The Need for an Oil Dryer

Water vapor can enter into the bearing housing through the seals, breather, or any other vented sources. When temperature changes occur inside/outside the bearing housing, this water vapor can condense causing water contamination of the lubricant. Preventing water contamination of the bearing housing lubricant will reduce rust and corrosion, improve the life and performance of the lubricant, reduce abrasive wear caused by rust, and reduce downtime and repair cost of the pump.

Preventing the occurrence of water vapor will also eliminate the possibility of the lubricant absorbing the water from the air. As temperature increases, some hydrocarbon lubricants will become more soluble and more readily pick up water content in the air. Water content in oil as low as 200 PPM can lead to premature bearing failure. Bearing life can be shortened as much as 85 percent due to water contamination of the oil.

Trico offers the Watchdog Oil Dryer to reduce moisture contamination in bearing housings. It can be used on vented or non-vented systems. When the Watchdog Oil Dryer is used, it can maintain 10-30 percent relative humidity levels within a two to three week time period.