever been asked? If so you know exactly what we’re talking about.

Did you know that extreme pressure oil additives can damage gears.

Whilst extreme pressure oil additives can damage gears they are vital for the effective performance of any Gear oil, but there are some critical negative effects if not used discriminately.

Extreme pressure oil additives offer a wide range of benefits, but in some circumstances they harm the equipment they are supposed to protect.

A good example of how extreme pressure oil additives can damage gears.

A very common industrial transmission is the worm gearbox. Commonly, these have gears made of yellow metal (typically bronze). Certain extreme pressure oil additives can damage gears by chemically reacting with these softer metals, causing premature wear and even failure.

Worm gearboxes are mainly comprised of two units: the worm and the worm wheel. The worm is what actually drives the worm wheel. It is a rod with a helical ridge on its surface that allows it to mesh with the teeth of the worm wheel to provide rotary motion.

These gearboxes are great for achieving high reduction ratios as well as high torque. And in order to increase either of these values, the worm wheel is made larger in diameter. The larger the circumference the worm wheel has, the greater the speed reduction and the greater the torque imparted through the exit shaft, and it’s under these conditions that extreme pressure oil additives can damage gears.

Obviously the loading and pressure on these components can be very high, prompting many people to opt for extreme pressure oil additives.

The reason certain extreme pressure oil additives can damage gears in this application.

Generally, the worm is made of steel, while the worm wheel is made of a yellow metal. However, in some cases, both the worm and worm wheel are steel; or they both may be yellow metals: And the worm is always harder than the wheel.


Yellow metals, as the name suggests, are yellowish in color. They are alloys that contain copper. A standard definition would be a type of brass having about 60 percent copper and 40 percent zinc. Bronze is another type of yellow metal. These metals have been used for centuries to form gears and other components of simple machines. However extreme pressure oil additives can damage gears made from these metals so should be with extreme caution.

The problem is that many extreme pressure oil additives contain a form of Sulphur, which will react with the yellow metal.

An easy way to determine which form of sulfur is being utilized to ensure extreme pressure oil additives don’t damage gears.

Two different types of sulfur may be used within these extreme pressure oil additives which can damage gears. The first type is active sulfur. Sulfur in its active state readily reacts with metal surfaces to form a ductile metal soap that is sacrificial and allows opposing surfaces to contact one another with minimal damage. Active sulfur is chemically aggressive, and with yellow metals being softer than steel, they can begin to pit and form spalls due to this chemical attack. If used these extreme pressure oil additives can damage gears.

The second type of sulfur used within extreme pressure oil additives is inactive sulfur. It is less likely to bond to surfaces and react chemically.

The best way to judge whether the form of sulphur in the extreme pressure oil additive can damage gears, is to look at the results of the copper strip corrosion test (ASTM D130). In this test, a strip of copper is immersed in the fluid to be tested at 40 degrees C and again at 100 degrees C. The strip is removed after each test and checked for staining of the copper. The results range from, very little to no staining, all the way to very dark stains. If the results are in the darkish area, then the yellow metals in your worm gearboxes could be at risk of chemical attack.

Rising temperatures can increase the rate at which this reaction takes place. This is explained by the Arrhenius rate rule, which states that the rate of a chemical reaction doubles for every increase of 10 degrees C (18 degrees F) in oil operation temperature.

Active sulfur in some extreme pressure oil additives react with the copper within the brass or bronze. Sulfur, when in contact with copper along with the presence of heat, forms copper sulphide which means that extreme pressure oil additives can damage gears.

This simple chemical reaction can have devastating repercussions on the reliability of machines. In extreme pressure situations, copper disulfide can be formed. Both of these crystalline forms of copper are very hard and can cause abrasive damage to soft machine surfaces.

By understanding some simple chemistry and reading the product data sheets of the EP gear oil you put into your gearboxes, you can increase reliability.

For peace of mind, contact Habot Oil about our synthetic gear oils. Our engineers understand that extreme pressure oil additives can damage gears. Or, if you have any questions about extreme pressure oil additives in gear oils give us a call.

Your engine oil change intervals are affected by a waning motor oil base number.

It’s important to understand how engine oil change intervals are affected by a waning motor oil base number: with increasing oil and filter prices, and the cost of repairs, ignoring this can be very expensive.

How are engine oil change intervals affected by a waning motor oil base number?

Common myths surrounding synthetic motor oils.

With so many myths surrounding synthetic motor oils, the saying, “a little knowledge is dangerous” comes to mind. From the extremes of wild claims of indestructible properties to the myths that synthetic oils are not compatible with certain petrols, synthetic engine oils elicit a lot of discussion.

Find out about the importance of oil additives in motor oil.

