Contamination Control Guidelines
Contamination Control Guidelines
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Product: COLD PLANER
Model: PC210 COLD PLANER GDR00438
Configuration: PC203 PC204 PC205 PC206 PC210 Cold Planer GDR00001-UP
(MACHINE)
i07834568
Basic Principles of Kidney Loop Filtering of Hydraulic Fluid Systems {0680, 0768, 5050, 5056}
SMCS - 0680; 0768; 5050; 5056
Caterpillar Products
All
Off-Highway Truck/Tractor
794 AC (S/N: MN51-UP; MT51-UP)
Introduction
Table 1
Revision Summary of Changes in SEBF8840
05 Revised media to include new serial number prefixes for New Product Introduction (NPI)
Updated Introduction
04
Added new serial number prefixes for New Product Introduction (NPI)
Updated Introduction.
03
Added new serial number prefixes for New Product Introduction (NPI).
Updated Introduction.
02
Added Reference section.
01 Converted to SIS Authoring Format
© 2019 Caterpillar All Rights Reserved. This guideline is for the use of Cat dealers only. Unauthorized use of this document or the proprietary
processes without permission may be violation of intellectual property law.
This guideline enables dealers and customers to benefit from cost reductions which were made possible through an established Contamination Control
Program. Fluids used in Caterpillar machines are highly effective unless the fluid contains damaging amounts of contaminates. Therefore, every effort
must be made to reduce the contamination level within Caterpillar fluid systems. Caterpillar makes ongoing changes and improvements to the
Caterpillar products. This guideline must be used with the latest technical information that is available from Caterpillar. Updated technical information
will ensure that such changes and improvements are incorporated when applicable.
For technical questions when using this document, work with your Dealer Technical Communicator (TC).
To report suspected errors, inaccuracies, or suggestions regarding the document, submit a form for feedback in the Service Information System (SIS
Web) Interface.
If a Contamination Control Guideline is required, but not available in SIS web, submit a form for feedback in the Service Information System (SIS
Web) Interface.
Summary
Off-line filtering procedures, or kidney loop filtration, for machine fluid systems are often complicated. A prior knowledge of filtering basics will help
ensure the desired outcome. Passing oil through a filter is only one step to managing the total system cleanliness. Successful results are obtained when
a holistic approach to the system management is applied. Issues covered in this article relate directly to off-line filtering procedures. The following k02abml
information should be applied when filtering machine fluid systems. Caterpillar: Confidential Yellow
Important Safety Information
Illustration 1 g02139237
Most accidents that involve product operation, maintenance, and repair are caused by failure to observe basic safety rules or precautions. An accident
can often be avoided by recognizing potentially hazardous situations before an accident occurs. A person must be alert to potential hazards. This
person should also have the necessary training, skills, and tools to perform these functions properly.
Improper operation, lubrication, maintenance, or repair of this product is dangerous. Improper methods could result in injury or death.
Do not operate or perform any lubrication, maintenance, or repair of this product, until you understand the operation, lubrication, maintenance, and
repair information. Safety precautions and warnings are provided in this manual and on the product. If these hazard warnings are not heeded, bodily
injury or death could occur to you or to other persons.
Hazards are identified by a safety alert symbol. Safety alert symbols are followed by a signal word such as "Warning" that is shown below.
Illustration 2 g01032906
Pay attention!
Become alert!
The message that appears under the warning explains the hazard. The message will be written or pictorially shown.
Operations that may cause product damage are identified by "NOTICE" labels on the product and in this publication.
Caterpillar cannot anticipate every possible circumstance that might involve a potential hazard. Therefore, the warnings in this publication and on the
product are not all inclusive. When a tool, a procedure, a work method, or an operating technique that is not recommended by Caterpillar is used,
ensure that the tool, procedure, or work method is safe for all personnel around the machine. Ensure that the product will not be damaged or that the
product will not be made unsafe by the operation, lubrication, maintenance, or repair procedures.
All the information, specifications, and illustrations that are in this publication are based on information that was available at the time of publication.
The following specifications could change at any time: specifications, torque, pressures, measurement, adjustments, illustrations, and other items.
These changes can affect the service that is given to the product. Obtain the most current and complete information before starting any job. Caterpillar
dealers have the most current information that is available.
Safety
To prevent possible injury, perform the procedure that follows before k02abml
testing and adjusting the steering system. Caterpillar: Confidential Yellow
Personal injury can result from hydraulic oil pressure and hot oil.
