What’s a Lubrication Survey and Why Does Your Equipment Need One

In industrial operations, keeping equipment running smoothly requires a robust lubrication program, using the right lubricants, in the right places, and at the right intervals. Even small mistakes, like over-lubricating, under-lubricating, or using the wrong type of lubricant, can lead to excessive wear, overheating, or unexpected equipment failure. That's where a lubrication survey comes in.

A lubrication survey is a systematic review of every lubrication point in your facility, designed to identify the proper lubricant, application method, and maintenance schedule for each piece of equipment. It evaluates factors such as operating conditions, load, speed, and temperature to ensure each machine is maintained according to its specific needs. Partnering with a reliable supplier that offers lubrication surveys results in a comprehensive program designed to maximize equipment performance, extend asset life, and minimize downtime.

What Happens During a Lubrication Survey?

During a lubrication survey, a trained technician walks through your facility, documents each lubrication point, and evaluates factors like equipment type, operating environment, temperature, speed, and load. The result is a detailed lubrication map and schedule that ensures every asset receives the appropriate product at the right frequency. This process often uncovers inefficiencies such as over-lubrication, under-lubrication, or the use of incorrect lubricants that could shorten equipment life.

Mansfield Service Partners offers end-to-end lubricant support, including site inspections and oil analysis. A successful Lubricant Analysis Program will help you:

• Reduce maintenance costs
• Improve equipment reliability
• Enhance equipment life

The Importance of Preventive Maintenance

A lubrication survey is a key part of a broader preventive maintenance (PM) strategy. Preventive maintenance involves scheduled, proactive work to prevent equipment breakdowns before they happen. Preventive maintenance includes regular inspections, parts replacement, calibration, cleaning, and proper lubrication. These efforts help extend asset lifetimes, reduce unexpected downtime, and improve safety.

There are different types of PM strategies:

• Time-Based Preventive Maintenance (TBPM): performing maintenance on fixed schedules (monthly, seasonal, annual) regardless of actual condition.
• Usage-Based PM: maintenance triggered by usage metrics (e.g., hours run, cycles).
• Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM): using sensors or inspections to track performance indicators and only act when deviation is detected.
• Predictive Maintenance (PdM): leveraging data analytics or machine learning to forecast failures before they occur, allowing interventions at the optimal time.

Lubrication surveys tie directly into all of these strategies. They establish baseline conditions, help determine when lubrication is needed (not just "when the calendar says so"), and allow for monitoring of lubricant condition or contamination. This keeps wear, friction, corrosion, and other damaging effects in check.

Why Your Equipment Needs a Lubrication Survey

A lubrication survey is a proactive maintenance tool that can reduce unplanned downtime, extend equipment life, and lower operating costs. By standardizing lubricants and intervals, you minimize cross-contamination risks, improve safety, and streamline inventory management. Plus, the data collected can be integrated into your maintenance program, making it easier for technicians to follow consistent, optimized practices.

The Bottom Line

A lubrication survey is an investment in reliability. It gives you clarity, consistency, and confidence that your equipment is getting exactly what it needs to perform at its best. If you want fewer breakdowns, lower maintenance costs, and better uptime, a lubrication survey is the place to start.

Through site assessments, comprehensive lubrication survey, and reliability benchmarking, MSP will help you exceed industry best practices to create a higher standard of safety and reliability. With MSP, you will uncover new ways to better manage your assets. Our experts will help you to maximize your operations while minimizing costs. Ready for a comprehensive lubrication program? Now You Can. Contact us today!