The problem with fixed calendar intervals
Many maintenance programs still change oil every "three months" or "six months," regardless of how many hours the equipment actually ran. This either discards still-healthy oil too early, or worse, leaves equipment running in dusty or heavy-load conditions with an interval longer than is safe.
What to actually measure
An effective sampling program tracks three key indicators: viscosity (deviation from the reference value), Total Acid Number (TAN) as an oxidation signal, and metal particle counts to catch early bearing or gear wear. A sudden shift in any of the three is a signal for immediate inspection, not just an oil change.
Setting intervals by operating hours
Instead of the calendar, set sampling intervals by actual operating hours — for mining and construction equipment in dusty environments, every 250 hours is reasonable; for stationary industrial equipment in a cleaner environment, that window can extend to 500–1000 hours. MAADANOL's technical team can recommend a precise schedule based on equipment type and ambient conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Set change intervals by operating hours, not the calendar
- Track viscosity, TAN and metal particle counts in every sample
- Dusty environments need shorter sampling intervals