Hydraulic oil pressure can remain in the hydraulic system after the
engine has been stopped. Serious injury can be caused if this pressure is
not released before any service is done on the hydraulic system.
Make sure all of the attachments have been lowered, oil is cool before
removing any components or lines. Remove the oil filler cap only when
the engine is stopped, and the filler cap is cool enough to touch with
your bare hand.
References
Table 2
References
Media Number Title
PEGJ0045 Reporting Particle Count by ISO Code"Reporting Particle Count by ISO Code" (1)
NEHS0848 "Tool Operating Manual for 204-7392 Filter Cart Group" (2)
(1) Visit Caterpillar Media Information Center to download or purchase the document.
(2) Visit dealer.cat.com to download or purchase the document.
Filtered
The contamination level of the whole system is reduced slightly during each pass of the kidney looped oil. The total contamination level will decrease
steadily, over time. Kidney loop filtration is a slow process. However, kidney loop filtration is less costly than oil changes and the resulting labor or
other types of system clean-up. The kidney loop filtration process can be implemented during a scheduled PM interval or after a catastrophic failure.
Kidney loop filtration is an addition to your normal maintenance procedures.
As the oil viscosity increases, ease of filtration decreases. The filter elements are not designed to filter out around or above 600 particles.
A time measurement is another method of determining the proper system filtering duration. Time measurement is a general method, but can provide
some guidance when a Portable Particle Counter is not available.
Example: If a tank has a capacity of 37.9 L (10 US gal), the filter unit must move 265 L (70 US gal) of oil through the filter one time for every
unit of oil to pass through the filtering unit.
2. To clean and lower the system contamination to a level determined by the filter media. All the filtered oil must pass through the filter media 5
times.
Example: A system is being filtered through a 10um filter. Due to the filter media efficiency, all oil needs to pass through the filter media 5 times
(multi-pass). Incorporating a multi pass filtration increases the number of times the filter sees each unit of oil. The filter cart removes greater
amounts of contaminants with each additional cycle.
Given the two guidelines above, filtering time can be summarized in the following example.
2. 7 x 113.56 L (30 US gal) = 794.94 L (210 US gal) (to pass each unit of oil through the filter, one time).
3. 5 x 794.94 L (210 US gal) = 3974.68 L (1050 US gal) (to properly filter the particles out of the oil down to the rated size of the filter media).
4. The example kidney loop filter cart capacity is rated at 15 gallons per minute. The filter cart must operate for 70 minutes (1050/15=70) to
achieve Caterpillar filtration guidelines. Remember, using this time formula is not exact. To verify the final fluid cleanliness, approved methods
must be used.
Filter unit capacity is to be properly selected to move the required amount of oil 3974.68 L (1050 US gal)through the filter in the targeted time frame.
Other parameters for the filter cart operation and efficiency will be discussed later in this article. Vehicle-specific filtration times are also located
within the various Caterpillar Contamination Control Guidelines.
Older machine filtration may not be adequate to achieve the new recommended cleanliness levels. Older machines will benefit from a higher level of
system contamination control management. The engineered life of any component is attainable by eliminating wear and contamination-related failures.
ISO 4406 Method for coding the level of contamination by solid particles.
ISO (International Organization of Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). ISO 4406 specifies
the code to be used in defining the quantity of solid particles in the fluid used in a given compartment fluid power system. An automatic particle
counter derives the equivalent size of a particle from the particle cross-sectional area. Particle counts are affected by various factors. These factors
include procurement of the sample, particle counting accuracy, the sample container, where used, and fluid cleanliness. Proper care should be taken
during sample procurement to ensure that the sample obtained is representative of the fluid circulation in the system.
The code for contamination levels using automatic particle counters comprises three scale numbers, for example X/Y/Z.
Caterpillar does not require the reporting of the X scale number since compartment tolerances exceed the 4 micron value, therefore, a "-" is used. For
example, a particle count is read as -/Y/Z, meaning that there was no requirement to count particles equal to or larger than 4 micron.
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System Intervention
When should off board fluid filtration be implemented? When should action be taken on a contaminated system? The following are several symptoms
or signs indicating possible system intervention is required:
Leaks
System overheating
Customer education
Any of the above measures may be appropriate for a given system contamination level and condition. Incorporate the proper intervention level as
required.
