Revolutionizing Lubrication: An Inside Look at Chevron’s ISOCLEAN® Program
Chevron's ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants program is designed to ensure the lubricants used in your machinery meet the highest standards of cleanliness right from the start. Unlike standard lubricants, which can often contain contaminants even when new, ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants are filtered and tested to achieve specific cleanliness levels that align with equipment manufacturers' specifications. This meticulous process helps prevent premature wear, reduce downtime, and extend the life of your equipment, ultimately leading to more reliable and efficient operations.
Why Do Machines Require Clean Lubricants?
To dive deeper into the transformative impact of Chevron's ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants program, we spoke with a Chevron representative and a trusted distributor. They shared insights into how the program consistently delivers on its promises. While the notion of starting with perfectly clean oil might seem too good to be true, their firsthand accounts reveal the rigorous processes and real-world benefits that set ISOCLEAN® apart from conventional lubricants.
Exclusive Insights with Chad Bertrand, Americas' ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants Program Manager
Chad Bertrand, Americas' ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants Program Manager, Chevron
First, we sat down with Chad Bertrand to get the inside scoop on how the ISOCLEAN® program guarantees ultra-clean lubricants and significant improvements in machine reliability.
Q: Could you start by describing the cleanliness levels achieved by ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants?
A: The ISOCLEAN® program was created because of OEMs ISO cleanliness specifications for lubricants. Chevron saw a need and created a solution to meet that need. We refer to standard lubricants delivered to customers as typical lubricants. Regardless of the supplier, these lubricants will likely be at a cleanliness level that does not meet most OEMs cleanliness specifications. These typical lubricants could be a couple ISO cleanliness codes higher than what the OEM recommends. Chevron and its ISOCLEAN® marketers collaborate with customers to understand the ISO cleanliness specifications for their equipment and then deliver lubricants to the customer that meets the OEM’s ISO cleanliness specifications.
Q: How do ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants compare to typical lubricants in terms of performance and longevity?
A: ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants help our customers maximize the life of their equipment. Eighty-two percent of mechanical wear is attributed to particle contamination in the lubricant. By removing these harmful contaminants, our customers can extend the life of their equipment and maximize their investment in the equipment. Using ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants instead of typical, new lubricants enables our customers to keep their equipment running longer.
Q: What specific filtration and contamination control methods are used in the ISOCLEAN® process?
A: Chevron has tested its portfolio of ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants to ensure additives will not be removed during the filtration process and change the makeup of the lubricant. Chevron has guidelines on what size filter, temperature of the lubricant, and how many cycles the lubricant should pass through the filter to ensure no harm is done to the lubricant. Chevron also has handling procedures to ensure the lubricant is not contaminated.
Q: If you are already filtering oil when it arrives onsite, why do you need ISOCLEAN®?
A: Filters on equipment will remove some but not all contaminants. Before the contaminants are removed in the filtration process, they have already caused damaging wear. Many systems are not properly balanced or sized to exclude and remove the most critical clearance-sized particles. For example, the customer has a target ISO code of 17/15/12 and is using a typical new hydraulic oil with an ISO code of 22/21/19. It would take running the filtration system continuously for 44 hours to lower the ISO code to 17/15/12. During this time, the harmful contaminants are doing damage to the equipment. Also, on-board filters typically have a bypass to ensure lubrication is not cut off once the filter’s capacity is met. If the operator is unaware, the filtration system will continue to run and not filter the lubricant.
Q: In your opinion, what is the greatest benefit of ISOCLEAN®?
A: I feel the greatest benefit of ISOCLEAN® is peace of mind knowing you are doing right by your equipment so the equipment can do right by you. The customer knows they are using a lubricant that meets the OEM’s ISO cleanliness specification and doing so, reduces the risk of the equipment failing due to wear caused by contamination. If the equipment continues to run, it is positively impacting the bottom line of the customer. The customer purchased the equipment as an investment, and they want a return on the investment. If it is not working, the return-on-investment decreases or does not happen. ISOCLEAN® helps the customer ensure that he or she will get the full return on the investment and more.
In-Depth with Nick Bilius: Certified Distributor Discusses Chevron's ISOCLEAN® Advantage
Nick Bilius, Vice President of Shrader Tire & Oil (Certified ISOCLEAN Distributor)
Having explored the rigorous standards and benefits of the ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants program with a Chevron representative, we now turn to a distributor's perspective. Distributors play a crucial role in delivering these high-quality lubricants to customers and ensuring they receive the support needed to maximize the program's benefits. Nick Bilius with Shrader Tire & Oil offers valuable insights into how the ISOCLEAN® program is implemented, the challenges they help customers overcome, and the tangible results they've observed in various industries.
Q: What led your organization to become an ISOCLEAN® distributor?
A: Becoming an ISOCLEAN® certified marketer was an easy decision for Shrader Tire & Oil. Offering ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants differentiates us from the competition by providing a unique value to our customers. There is a strong demand for increased reliability and uptime, as these factors significantly impact productivity, efficiency, and profitability for organizations.
Q: Is there an increased lead time for ordering and receiving ISOCLEAN® products due to the filtering and testing process?
A: Not at all. Throughout the sales process, we identify our prospective customers' needs to ensure we have sufficient inventory when the product is sold.
Q: How would you describe the support and service you've received from Chevron regarding the ISOCLEAN® program?
A: Chevron has been an integral part of the ISOCLEAN® program from the beginning. Operation and Sales Training were crucial to its implementation. As the program developed, we were able to collect data through oil analysis, which allowed us to quantify the savings for each customer. Chevron’s team has supported us every step of the way!
Q: How can you guarantee the oil is clean upon delivery?
A: To ensure oil cleanliness upon delivery, a strict process must be followed. This process includes proper filtration, third-party lab testing, storage, tracking, and certification prior to an ISOCLEAN® delivery. Adhering to these steps guarantees that ISOCLEAN® lubricants are handled and delivered properly to our customers.
Q: In your opinion, what is the greatest benefit of ISOCLEAN®?
A: ISOCLEAN® lubricants help minimize downtime, reduce maintenance costs, and improve overall equipment performance. However, if we had to highlight one key advantage, it would be the increased reliability that comes from extended equipment life.
The Chevron ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants program stands out as a transformative solution for industries seeking to enhance equipment reliability and performance through cleaner lubricants. The insights shared by Chad Bertrand and Nick Bilius highlight the program’s rigorous standards, innovative processes, and tangible benefits. From reducing contamination and wear to extending machine life and lowering maintenance costs, ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants provide a compelling case for upgrading to cleaner, more efficient lubrication solutions.
To learn more about Chevron’s ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants program, visit www.chevronlubricants.com/isoclean.