Whenever oil performance is discussed the importance of oil additives in motor oil usually takes backseat to oil viscosity as the main focus. This is usually due to a lack of understanding of the true role of oil additives in blending a quality engine oil.

Understanding the unseen cost of changing motor oil.

When it comes to the unseen cost of changing motor oil many companies merely look at material costs and the direct labour component of the lube change. They are ignoring the significant periphery costs that must also be taken into consideration when managing lubrication schedules and maintenance.

Too often, we schedule a motor oil change to rectify a contamination problem or when excessive wear is detected. In neither case is the engine oil change a certain correction of the root cause of the problem and it wastes good money and further increases the unseen cost of changing motor oil. The

The engine oil viscosity index modifier is vital in modern oil.

The first engine oil viscosity index modifier was developed to overcome issues of changing operating temperatures: In the early days they were simply identified as motor oil additives.

With the introduction of the engine oil viscosity index modifier in the 1960s, it became possible to formulate engine oils with good viscosity at high temperatures whilst flowing more easily at low temperatures than conventional mono-grade oils. The result was that the

Finding out when to select synthetic gear oil.

Why would it be important to know when to select synthetic gear oil? Simply because the correct choice can save you time and money whilst reducing down time and repairs.

Although regular oil has been good enough for a hundred years or more.. I’ll explain why in this day and age it’s crucial to select synthetic gear oil.

How safe is it to use synthetic motor oil in an older Opel?

We often get asked: “if it’s safe to use synthetic motor oil in an older Opel”? In actual fact many owners of older vehicles share this concern.

When is it safe to use synthetic motor oil in an older Opel?

The effect of engine oil on engine life must not be under estimated.

The effect of engine oil on engine life and performance is well documented. A breakdown in lubrication will lead to overheating, seizure or at best excessive engine wear. With the cost of replacement parts engine oil is a vital link in the chain to maintaining a healthy engine, extending engine life and engine oil change intervals while reducing running costs

Turbocharged engines must use synthetic motor oil if they are to last.

Although mineral engine oils are improving in quality it’s still vitally important that turbocharged engines must use synthetic motor oil to prevent premature failure and expensive repairs.

Good quality synthetic motor oil prolongs engine life and saves money.

Synthetic motor oil prolongs engine life and has a major impact on performance and running costs. A breakdown in engine lubrication will lead to overheating, seizure or at best excessive engine wear. With the cost of replacement parts engine oil is a vital link in the chain to maintaining a healthy engine; synthetic motor oil prolongs engine life and engine oil change intervals while reducing running costs.

Do you know how to save money on Synthetic Air Compressor oil?

If you manage a large manufacturing company chances are you’ve often wondered how to save money on Synthetic Air Compressor oil? After reading this article you’ll see it’s really not that difficult to achieve some pretty major savings, just by following some best in class practices:

There is a very real danger of antifreeze in engine oils.

All coolant systems require the use of antifreeze, however have you ever thought of the danger of antifreeze in engine oils? Obviously this was never meant to be, but even the slightest internal leak can result in antifreeze (Containing Glycol) engine oil contamination.

The most important reasons why synthetic gear oil is best.

 When purchasing gear lubricants do you know why synthetic gear oil is best? Have you ever felt like a kid in a candy store when trying to select synthetic gear oil from a glitzy pamphlet? How many times would you have paid someone to explain why synthetic gear oil is best?

Read on to find some about facts about hydraulic oils.

The first fact about hydraulic oils is that they are not readily compressible: Have you ever driven through a deep puddle of water only to have your hapless engine lock solid after ingesting a cylinder full? This is known as hydraulic lock and is an expensive illustration of hydraulic power which hydraulic oils convey.

In this article I’ll be focusing on some interesting facts about hydraulic oils as opposed to brake fluids, which

Do you know how to extend engine oil change intervals significantly.

There are many benefits when you extend engine oil change intervals: Not only in saving money, but also to the environment.

Typically prescribed engine oil change intervals are 15,000Km for petrol engines and 10,000 (In some cases even 5,000Km) for diesel engines. But is it possible to extend engine oil change intervals?

How to determine the best low temperature motor oil.

The best low temperature motor oil beats all other lubricants by getting the lubricant to where it’s needed as quickly as possible after startup, while still retaining lubricity at operating temperatures.

Low ambient temperatures negatively affect the flow characteristics of a lubricant. Dropping below the pour point with a higher viscosity lubricant not only restricts oil flow to bearings and other machine elements, but also

Modern synthetic lubricants can reduce the impact of oil on the environment.

Reversing the global pollution trend synthetic lubricants can reduce the impact of oil on the environment. Consuming more energy, natural resources and threatening the environment are trends that have to be reversed for the wellbeing of the planet.

One product that has a particularly bad reputation is oil; with many organisations working on reducing the impact of oil on the environment, whilst still meeting the