NOTICE
After a catastrophic component failure of any kind, the complete fluid
system MUST be thoroughly cleaned. Kidney loop filtration as the first
or only system cleaning procedure is not an option. Manual cleaning
may include some or all the following steps:
Caterpillar filter carts are NOT designed, nor intended, to be the sole filtration after a catastrophic system failure. The hydraulic system must have the
proper degree of manual cleaning intervention prior to filtration cart use.
The service provider must determine the proper intervention measures. The provider is the one closest to the machine operation and history.
Oil viscosity (temperature and weight) plays a large part in determining how fast the oil will flow through the filter and filtering unit. Oil
viscosity also determines the contaminant mixing or lack thereof in the compartment oil. Oil viscosity can also dictate GPM.
Viscosity
All Caterpillar filter unit capacities are rated with 10W oil at 70° F. If moving oils with different viscosity ratings than the parameters above, the rated
oil movement or filtering capacity of the filter unit will change proportionately. If any part of the filter cart is changed or modified from the as-shipped
condition from the manufacturer, the filter cart may not operate as designed. Filter Cart changes include:
Hose length
Hose diameter
Fitting size
Filter media
Kidney loop filtration has continuous mixing of the clean and dirty oil. Oil in sheltered parts of a compartment may not properly mix with the
returning clean oil. Oil in sheltered parts may require longer filtering times for this sheltered oil to mix and then pass through the filter unit. Use the
proper equation in the “Filtering Time” section above. Remember, if the contaminated oil never reaches the cart filter media, the oil will NEVER be
cleaned.
Full flow filtration would seem to be fast and easy. If the system is an open loop system, the resulting filtration is still a kidney loop operation. Oil
flows from the tank, through the pump and then to the filter. The oil is eventually returned to the tank resulting in a kidney loop type operation.
Single pass filtering is NEVER an absolute or efficient means of filtering. Multi-pass filtration is a superior type of filter process to reach your
filtration goal.
Filter media has rated efficiencies for different sizes of contaminants. A 10-micron (µm) absolute filter will remove most 10µm and larger particles
and a decreasing percentage as the particle sizes decrease from 10µm. A 5µm filter will take out most of the 5µm and larger particles and a decreasing
percentage as the particle sizes decrease from 5µm. In other words, a given absolute filter media size will only remove a certain percentage of a given
particle size. The oil contamination level will eventually stabilize for a given filter media. Additional filtering from that point would NOT be valuable,
or economical, unless a smaller micron filter media is used. See the chart below:
Illustration 3 g06339830
Portable particle counters are not a substitute for lab particle counting. Portable particle count is intended to give an ongoing record of the reduction of
contamination during the filtering process. Portable particle count is used as an on-sight trending analysis tool for machine systems in remote locations.
System contamination (mixing the oil) can only be thoroughly mixed by exercising the machine and system components. By exercising the machine
system, the oil is warmed, viscosity is lowered, and contaminant mixing takes place at a higher rate. More importantly, when contamination is mixed
and placed into suspension, contamination will be carried to the filter unit easier and quicker. Remember, if the contamination does not get to the filter
unit, the filter CANNOT remove contamination!
The above information provides the basic filtration principals required to perform a system off-board or kidney loop filtration procedure and help
troubleshoot poor procedural results.
In general, the recommended cleanliness targets for Caterpillar machines operating in the field are the same as Caterpillar minimum roll-off cleanliness
levels for new equipment. These targets are expressed in two-factor (X/Y) ISO Codes determined from Particle Count data obtained from the
Scheduled Oil Sampling (S·O·S) program. The first factor (X) represents the number of particles larger than 6 microns in size. The second factor (Y)
represents the number of particles larger than 14 microns in size. Refer to Contamination Control Guideline, PEGJ0045, "Reporting Particle Count by
ISO Code" examines ISO Codes and Particle Counting in more detail.
Note: Older technology machines in the field may not be able to maintain the cleanliness levels of newer models. However, the same Contamination
Control service and maintenance procedures should be used on all Caterpillar equipment.
Machine operating cleanliness targets should not be confused with component cleanliness targets. Caterpillar recommends that cleanliness target for
reconditioned/repaired Caterpillar components should be two ISO Code levels below (cleaner than) the recommended machine system operating
cleanliness target.
Copyright 1993 - 2020 Caterpillar Inc. Sat May 30 2020 13:39:35 GMT+0100 (West Africa Standard Time)
All Rights Reserved.
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