Lubrication Experts

Join host Rafe on this special episode of Lubrication Experts as he brings together three generations of wind turbine gear oil innovators: Angie Cardis, Jim Carey, and Mike Blumenfeld. Discover the fascinating evolution of wind turbine lubrication—from the early days of Mobil SHC 600 and Mobil SHC XMP, through the challenges of micro pitting, to today’s cutting-edge, long-life gear oils designed for the modern wind industry. In this in-depth conversation, you’ll learn: The untold history behind the development of wind turbine gear oils How chemistry and engineering come together to solve real-world mechanical problems The science of micro pitting and white etching cracking—and how the industry overcame them The role of industry standards, testing, and collaboration in driving innovation What the future holds for wind turbine lubrication, condition monitoring, and asset management Whether you’re a lubrication nerd, a wind energy professional, or just curious about the technology powering renewable energy, this episode is packed with insights, stories, and expert perspectives. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & guest lineup 03:00 – The origins of wind turbine gear oils 15:00 – Micro pitting: discovery and solutions 30:00 – Industry standards and global collaboration 45:00 – The next generation: long-life oils and condition monitoring 1:00:00 – The future of wind turbine lubrication Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the world of lubrication and engineering! WindTurbine #Lubrication #Podcast #Engineering #RenewableEnergy #GearOil #WindPower

Join us for Episode 71 of Lubrication Experts as host Rafe welcomes Evan Zabawski, Senior Technical Advisor at Test Oil, for an in-depth discussion on the world of oil analysis. Evan shares his extensive experience, exploring the evolution of oil analysis from its early days to modern practices, and explains why many organizations are still stuck in the “traffic light” mindset. Discover the real value of oil analysis, the importance of trending data over static limits, and how different industries—from mining to manufacturing—are leveraging (or missing out on) the full potential of their oil analysis programs. Evan and Rafe also dive into the complementary roles of condition monitoring technologies like vibration analysis, ultrasonics, and thermography. Whether you’re a reliability engineer, maintenance professional, or just curious about how oil analysis can prevent equipment failure, this episode is packed with practical insights, industry stories, and expert advice. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – The history and maturity of oil analysis 10:00 – The pitfalls of the “traffic light” approach 20:00 – How to move beyond compliance and add real value 35:00 – The role of management in driving change 45:00 – Centralized vs. boots-on-the-ground analysis 55:00 – How oil analysis complements other condition monitoring tools 1:10:00 – Q&A and closing thoughts Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more expert interviews and technical deep-dives! OilAnalysis #Reliability #LubricationExperts #ConditionMonitoring #Maintenance

Welcome to Lubrication Experts! In this episode, we dive deep into the future of hydrogen engines and the evolving world of hydrogen combustion technology. Join host Rafe as he sits down with Tara Loosmore and Dr Alan Henderson from Afton Chemical—industry leaders who have dedicated years to understanding hydrogen combustion and the lubricants that make it possible. Discover: Why hydrogen combustion is gaining traction as a future fuel for commercial vehicles The unique challenges and opportunities of hydrogen vs. traditional fuels (diesel, gasoline, natural gas) How hydrogen impacts engine design, oil chemistry, and lubricant formulation The science behind water handling, corrosion, oxidation, and nitration in hydrogen engines The launch of the world’s first commercially available hydrogen engine oil additive package What’s next for hydrogen engine specs, OEM strategies, and the future of sustainable transport Whether you’re an engineer, fleet manager, or just curious about the next big thing in clean energy, this episode is packed with expert insights and practical takeaways. HydrogenEngines #LubricationExperts #AftonChemical #CleanEnergy #EngineTechnology #HydrogenCombustion

Episode 69 | The Science of Personal Lubricants (Yes, Really) w/ Neil Cunningham Let’s talk lubricants—all kinds of lubricants. In this very special Episode 69 of Lubrication Explained, host Rafe Britton leans into the memes and the chemistry with Neil Cunningham, founder of the Centre for Industrial Rheology, to explore the fascinating world of personal lubricants—how they’re formulated, how they perform, and how it all connects to industrial lubrication, rheology, tribology, and even food science. You’ll never look at a tube of lube the same way again. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why most personal lubricants are aqueous and how they compare to silicones What makes a lubricant feel “slimy” or “tacky” (with actual physics) The viscoelastic and non-Newtonian properties that define sensory experience How personal lube performance is tested using custom tribometers (no, really) What “mucoadhesion” means and why it’s crucial for both intimacy and eye drops How these same principles apply to vegan foods, mouthfeel, mayonnaise, and wine A wild discussion of normal stress, wax crystallization, and their role in both cosmetics and crankcases If it touches the skin, goes in the mouth, or interacts with mucus membranes—it’s fair game in this episode. Whether you're a lubrication nerd, a tribology tech, or just here for the eyebrow-raising banter, this episode is one for the books. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro & why personal lubricants? 3:45 – Aqueous vs silicone lubes 8:30 – What makes a lube “slimy”? 12:00 – Tackiness, texture, and tribology 18:00 – Viscoelasticity explained 25:00 – Mucoadhesion & synthetic mucus 30:00 – Food science crossovers: mouthfeel, astringency & vegan fats 44:00 – Wax crystallization & industrial applications 56:00 – The role of normal stress in surface separation 1:03:00 – Wrapping it up... with a happy ending Leave a comment with your weirdest "what do you do for work?" explanation—lubrication edition. Want to work with Neil’s lab or talk bio-tribology? Visit the Centre for Industrial Rheology.

What Is Varnish, Really? Understanding and Solving the Varnish Problem in Lubricated Systems | w/ Elaine Heley Varnish: it’s the hot topic in lubrication reliability—and no, we're not just talking about sticky residue in turbines anymore. In this deep-dive episode of Lubrication Experts, host Rafe Britton welcomes back renowned varnish specialist Elaine Heley, now an independent consultant, for a comprehensive look at what varnish really is, how it forms, how it differs across systems, and—most importantly—how to properly diagnose and remove it. Elaine draws from her years leading varnish diagnostics at Polaris and shares insights from the field, including: The difference between MPC testing and micro patch analysis Why “varnish” is a misleading catch-all term for multiple deposit types How environment, fluid formulation, contaminants, and machine design influence varnish formation A remarkable case study where over 680 lbs of varnish and carbon deposits were removed from a single 132,000 L hydraulic forge system using Delta Xero filters Why solubility enhancers, ion-exchange media, and vacuum dehydrators all have a role—but none are a silver bullet ‍ “There’s no magic pill for varnish—just like in medicine, the first step is diagnosis.” — Elaine Heley If you're dealing with sticky valves, frequent oil top-ups, or unexplained deposit issues, this episode is a must-watch. Discover why you need a customized varnish strategy, and not just a filter swap. Timestamps 0:00 – Intro & Elaine’s new role 3:10 – What is varnish? Hard vs soft vs emulsified 10:45 – MPC vs Micro Patch analysis 24:00 – Common causes of varnish 33:15 – Approaches to varnish removal 42:00 – Case study: 680 lbs of varnish removed 58:00 – Future of varnish diagnostics Need a varnish diagnosis before choosing a fix? Reach out to Elaine via LinkedIn or her consulting practice.