Article originally published on Noria.com.
Synthetic lubricants can be cost-effective alternatives to traditional mineral oils in off-highway engine applications if the performance benefits outweigh the higher lubricant cost. Before making a decision to switch from mineral oil-based lubricants to synthetics, equipment operators should evaluate the operating condition of their engines, the physical environment in which they operate, the factors that condemn the oil — oil degradation or accumulation of contaminants — and conduct a cost/benefit analysis to establish target drain intervals for the synthetic lubricant. Regardless of the choice of lubricant types — synthetic or mineral — equipment operators should monitor oil condition with a quality-monitoring program to establish the optimum drain interval.
