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There are some very simple rules with grease.

Common grease applications are High Speed/Low Impact (bearings with disc brakes, fast smaller universals) & Low/Med Speed/High Impact (CV joints, bucket pins, slower big universals). Of course there are also those applications somewhere in the middle; however to  simplify they are the two basic applications.  Others are extreme high speed (ie electric motors), & chassis  greases.

Gulf Western has three greases in their range which keeps everything nice and simple:

SUPER BLUE  - Trade Workshops, Auto Industries & Marine.  High Speed/Medium Impact

RED LITH TAC – Chassis Lube, General Purpose, Marine with excellent anti-corrosion properties.  High Speed/Medium-High Impact

BLACK TAC M- Agri, Transport, Mining & Earthmoving. Lower to Medium Speed/High Impact/Extreme Duty.

Grease bases can vary, however, Lithium or Lithium Complex is the most commonly used.  The job of a grease base is as a medium, designed to hold the lubricating oil with varying thickness termed as NLGI rating. There are greases witha Clay/Bentone base such as HTB type products, but they are slowly being phased out.   Clay base greases do not mix with any other type base other than Calcium Type bases and if mixed with another type, can prove a disaster with major failure to follow.  All GWO greases are Lithium types with an BLGI rating at 2 for the best overall pumpability. The general rule is if you don’t know what the grease base typeina bearing orcompartment is, clean out and start again.  If the previous grease base is known look at the compatibility chart.

Grease Gun Storage Tip

Sometimes grease guns can sit on the shelf for a while, allowing oil to separate.  For the guns used less frequently, it is wise to relieve the tension off the grease gun follower rod by pulling it out and locking  it in the groove of the follower rod and cylinder cap.  This will take the pressure off the grease in the cartridge limiting oil separation from the grease base medium.  Also don’t forget tot store your grease in a a cool environment where possible.

By Tony Van, Territory Sales Manager, Gulf Western Oils.



Bathurst Hydraulics now has a stock of fantastic Gulf Western clothing in stock at fantastic prices.  Contact us to view your limited edition GWRacing jacket, shirts and hats today.

Euro Energy 5W-30
Synthetic high performance diesel engine oil

Product Code: 60002
Grade: ACEA C3/SM CF
Class: 5w/30

Available in:
• 205 L 60002
• 20 L 60002

DESCRIPTION
Euro Energy is a synthetic high performance diesel engine oil suitable for late model passenger motor vehicles including those fitted with diesel particulate filters. Euro Energy meets and complies with the demanding requirements of Euro 4 exhaust emission legislation.
Formulated to meet API SM requirements, Euro Energy is ideally designed for European vehicles calling for the ACEA C3 specification such as VW, BMW and other European vehicles. Also meets BMW long-life LL-04, Mercedes Benz 229.51 specifications.

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS
Benifits:
- Synthetic formulation
- Suitable for use where particulate filters are used.
- Super extended drain intervals surpassing any mineral or American
diesel type lubricant
- Excellent soot and sludge control resulting in cleaner engines
- Reduces fuel consumption due to superior technology
- Outstanding low temperature viscometrics for reduced wear at start up.
- Dedicated European formulation
- Low SAPS (Sulfated Ash, Phosphorus and Sulfur)
- Excellent mixed fleet oil
- Suitable for European, American and Japanese diesel engines

SPECIFICATIONS
Euro Ennergy meets the following specifications:
- ACEA C3-08 / Euro 4 Exhaust emission legislation
- API SM / CF
- MB 229.51
- BMW Longlife-04
- Volkswagen VW50200
- Volkswagen VW50500
- Volkswagen VW50501
- Porsche

STORAGE
All packages should be stored under cover to avoid the possible ingress of water and the obliteration of drum
markings. Products should not be stored above 60°C.

HEALTH, SAFETY & THE ENVIRONMENT
Health, safety and environmental information is provided for this product in the relevant Materials Safety Data Sheet, which can be obtained by contacting Gulf Western Phone: 02 4732 3305.

