STEEL SHIELD PRODUCT COMPATIBILITY

In order to help you further understand and determine compatibility issues, we are publishing this three-part test to assist you in determining if oils or fluids are compatible with Steel Shield products while in the field. Doing these three steps can identify a compatibility issue within 95% accuracy.

First: Examine the MSDS for the oil to which the SST product is to be added. Look for key words in Section 2, Hazardous Ingredients/Identity Information, which may indicate either product compatibility or incompatibility. Standard petroleum oils are usually referred to as “severely hydrotreated naphthenes” or “paraffinic base stocks”. Other key words are “contains mineral oil” or “synthetic hydrocarbons”. All of these oils have the characteristics of petroleum oil and are compatible with SST products. Key words such as alky-(compound), alkynol, glycol, alkanolamine, esters, mono esters, polyol or amines are direct indications of additives and base fluids that are NOT compatible with SST products. For these chemicals, we will advise and provide special Steel Shield products that is compatible but only upon request.

Second: A good test for compatibility is to mix equal amounts of the base oil in question and SST products. After both are thoroughly blended, allow the mixture to stand for 10 to 15 minutes. If no separation occurs, the likelihood of compatibility is very good. An occurrence of a radical separation indicates the oils are incompatible, and do not mix properly because of chemical differences.

Third: After the test above is completed to your satisfaction, the final phase is to perform a lubricity test. Run the base oil in question first to determine its lubricity and load carrying characteristics. Then, mix a proper ratio of Steel Shield product with the base oil and run the mixture on the Falex machine. Note the result. If a full-scale reading can be achieved without grinding or damaging the bearing, then you can safely assume the oil and Steel Shield product are compatible. However, if only a slight to moderate increase in lubricity can be achieved over the base oil by itself, it must be assumed that there is something present that is inhibiting the formation of the ABF, which would indicate the base oil and Steel Shield product are NOT compatible.

When these steps are followed, compatibility issues can be solved in nearly every situation. However, if you have followed through with these steps and still are not able to make a definite decision on compatibility, please do not hesitate to contact us to research and verify compatibility issues.