Currently Browsing: Education

Gear Oils vs. Transmission Multi-Grade Oils

Authored by: Allan Zieser, STLE, CLS   Gear oils have been multi-grade oils for a long time now. We have gotten used to seeing viscosity grades such as 80W-90, 75W-90, etc. Transmission oils have normally been listed simply by names or...

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Are You Prepared?

Proactively Addressing the Lubricant Shortage Issues Authored by: Allan Zieser, STLE, CLS   2020 was the year of shutdowns. Now, as we wrap up 2021, most products and materials are still in shortage situations. This has been compounded by the...

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How Much Does Temperature Matter?

Authored by: Allan Zieser, STLE, CLS We’ve all seen it! You pour the oil into a frying pan, and it sits on the bottom looking like a drop that is not quite flat. The oil is there at room temperature and it has a thickness to the film that is on...

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How Much Does Viscosity Matter?

Authored by: Allan Zieser, STLE, CLS   Viscosity is in fact, the most important property of any lubricant. Too thin of a lubricant and you do not get enough of a protective film on your machine’s components. Too thick of a lubricant and...

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DPF Blues

Authored by: Allan Zieser, STLE, CLS   Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) are designed to remove the soot particles from the exhaust of diesel engines. But often, ash from the engine's exhaust takes over the filters and causes them to fill...

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DPF Filters and Productivity

Authored by: Allan Zieser, STLE, CLS The question of productivity often comes up when working with DPF filters and systems. The filters will fill up eventually and then the equipment must be brought out of productivity and into the shop to have...

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Don’t Freeze Up! Are You Using the Right Antifreeze?

  Authored by: Allan Zieser, STLE, CLS Antifreeze is our first defense against cold temperatures. This winter we are hitting record temperatures and getting lots of snow as well. Now is the time to make sure your equipment is ready for more...

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Start 2021 Right!

Authored by: Allan Zieser, STLE, CLS A new year is a time of resolutions, some of them are kept while others seem to slip by with the weeks. One great resolution that we think will be easy to keep, with your Ottsen Experts here to...

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More Isn't Always Better: Why Over Greasing Can Cause Bearing Failures

Authored by: Allan Zieser, STLE, CLS Over-greasing electric motor bearings is the leading cause of bearing failure by far. This is because many people come from a mentality of more equals better. If a little is good a lot must be great, right? Well,...

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Winterization of Diesel Fuel

Authored by: Allan Zieser, STLE, CLS Wintertime is the time when you depend on your vehicle more than ever to get you through to your destination. With diesel vehicles, this is made harder by the fact that your diesel fuel will gel between...

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