Summertime heat can take its toll on cooling systems already taxed with engine operating temperatures at 100°C to 120°C. Today’s engines have a much tighter cooling margin than previous models. As a result, proper coolant and cooling system maintenance becomes increasingly important to maximizing system life and maintaining its efficiency.

Field testing performed at every Scheduled Maintenance Period (SMP) is vital to maintaining an efficient cooling system and coolant formulation that protect and prolong system life. It ensures that system components are functioning properly, coolant levels are maintained at 50 to 60 percent for boil point control, inhibitor levels are maintained for proper metal protection and the pH level is within OEM and the coolant manufacturer’s specifications for adequate corrosion control.

Just how important is coolant formulation and system efficiency? A 50/50 coolant mix—50 percent concentrate to 50 percent water—brings the coolant’s boil point to 108°C at sea level. On the chart below you can see the relation to pressure & raised boiling points. Generally around 100 to 120 KPA is the relief pressure of a radiator cap so you can see the importance of the cap being in proper condition. If a pressure cap or relief valve is defective or glycol levels are inadequate, boil point is right back down to engine operating temperature.

Gulf Westerns All Fleet HDD Coolant is available in pre-mix (50/50) & concentrates. It is a Hybrid Type coolant using both Glycol & Organic Acid Technologies (OAT). This Hybrid Coolant satisfies both types used in industries today. Generally they may be mixed however for maximum efficiency & no risk it is generally recommended to flush & start again.

Gulf Western All Fleet HDD coolants are manufactured meeting ISO 9001 and TS 16949 ensuring they are approved for use in Australian mining operations. Its global formulation provides the highest Anti- Cavitation Erosion Performance available & has a 1 million km or 12,000 hr life span with SMP. This makes Gulf Western All Fleet HDD as one of the best Coolant options on the market today at an exceptional price.

Monitoring system coolant condition with strip testing or hydrometer indication at every SMP & using quality coolants such as Gulf Western All Fleet HDD, you can keep operations running smoothly and without unexpected interruption.

For further advice on Tony’s Lube Tips or other questions please contact your nearest Gulf Western Sales, Territory, Area or Regional Manager.

By Tony Van, Territory Sales & Regional Manager. Gulf Western Oils, North Queensland & the Northern Territory.

As the worlds most simple sealing device, the o-ring can also be the most abused.  Simple, straight forward information about sizes and housing details, covering both metric and imperial ranges is hard to find and invaluable.

Helpful Tips About O’Rings

• When stating o-ring size, it is an international convention to specify the o-ring by its inside diameter (ID) and cross-section (CS).
• All metric o-ring cross-sections are actual sizes
• All imperial o-ring cross-sections are nominal sizes
  Example: a 1/8 nominal o-ring has an actual cross-section of 0.139″ not 0.125″ .
• The overall performance of an o-ring is directly related to the extrusion gap, groove dimensions, and surface finishes of the housing, as well asthe appropriate selection of elastomer and compound.
• Due to the vast range of metric o-ring sizes throughout the world,not all are readily available in Australia.
• Imperial o-rings are available in a wider range of elastomers and durometers (hardness) than metric o-rings. Please keep this in mind at the design stage of your project.
• The two primary considerations when selecting an elastomer, are that it should be both compatible with the system fluid being used, and capable or operating within the required temperature range.

Standard Elastomers for O-Rings

Silicone has a very low physical strength and should be limited to static applications only.
It is compatible with a wide range of fluids, as well as hot air.

THE GULF WESTERN ADVANTAGE

Any product sold to you by GULF WESTERN OIL comes with our seal of quality guarantee.

This guarantee assures you, our customer that:

• All our base oil originates from virgin, solvent refined hydro treated or hydro cracked feedstock
• All our products are manufactured under an ISO 9001 quality endorsed managements system
• Coolants are manufactured meeting ISO 9001 and TS 16949 ensuring they are approved for use in Australian mining operations
• Gulf Western is 100% Australian owned and operated and all our lubricants are formulated, blended and packaged in Australia
• All our lubricants are blended with API approved additive packages
• All our products are guaranteed to meet specifications
• We carry $10,000,000 product and public liability insurance

This is our ongoing guarantee to our customers.

