When an Oil Top-Up Wasn’t Enough
"A rise in bearing temperature first seemed fixable with an oil top-up, but continued monitoring proved a full flushing was needed to restore normal operation."
The Impact
The Issue
Abnormal behavior was detected in the main shaft bearing temperature readings. Possible root causes included cooling or lubrication system malfunction, high thrust load, inadequate lubricant film generation, or rotor shaft misalignment.
The Action
Kavaken identified an upward temperature trend in the main shaft bearing and recommended inspection of the lubrication system. After the initial oil addition brought no improvement, the site team performed a full lube oil flushing. The bearing temperatures dropped to normal operating levels, confirming that only a complete refresh of the lubrication system could resolve the issue.