Mil Spec Oil Compatibility: What You Need to Know

Mil Spec Oil Compatibility: What You Need to Know

Jan 19th 2021

Effective lubricant and oil management protocols are vital in improving plant efficiency and reducing equipment downtime. Most manufacturers have little knowledge of the lubricants used on their machines. A survey conducted by Edelman Intelligence shows that only 42% of companies have the correct lubrication protocols in place. 63% of the respondents did not offer their staff training on matters regarding their oils and lubricants.

Inadvertent mixing of fluids and oils is a common occurrence in most plants. Failure to confirm instructions on containers such as mil spec oil compatibility may lead to expensive damages to the machine parts. Some cutting fluids or machine oils can be mixed without any harmful effects and are often referred to as compatible. Some cannot be mixed without potential issues arising and are incompatible.

The degree of compatibility varies from complete to slightly incompatible, depending on the fluid or oil’s integrity and system performance requirements. Over time, standards such as mil spec oil compatibility have been established to guide technicians and plant owners on the right lubricant for use on their machines.

Mil Spec Oil Compatibility

The US Department of Defense maintains various types of vehicles, equipment, and systems that require fluids and oils from proper operation. The machine systems vary greatly from an operational and maintenance standpoint, requiring specific purchases that minimize the potential for any incompatibility problems.

To counter the issues with unintentional mixing of improper fluids, the Department of Defense came up with individual military specifications commonly referred to as Mil Spec Oil Compatibility (MIL-SPEC) or Military Standard (MIL-STD). The standardization allowed the military to achieve interoperability, with oil products meeting certain requirements for use in similar defense-related objectives.

The mil spec oil compatibility standards also streamlined the sourcing of the oils from lubricant suppliers. Using the same sources that meet the tight regulations minimizes the risk of incompatibility. However, over time, most industrial plants and manufacturers have adopted the mil spec oil compatibility standards as a lubrication management benchmark.

Lubricant Distributor With Mil Spec Oils And Lubricants

Taking advantage of mil spec oil compatibility standards can help reduce the chances of inadvertent mix-ups that can lead to costly damages to your equipment. You would also require a reliable and trustworthy supplier to deliver the fluids and oils. Here are a few tips to guide you through the selection process.

Availability of Mil Sec Oils and Lubricants

Determining your specifications and requirements can help you source the right product. You need to ensure that the supplier has the fluids and oils that you desire. Choose a vendor that can source the oils you need.

Look for Quality

The lubricant oil supplier should have all certificates with the information that supports the mil-spec specifications. The vendor should have internal quality control procedures that guarantee the standard of the oils and lubricants sold.

Think About Costs

military oil specifications lubricants are not inexpensive. You may need to find a budget-friendly lube oil supplier offering products at a reasonable cost. The price of their products establishes a standard for comparison among Mil spec oil vendors.

Bottom-Line

Unintentional mixing of incompatible oils or fluids can greatly damage your machinery. Adopting mil spec oil compatibility standards can help improve your lubrication management procedures. Santie Oil Company is a Missouri lube oil distributor, present since 1948, who can offer a constant supply of military specific oil and lubrication products for your plant.