Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-12
POINTERS WORTH
INVESTIGATION
PROPER LUBRlCATI0N MOST
IMPORTANT
Some Good Advice Concerning the Use
of Oils and What Kind of
Oils to Use for the
Machines

In the operation of any machinery,
too much attention cannot be given to
the proper and economical fabrication
in the construction of machinery met
ais may be planed and polished ever
SO smoothly yet there will be little ir-
regularities in the surface which will
interlock as the metals pass over each
other, causing friction and loss of pow
metal bodies passing over each other,
then some agent must be employed to
keep these bodies apart. Oil is such
an agent. Oil introduced between the
two moving metal surfaces will grad
ually reduce friction, because the film
of OIL no matter how thin it may be,
will act as a lubricant. But while oil
will reduce friction and permit the ma
chinery to run with ease, oils differ.
One affords more ease than another.
The maker of oils must, therefore, care
fully consider the parts of the ma
chinery to be fabricated, and make an
oil for each part that will give more
ease to the machinery than any other
possible oil.
fabrication may be elassed under two
heads-internal, or cylinder fabrication,
and external, or everything outside of
the cylinder. 1t is impossible to use
any one oil that will meet all the vary
ing conditions in the machinery, and
afford perfect fabrication. For this
reason it is not wise for the consumer
to buy oils according to specifications
or laboratory tests fabrication is not
in the specifications, but in the oil it
self. The laboratory test of an oil
does not demonstrate its lubricating
properties, nor does it demonstrate that
the oil is suited for the conditions sur
rounding the machinery. The type and
size of the machinery to be fabricated;
the method of application; the temper
ature conditions under which the ma
chinery is operated, must all be taken
into consideration when selecting a
suitable and economical lubricant.
A number of different oils may con-
form to the required specifications or
laboratory tests of customer, but it
is possible that none of the oils would
prove satisfactory for a practical run
ming test of the machine. The condi-
tions in the laboratory invariably differ
materially from those in the factory
when the running test is made. Labo-
ratory tests are made under atmo-
spheric temperatures, while the tenn
perature of the engine room is invaria-
bly, at much higher degree. Oils at
20 degrees Fahrenheit (at which tenn
perature they are often tested in labo-
ratories) may possess a very heavy
body--a high viscosity-but when sub
jected to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (the
temperature Of a large percentage OF
operating machinery they become as
thin as water, and do not afford the
efficiency required of them. It is suf-
hcient for the oil manufacturer to make
the oils according to tests SO as TO
maintain standards, but no buyer
should use the laboratory tests as his
guide, for the reasons already ex-
planned.
Internal lubricants can be divided
into two classes-steam and gasoline
For steam cylinder fabrication mineral
oils, compounded with animal fats, are
generally employed, the animal fat as
sisting in forming an emulsion with
the steam, and coating the inner walls
of the cylinder. For gasoline engine