- Lube tip: foaming is affected by oil level
In a circulating system, it is crucial to check the oil level before introducing antifoam agents to address a foaming problem. Foaming issues can be caused by oil levels that are both too high and too low. Insufficient oil could lead to the formation of a vortex inside the reservoir at the circulating pump’s inlet, drawing in air. If there is too much oil in the circulating system, it could result in oil coming into contact with a surface of the machine that it should not, which could result in slinging the oil, or churning it.
Sometimes, the amount of foam may prevent an oil-level reading being taken. While it is never advisable to insert any solid object into an oil reservoir without knowing its internal shape and size, you may be able to insert plastic tubing (clear) straight down to the bottom of the reservoir. Create a seal by covering the top of the tubing tightly, and extracting it – this should show the real oil level. Visit www.wearcheck.co.za for more condition monitoring information.