Cylinder Wall Oil Film Wipe Test; Guideline For Oil Film Wipe Test Results - GE H301 Series Operating Manual

78 | Chapter 6: Lubrication
5. After operating for 200 to 300 hours, determine the lubrication rate by
performing a cylinder wall oil film wipe test. (See
feed rates" for the calculation)

Cylinder Wall oil Film Wipe Test

Check the inside bore of each cylinder for proper lubrication by wiping the cylinder
wall with a two-ply clean tissue from the 12 O'clock to 6 O'clock positions. If the oil
film heavily stains through both tissue paper plies and/or oil has accumulated in
the valve pockets; reduce the oil flow. Increase the flow if the cylinder walls appear
dry and/or oil stains do not appear on the tissue paper.
Check piston rod packing for proper lubrication by examining the piston rods. The
piston rod surfaces should be bright and coated with a thin oil film. Black and dirty
oil, scoring marks, or heat discoloration on the rod are indicative of packing wear
that due to insufficient lubrication or debris in the process gas.
After operating the compressor for 200 to 300 hours, determine the lubrication
rate by performing a cylinder wall oil film wipe test. Due to differences in
operating conditions, process gas quality, and manufacturing tolerances, it
is unlikely two otherwise identical compressors will have the same cylinder
lubrication rates.
1. Shut down the compressor according to standard procedures.
2. Perform Lock-Out /Tag-Out procedures.
3. Vent and purge process gas system
4. Use appropriate tooling and lifting equipment to remove cylinder head.
5. Rotate crankshaft placing piston near crank end of stroke
6. Use a two – ply thickness of clean tissue or equivalent paper to wipe the
internal cylinder wall from the 12 O'clock to 6 O'clock positions.
7. Remove tissue paper and evaluate wipe test result

guideline for oil Film Wipe Test Results

Optimum
Oil strains through the first but not the second ply of tissue paper
Return compressor to service leaving lube injection rate unchanged
Perform cylinder oil film wipe test periodically or when process gas quality or
operating conditions change
F L A M M A B L E
FLAMMABLE GAS, NO OPEN FLAME.
Complies with ANSI Z535, ISO 3864, OSHA 1910.145 (f) (5)
P O I S O N O U S G A S
DO NOT INHALE
Complies with ANSI Z535, ISO 3864, OSHA 1910.145 (f) (5)
"Lubricator cycle time and oil