Ben Vicory – Managing Director

22nd October 2008

Hydraulic connection leaks are commonly considered to be an inherent characteristic of hydraulic machines. While this may have been the case 30 years ago, advances in sealing technology and the development of reliable connection systems mean that today, leak-free hydraulic plumbing can be achieved.

Reliable connections

Ideally, leak-free reliability begins at the design stage, when the type of hydraulic connection is selected for port, tube-end and hose-end connections.

Ports – Connectors that incorporate an elastomeric seal such as UNO, BSPP and SAE 4-bolt flange offer the highest seal reliability. NPT is the least reliable type of connector for high-pressure hydraulic systems because the thread itself provides a leak path. The threads are deformed when tightened and, as a result, any subsequent loosening or tightening of the connection increases the potential for leaks. Therefore, the use of NPT is not recommended for high-pressure hydraulic systems. In existing systems, consider replacing pipe thread connections with UNO or BSPP to achieve leak-free reliability.

Tube and hose ends – Flared connections have gained widespread acceptance due to their simplicity and low cost. The JIC 37° flare is the world’s most commonly used hydraulic connection. Its popularity is due to its ease of fabrication, wide size range, imperial to metric adaptability and ready availability. However, the metal-to-metal seal of the flare means that a permanent, leak-free joint is not always achieved, particularly in the case of tube-end connections. As hydraulic system pressures have steadily increased, the flared connection has become prone to weeping, which results in dirty, sludge-covered systems.

Alternative hydraulic connectors are gaining acceptance, most notably the O-ring face seal (ORFS). ORFS tube- and hose-end connections feature the high seal reliability afforded by an elastomeric seal. However, ORFS connectors are larger in size, offer fewer adapter options, are more difficult to install (alignment must be perfect or O-ring extrusion occurs), have limited availability and are typically double the cost of a flared connection. For these reasons, ORFS is not as widely used as compression fittings and the 37° flare.

Leaking flare joints can be eliminated by installing a conical washer between the JIC nose and flare. One type of flare seal, manufactured by Flaretite, is a stainless steel stamping with concentric ribs that contain pre-applied sealant. When tightened, the ribs crush between the two faces of the joint, eliminating misalignment and surface imperfections. The combination of the crush on the ribs and the sealant ensure that a leak-free joint is achieved and helps protect the sealing faces from fretting, galling and overtightening.

Incorrect torque

A common cause of leaks from 37° flare joints is incorrect torque. Insufficient torque results in inadequate seat contact, while excessive torque can result in damage to the tube and connector through cold working. The following is a simple method to ensure flare joints are correctly tightened:

1. Finger-tighten the nut until it bottoms on the seat.
2. Using a permanent marker, draw a line lengthwise across the nut and connector hex.
3. Wrench-tighten the nut until it has been rotated the number of hex flats listed in the table below:

Vibration

Vibration can stress plumbing, affecting hydraulic connector torque and causing fatigue. Tube is more susceptible than hose. If vibration is excessive, the root cause should be addressed. The propagation of structure-born vibration from the vibrating mass of the power unit (the pump and its prime mover) can be minimised by eliminating bridges between the power unit and tank, and the power unit and valves. This is normally achieved through the use of flexible connections such as rubber mounting blocks and flexible hoses, but in some situations it is necessary to introduce additional mass, the inertia that reduces the transmission of vibration at bridging points. Always ensure all conductors are adequately supported and, if necessary, replace problematic tubes with hose.

Seal damage

Having outlined the benefits of hydraulic connectors that incorporate an elastomeric seal, it is important to note that their reliability is contingent on fluid temperature being maintained within acceptable limits. Fluid operating temperatures above 82°C damage most seal compounds. A single overtemperature event of sufficient magnitude can damage all the seals in a hydraulic system, resulting in numerous leaks.

Hydraulic systems are often considered perennial consumers of oil and make-up fluid, an inherent cost of operating hydraulic equipment. However, a leak-free hydraulic system should be considered the norm for modern hydraulic machines – not the exception. The proper selection, installation and maintenance of hydraulic plumbing are essential to ensure leak-free reliability.

Extract from Machinery Lubrication Magazine, September 2005.