Oil & Fuel Filtration
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Dunston Trading Estate
Chesterfield, Derbyshire
S41 9RF
sales@fa-st.co.uk
What is Contamination?
Contamination happens when foreign particles enter your oil or fuel systems—anything that shouldn’t be there. Common contaminants include dust, water, metal particles, paint flakes, fibres, grease, carbon, weld spatter, and sealing materials. Even small amounts can cause big problems: reduced efficiency, shorter component and fluid life, longer cycle times, and in the worst cases, catastrophic system failure and costly downtime. Modern machinery—with higher pressures, tighter clearances, and advanced hydraulics—is less forgiving than ever. Keeping your fluids clean isn’t just good practice; it’s essential to protect your equipment, maintain performance, and avoid unplanned repairs. Take control of your fluid systems today and safeguard your assets with effective contamination management. |
Contamination of Bulk Oil .
Bulk oil does not always meet the strict cleanliness standards used by oil producers during manufacturing. Before reaching the end user, oil often passes through multiple storage containers and transport methods—by sea, rail, and
road. At each transfer point, dust, water, and other contaminants can enter tanks and pipework. Simply put, new oil is not automatically clean oil.
Filtering bulk oil at every transfer point would be costly and impractical, which is why many end users never have the oil sampled or tested before it is put into machinery.
By installing a filtration system on storage tanks, IBCs, or bulk oil supplies, users can ensure that the fluid meets the required ISO oil cleanliness standards. This guarantees that clean, reliable oil is always available, helping protect equipment, extend component life, and reduce the risk of costly downtime.
Why is water in fluid bad?
Water Contamination in Oil
Water in oil can have serious consequences for machinery and system performance. Even small amounts can:
- Deplete additives and react to form corrosive by-products that attack metals
- Reduce lubricant film strength, leaving critical surfaces vulnerable to wear and corrosion.
- Decrease filterability, leading to clogged filters.
- Increase air entrainment and promote bacterial growth.
- Raise the risk of cavitation, damaging pumps and components.
Water in Hydraulic Fluids: Key Points
Hydraulic oil can only hold a limited amount of water in solution, known as its saturation level. For mineral oils at 20°C (68°F), this is typically 200–300 ppm per 1 ml of oil. When oil exceeds this level, it becomes cloudy, indicating the presence of water.
Why this matters:
- A 1% water content in a 300-litre tank is equivalent to 3 litres of water, or roughly 10,000 ppm.
- Oils are designed to hold a small amount of water in suspension, but once the saturation point is exceeded, the excess becomes free water.
- Free water settles at the bottom of tanks and creates an ideal environment for bacterial growth, which can degrade the oil and damage system components.
Takeaway: Monitoring water content and keeping it below saturation is critical to protect equipment, maintain fluid performance, and prevent microbial contamination.
Fluid Application for FA-ST Filtration System
Maintaining clean fluids is essential for the reliable and cost-effective operation of hydraulic and lubrication systems. Components can be expensive to repair or replace, so proper consideration of fluid selection and filtration is critical.
The ISO 4406 standard is widely recognised in the industry and provides guidance on fluid cleanliness levels. Meeting the recommended cleanliness targets ensures:
- Optimal system performance
- Reduced wear and component damage
- Longer fluid life and lower operating costs
With FA-ST filtration systems, you can achieve the required ISO cleanliness codes, helping your machinery operate efficiently, safely, and economically